Modeling Erosion and Sediment Control Practices: A Management Approach for Disturbed Sites

The objective of this research was to estimate sediment yields and assess the relative effects of erosion and sediment control best management practices (BMPs) at natural gas well construction sites in north central Texas. Version 2 of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE2) was used to evaluate the efficiency of BMPs for different land surface conditions (slope and soil). Annual average and design storms sediment yields were evaluated. Annual average sediment yield estimates ranged from 12.11 to 134.50 tonnes per hectare when the sites were modeled without BMPs. When the sites were modeled with BMPs modeled yields were 50 to 93% less. A comparison of efficiency values for the various slope/soil type combinations revealed that both slope and soil type influenced the efficiencies of the BMPs. There were also differences in BMP efficiencies when sediment yields were modeled for 1, 2, 5, and 10-year design storms. This study demonstrates a practical approach to managing soil loss and understanding the importance of selecting appropriate site-specific BMPs for disturbed sites.