Pacific Southwest Research Station

Nutrient and sediment loading predictions for prescribed fire using optimized WEPP model

Drea Traeumer of Em Consulting performs a dye test while Micheal Ukraine, Rachel Arst, and Tim Delaney of Integrated Environmental Restoration Services collect data at a prescribed burn site on Dollar Hill in Tahoe City. Photo by Seth Lightcap, Sierra Sun. [Used with permission.]

Principal Investigators:
William Elliot, USDA Forest Service-Rocky Mountain Research Station
Drea Traeumer, Em Consulting, LLC
Erin Brooks, University of Idaho

Proposal [pdf]

A final report was not submitted for this project.

Software
Tahoe Basin Sediment Model - No longer available
WEPP Online Interfaces
WEPP Online GIS Interface - No longer available
WEPP software and documentation

Please contact Dr. Drea Traeumer with questions regarding this project.

Project Summary

The objective of this project was to provide temporal and spatial predictions of nutrient and sediment loadings at the hillslope scale for prescribed fire using an optimized Watershed Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model. Optimization was performed through calibration and validation efforts using locally-measured data for WEPP’s most sensitive erodibility parameters (hydraulic conductivity, interrill erodibility, and bulk density); runoff quantity and quality; and sediment yield and composition. Validation was evaluated through quantitative measures of goodness of fit.