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Overview
Basics
Basics
Reduce sediment entering Lake Tahoe by improving and validating the WEPP model applications for road management in the Lake Tahoe Basin. This includes: parameterize the WEPP model for the Lake Tahoe Basin, improve WEPP: Road interface for the Lake Tahoe basin, validate the WEPP model for the Lake Tahoe Basin, and develop a GIS-based quantitative approach to predict the sediment loading using WEPP and identify erosional "hot spots" from watershed-scale road network design that minimizes sediment production through BMP application and road decommissioning.
Completed
2007
2008
2009
$213,915
Kat McIntyre (KMcIntyre@trpa.gov)
10/30/2017
10/30/2017
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| Location Information | Location Notes |
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Organizations
EIP Details
EIP Basics
EIP Basics
04.01.01.0104 - P010: Improving Road Erosion Modeling for the LTB and Evaluating BMP Strategies for Fine Sediment Seduction at Watershed Scales
Performance Measures
Expected Performance Measures
Expected Performance Measures
No expected performance measures set for this project.
Reported Performance Measures
Reported Performance Measures
No annual performance measure accomplishments entered for this project.
Funding
Expected Funding
Expected Funding
$213,915
$213,915
$0
| Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (Pacific Southwest Research Station) (USFS - PSW) | $213,915 | $213,915 | $0 |
| Grand Total | $213,915 | $213,915 | $0 |
Reported Expenditures
Reported Expenditures
| Total | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (Pacifi... | $213,915 | $71,305 | $71,305 | $71,305 |
| Grand Total | $213,915 | $71,305 | $71,305 | $71,305 |
Photos
Other Details
Watersheds
No watersheds set for this project.
Threshold Categories
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A key strategy for protecting water quality in the Lake Tahoe Basin is to reduce pollutants entering stream channels. Proper implementation of this strategy has been challenging because it requires accurately identifying the non-point pollution sources, and the adequate BMPs that reduce sediment and nutrient transport to stream channels.
Local and Regional Plans
No Local and Regional Plans set for this project.
Related Projects
Related Projects
No Related Projects set for this project.
External Links
No external links entered.
Notes
Notes
| 08/17/2017 6:40 AM | Kiara Cuerpo-Hadsall | Objectives: The overall objective of this study was to reduce sediment entering Lake Tahoe by improving and validating the WEPP model applications for road management in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Specifically, we proposed to: • Parameterize the WEPP model for the Lake Tahoe Basin. • Improve WEPP: Road interface for the Lake Tahoe Basin. • Validate the WEPP model for the Lake Tahoe Basin. • Develop a GIS-based quantitative approach to (a) predict the sediment loading using WEPP. • Road, (b) identify erosional “hot spots” from a watershed-scale road network and (c) determine the optimal road network design that minimizes sediment production through Best Management Practice (BMP) application. |
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| 08/17/2017 6:39 AM | Kiara Cuerpo-Hadsall | Findings: • Lake Tahoe Basin derived effective hydraulic conductivity was nearly 2.5 times larger than the generic WEPP values for the granitic soils (9.3 vs. 3.8 mm hr-1) and nearly 30 times larger for the volcanics (7.5 vs. 0.27 mm hr-1). Based on soil texture rather than parent material, the volcanics were nearly 2 times larger than the WEPP recommended value for a sandy loam soil (7.5 vs. 3.8 mm hr-1). In any case, the Lake Tahoe Basin derived effective hydraulic conductivities were larger than the generic WEPP recommended values by at least two times. • The two volcanic soil locations (Spooner Summit and Ward Creek) exhibited initial peaks in sediment concentration followed by a decreasing trend to reach steady-state sediment concentrations between minutes five and ten. Previous studies have reported similar trends in sediment concentrations (Foltz et al., 2009; Ziegler et al., 2001). In contrast, the two granitic soil locations (Mt. Rose and Secret Harbor) had relatively low initial sediment concentrations followed by increases to steady-state levels. Both parent materials reached a steady-state sediment concentration approaching 15 g L-1 and did not decrease with time as described in other studies. • The 24 rainfall simulations yielded interrill erodibility values ranging from 1.11 x 106 to 7.82 x 106 kg s m-4. Basin derived interrill erodibility coefficients for granitics were essentially unchanged (2.2 compared to 2.0) while basin derived volcanics were 1.6 times larger than the generic WEPP ones (3.1 compared to 2.0). • An improved WEPP: Road-like interface was developed specifically for the Lake Tahoe Basin incorporating the erosion parameter values determined from rainfall simulation. *** See www.fs.fed.us/PSW/partnerships/tahoescience for additional findings. |
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| 08/17/2017 6:35 AM | Kiara Cuerpo-Hadsall | Management Implications: • Erosion models are powerful tools for land managers in their efforts to protect and manage resources. This project parameterized the Watershed Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model, improved the WEPP: Road interface, and validated the WEPP model for the Lake Tahoe Basin. The project also developed a GIS-based quantitative approach to predict sediment loading using WEPP: Road, identified erosional “hot spots” from a watershed-scale road network, and determined the optimal road network design that minimizes sediment production through BMP application. • To minimize erosion from roads, managers install and maintain physical BMPs. BMP installation on a watershed scale is a difficult task because of the need to account for multiple constraints, such as available budget, BMP maintenance, and equipment scheduling. A methodology for addressing this challenge is presented here that combines WEPP: Road erosion modeling and simulated annealing optimization. Of the 173 surveyed segments, 30 segments were available to have BMPs installed. The best possible solution yielded a reduction in sediment leaving the buffer over the course of the planning horizon by 64%. • Road erosion modeling combined with simulated annealing optimization provides a viable approach to water quality issues associated with sedimentation from forest roads. |
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| 08/17/2017 6:34 AM | Kiara Cuerpo-Hadsall | Publications: www.fs.fed.us/PSW/partnerships/tahoescience Final Report - Improving Road Erosion Modeling for the Lake Tahoe Basin and Evaluating BMP Strategies for Fine Sediment Reduction at Watershed Scales [pdf], Randy B. Foltz, William J. Elliot, and Natalie S. Wagenbrenner Final Report— Improving Road Erosion Modeling for the Lake Tahoe Basin and Evaluating BMP Strategies for Fine Sediment Reduction at Watershed Scales [pdf], Woodam Chung and James (Andy) Efta Foltz, R. B., Elliot, W. J., & Wagenbrenner, N. S. 2011. Soil erosion model predictions using parent material/soil texture-based parameters compared to using site-specific parameters. Transactions of the ASABE, 54(4), 1347-1356. |