2009 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) The Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS)is being developed in response to requests for improved erosion prediction technology for use by NRCS, as well as other government agencies and conservation partners. ARS has signed an Agreement with NRCS detailing the delivery and testing of WEPS 1.0 within their agency. Delivery of WEPS 1.0 includes delivery of documented code and working with NRCS in a staged testing process that insures the product meets NRCS requirements to the field office level. The WEPS 1.0 code documentation consists of a) technical documentation for all science modules and b) full JavaDoc for all interface code. The support required for the staged testing process includes programming support for a) all science code changes needed to meet tester identified science issues and b) all interface changes needed to meet tester identified usability issues. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) We are in the second year of a two-year Agreement between ARS and NRCS detailing the testing and delivery of WEPS 1.0 to NRCS. We are now entering the second phase of NRCS testing and review. Issues that are identified during this regional testing phase need to be addressed in a timely manner. Needed interface fixes identified by testers will be addressed before the next testing session. Complete JavaDoc compliant documentation for all interface code elements will also be completed, allowing NRCS to maintain the code as necessary. 05-IA-5430-0324 3.Progress Report The WEPS 1.0 science and interface technical documentation has been updated based upon modeling changes to the code. 1. Inconsistent soil loss results based on soil texture (explain why medium textured soils erode less than clay soils) have been identified and corrected in the WEPS science code. 2. Updates to the crop growth submodel to appropriately reflect stem mass by height via a “tapered” stem approach are currently being addressed. The mathematical approach has been determined and agreed upon. Algorithms must still be incorporated into the WEPS science code. 3. The enhancements to the yield calibration feature allowing the “calibration” of a crop that is harvested multiple times, e.g. alfalfa, have been mostly addressed in the specific harvest operation processes of the WEPS science model. 4. The following list of interface related issues identified during NRCS WEPS train-the-trainer workshop phase have been addressed: a. The WEPS interface, now when configured specifically for NRCS usage, eliminates the “Project” concept. The user has the ability to save WEPS Run to any location accessible to the computer. b. A “dropdown” choice list has been added to the soil and management rotation fields for easier selections of desired files. c. Full functionality has been incorporated into the WEPS interface to lock the databases so individual users cannot edit the data, except for specific elements identified for “temporary edits for a specific calculation”. d. The WEPS Run Summary Report has been expanded to include crop yield/harvest residue information and a list of the operations (with dates) in the management rotation. e. Specific configuration files have been developed for NRCS which allows only the pertinent elements for NRCS usage be displayed. 5. The WEPS interface has been modified to allow two additional methods to auto-select WEPS climate and wind stations. Methods used to monitor this project included, discussing project plans, reviewing program goals and accomplishments with the Cooperator’s PI at ARS and NRCS facilities; by teleconference, e-mail or other types of written correspondence; providing technical advice to Cooperator’s personnel; and, conducting site visits at Cooperator’s facilities.