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• Fifth, the Soil Conservation Service has developed calculations regarding <br />acceptable soil losses for various soil and vegetative communities. The local <br />Meeker SCS office has compiled these "T" estimates of acceptable soil loss for <br />all the soils at the reclaimed areas. This information is helpful because it <br />provides additional information in order to arrive at a standard for the reclaimed <br />areas. <br />For the reasons discussed above, it is felt that the fourth method, using the <br />USLE techniques, is best suited for the Meeker Area Mines. It will provide the <br />best scientific comparison between a standard and what is actually occurring at <br />the reclaimed areas. The soil loss estimates for the undisturbed areas will be <br />individually developed for all three sites and will be compared to the "T" <br />estimates of acceptable soil loss at the same sites. A standard will then be <br />developed from combined the information. <br />Soil Loss Estimates <br />• The Universal Soil Loss Equation was developed in 1965 by Wischmeier and <br />Smith using earlier equations by Musgrave in 1947. The Revised Universal Soil <br />Loss Equation was presented in 1993 to account for better accuracy in steep <br />slope areas and other conditions. The equation does account for rill and inter- <br />rill erosion. Its complete form is listed below: <br />A=RxKx(LxS)xCxPxSDL <br />where: <br />A =soil loss in tons/year per acre <br />R =rainfall factor (from standard chart of area) <br />K =soil erodibility factor (function of site specific soil) <br />LS =length slope factor (from contour map 8~ chart) <br />C =management factor dependent upon vegetation 8 mulch <br />P =erosion control practice factor <br />SDL =sediment delivery ratio <br />Since all undisturbed areas have an identical land use (grazing and wildlife <br />habitat), the areas within each of the three sites do not need to be split up into <br />sub-areas. <br /> <br />