Background. In 2013, NRCS made a decision to replace RUSLE2 with the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) for predicting sheet and rill soil erosion. In order to fully implement that decision, a Federal Register Notice was required. In 2016, NRCS issued a public notice of intent to implement WEPP to replace RUSLE2 as erosion prediction technology for NRCS. Public notice of this decision was issued in a Federal Register notice (81 FR 81053, November 17, 2016). The final decision regarding RUSLE2 and WEPP was delayed in order to allow further time to compare the models and associated impacts. National Bulletin 450-18-5 revised the schedule for adoption of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP).
Several studies have been issued related to these tools, including:
• an impact analysis completed in Iowa in April 2019;
• an NRCS 2019 nationwide tool comparison study;
• development of an ARS Strategic Plan for Erosion Research and Model Development (completed by ARS in March 2020);
• and a model comparison study of RUSLE2 and WEPP in Illinois published by ARS on July 21, 2020.
NRCS has reviewed these studies, and appreciates the work and dedication put into these efforts. In review of these studies, NRCS has made the decision to maintain RUSLE2 as its official erosion control model.
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