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2.0 RUSLE COMPARISON <br />The USDA RUSLE method (Mays 2001, USDAb) is used in conducting this analysis. The soil loss in <br />tons/acre/year is expressed as follows: <br />A=RxKxLSxCxP <br />Where: <br />A =Soil loss in tons/acres/year <br />R =Rainfall or Erosion Index Factor <br />K =Soil Erodibility Factor <br />LS =Slope Length of Topographic Factor <br />C =Cropping Managemettt Factor <br />P =Erosion Control Practice <br />The following sections detail the methods used in determining these inputs. <br />2.1 RAINFALL OR EROSION INDEX FACTOR (R) <br />The storm type for Colorado is SCS Type II, which has an associated R-factor of 10 (USDAa). <br />2.2 SOIL ERODIBILITY FACTOR (K) <br />The soil erodibiliCy factor (K) can be determined from the soils texture content and percent of organic <br />matter. The field visit conducted in November of 2004 characterized the soil and organic matter content. <br />These results along with associated K factors are presented in Table 2-2. <br />TABLE 2-1 -SOIL ERODIBILITY FACTOR <br />Site Description Texture Class Organic Matter Content K Factor <br />Thermal Event SAES <br />TEAL W Dark cla loam 4% or hi her 0.21 <br />TEAK Dark clay loam 4% or higher 0.21 <br />TEAIE Dark clay loam 4% or higher 0.21 <br />TEA2 Dark cla loam 4°/m or hi her 0.21 <br />TEAG Dark clay loam 4% or higher 0.21 <br />TEA3 Dark clay loam 4% or hi her 0.21 <br />TEA4 Dark clay loam 4% or higher 0.21 <br /> <br />Undisturbed Area Dark clay loam 4°/o or higher 0.21 <br />Source: Mays 2001. <br />Thermal Event RUSLE Report.doc 2-1 <br />