Modeling Road Erosion in Upper Torreon Wash,New Mexico

Abstract

Accurate prediction of sediment detachment, transport, and delivery from dirt road networks is an expensive and time-consuming task. The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model allows users to predict road erosion on the basis of specific characteristics including road length, width, and gradient. The WEPP:Road model is tailored to specific climate conditions, road design, and unique attribute information. The methodology was applied to unpaved roads in the upper Torreon Wash located in northwestern New Mexico. Torreon Wash serves as a tributary to the Rio Puerco River, which gained worldwide attention because of extremely high erosion rates. This study incorporates results from the WEPP:Road model to determine the impact of erosion on the described area. Main roads and access routes within the study area were evaluated to determine the estimated sediment delivery from unpaved roads. The analysis was specifically targeted to identify areas of intense erosion and sediment delivery to stream systems and included a case study to determine the effects of past remediation efforts. Remediation work consisted of 110 rolling dips that were installed on roads, and findings suggest that remediation efforts can reduce road erosion by 48%. Results showed that reducing sediment loads from unpaved roads decreased sediment delivery to stream networks by 27%, creating a positive impact on nearby streams.

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