Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) Watershed Model: Hydrologic and Erosion Calculations

by J. J. Stone, USDA-ARS, United States,
V. L. Lopes, USDA-ARS, United States,
L. J. Lane, USDA-ARS, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Watershed Planning and Analysis in Action

Abstract:

The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) watershed model is a distributed continuous simulation model developed to compute the spatial and temporal distribution of erosion and deposition within small agricultural watersheds. The model is made up of three major components; hillslope, channel, and impoundment. The hillslope component calculates rainfall excess by the W.H. Green and G.A. Ampt infiltration equation, peak runoff rate by a method based on a semi-analytical solution of the kinematic wave equation for overland flow, interrill erosion as a function of soil detachment by raindrop impact, sediment delivery to rill flow areas by broad sheet flow, and rill erosion as a function of the flow's ability to detach sediment, sediment transport capacity, and the existing sediment load in the flow. Channel infiltration is calculated by either the Green and Ampt or a transmission loss equation. The impoundment component computes deposition within terrace impoundments and stock tanks, and sediment delivery through spillways. Additional aspects of the subject are discussed.

Subject Headings: Erosion | Watersheds | Simulation models | Sediment transport | Computer models | Water storage | Spatial distribution

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