2009 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) 1) Integrate the WEPP and WEPS model erosion technologies through the use of the Object Modeling System (OMS) into a single wind/water erosion prediction system using common databases and interfaces at the plot and field scale.. 2)Incorporate, test and verify new erosion science or related components, such as winter processes, tillage erosion, ephemeral gully erosion, irrigation erosion and rangeland erosion, into the integrated erosion prediction system.. 3) Cooperate with all ARS scientists and NRCS staff involved with the CEAP effort to extract relevant modules from existing models such as SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool), RUSLE2 (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation – version 2), AnnAGNPS (Annualized AGricultural Non-Point Source pollution), CONCEPTS (CONservational Channel Evolution and Pollutant Transport System), WEPP (Water Erosion Prediction Project), WEPS (Wind Erosion Prediction System), and REMM (Riparian Ecosystem Management Model) and integrate them into the OMS for development of regional water and air quality models at the plot, field, and watershed scales. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Objective 1: a) Incorporate the core WEPP model erosion component into the Object Modeling System, test and verify against the original WEPP model. b) Develop a single storm hydrology and water erosion model in OMS, then adapt model in OMS to handle temporal (multiple storms) and spatial (multiple flow planes) looping. c) Develop a continuous simulation water erosion model in OMS containing infiltration, ET, percolation, water balance, surface runoff routing, and water erosion calculations (multiple storms and multiple spatial planes). d) Create a single event wind detachment component in OMS based upon the core WEPS erosion code. Test and verify against the original WEPS code. e) Create a single event combined wind and water erosion model in OMS, using the individual water and wind modules. f) Merge wind detachment component into continuous simulation OMS water erosion model. g) Add other required components needed for a complete prediction system, including climate generation, plant growth, tillage disturbance, residue management, baseline hydrologic, and erodibility parameterization, etc. h) Test, verify, and validate modules and models. i) Work with NRCS and other users on interface and database development. Objective 2: a) Develop detailed guidelines and instructions for cooperators on formats needed for new components to be incorporated within OMS for inclusion in combined wind and water model, or as special model applications using existing modules from the combined model. b) Work with ARS and university cooperators on testing, verifying, and validating new component modules within OMS. c) Incorporate, test, and verify new erosion science or related components, such as winter processes, tillage erosion, ephemeral gully erosion, irrigation erosion and rangeland erosion, into the integrated erosion prediction system. Objective 3: This effort is a part of the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) Objective 5 which deals with development of regionalized watershed models for assessment of the impacts of field soil conservation practices on off-site resources (water, air, etc.). Hillslope and field components developed in Objectives 1 and 2 may be utilized within larger regionalized models. Alternately, due to much larger scale representations and more coarse process conceptualization, use of simpler types of erosion functions may also be warranted and necessary. CEAP-Objective 5 work is being led by staff in ASRU in Fort Collins, CO. 3.Progress Report The prototype Wind and Water Erosion Model (WWEM) was updated and enhanced to run within the new OMS Version 2.2, during April 2009. Testing of this prototype with observed field rainfall simulation experiment data is ongoing. The standalone water erosion components developed as part of this project are being utilized within the NLEAP and RZWQM models in Fort Collins, Colorado. On the alternative development path, the linked WEPS-WEPP model prototype has been completed, and initial testing has revealed some large inconsistencies in the predictions of runoff and water erosion by the linked code and the original WEPP model. Subsequently, a large set of testing/validation data has been assembled, and model simulations with the linked model and the individual WEPS and WEPP code is underway to determine the causes of the inconsistencies, and identify corrections needed. A meeting on improvement of the CLIGEN climate generator program was held June 25-26 at the NSERL, to provide direction and coordination in correction and enhancement of this weather generator used for WEPP, WWEM, WEPS, and other natural resource models. Project staff conducted a workshop on water erosion mechanics and prediction technology during a trip to the Institute of Soil and Water Conservation in Yangling, China on November 10-22, 2009, and assisted approximately 40 students and faculty there on installation, use, and application of the WEPP model. The project is collaborating with the USDA-Forest Service on a grant project to develop a web-based geo-spatial WEPP interface for forest watershed erosion predictions in the Great Lakes Basin (funded by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). 6.Technology Transfer Number of Web Sites Managed 2 Number of Other Technology Transfer 1 Review Publications Dun, S., Wu, J.Q., Elliot, W.J., Robichaud, P.R., Flanagan, D.C., Frankenberger, J.R., Brown, R.E., Xu, A.C. 2009. Adapting the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) Model for Forest Applications. Journal of Hydrology. 366(2009):46-54.