RUSLE for mining, construction and reclamation lands

The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is a practical and increasingly popular choice to provide soil-loss estimates in the preparation of environmental impact assessments, reclamation plans, and post-reclamation site evaluations for land subjected to mining and construction. A factor-by-factor comparison of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and RUSLE versions 1.04 and 1.06 illustrates the ways in which version 1.06 has been modified and improved to accommodate the special conditions of mining, construction, and reclamation lands. The effects of several erosion- and sediment-control materials and practices are included in the C and P factors. The program computes sediment-delivery ratios that include consideration of sediment characteristics. Despite its limitations, we believe that RUSLE 1.06 is the best currently available technology for soil-loss estimation on mining, construction, and reclamation lands. The USLE and RUSLE version 1.04 no longer should be used for this purpose.