Identifying Erosion-Prone Areas in the Mackinaw Watershed Using Geospatial Techniques

Abstract

Soil erosion manifests globally as major land degradation driven by hydrological forces such as wind and torrential water downpours frequently across the globe. Mapping areas highly vulnerable to erosion effectively informs soil conservation efforts and bolsters watershed management initiatives remarkably well nationwide. Over the years, a variety of models have been applied to better estimate soil erosion rates and predict sediment yield with greater precision. In this study, we used an empirical model to measure the average yearly soil loss. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was utilized to pinpoint areas within the Mackinaw Watershed catchment which are very susceptible to erosion. The model integrates with Geographic Information System tools analyzing spatial distribution of involved parameters deeply within various contexts. Soil loss rates in tons per hectare per year were used to categorize catchment area into different severity classes of erosion in the area of study.