Location: Northwest Watershed Research Center
Project Number: 2052-13610-014-005-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 26, 2016
End Date: Sep 25, 2019
Objective:
The Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model (RHEM) is a process-based model developed by the USDA-ARS for assessing the runoff, soil erosion rate, and sediment delivery rate and volume on rangelands at the hillslope scale for a rainfall event. Evaluation of RHEM performance is a key element for its acceptance as a useful tool. Therefore, the objective of the research work is to evaluate the performance of RHEM and its components especially when it is applied to disturbed rangelands.
Approach:
In order to accomplish the objective of the research, the following tasks will be performed:
1. Evaluate the performance of RHEM for disturbed rangelands. The performance of the model will be evaluated without calibration as well as by optimizing some of the sensitive parameters such as hydraulic conductivity (Ke).
2. Evaluate the current parameterization equation for splash and sheet erodibility (Kss), and hydraulic conductivity (Ke) in RHEM on disturbed rangeland, and if necessary develop new parameterization equations specifically for disturbed rangeland.
