Modeling erosion and sediment control practices with RUSLE 2.0: a management approach for natural gas well sites in Denton County, TX, USA

Sediment yields from natural gas well sites in Denton County, TX, USA can be substantial and warrant consideration of appropriate erosion and sediment control best management practices (BMPs). Version 2 of the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE 2.0) was used to predict sediment yields and evaluate the efficiency of BMPs for multiple combinations of different land surface conditions (soil erodibility and slope) commonly found at gas well sites in the area. Annual average sediment yield predictions from unprotected site conditions ranged from 12.1 to 134.5 tonnes per hectare per year (t/ha/yr). Sediment yield predictions for 1, 2, 5, and 10-year design storms ranged from 8.1 to 20.6 t/ha. When site conditions were modeled with BMPs, predicted sediment yields were 52-93% less. A comparison of modeled efficiency values to a review of laboratory and field data suggests that modeled (theoretical) sediment yield results with BMPs are likely best case scenarios. This study also evaluated BMPs in the context of site management goals and implementation cost, demonstrating a practical approach for the application of RUSLE 2.0 for managing soil loss and understanding the importance of selecting appropriate site-specific BMPs for disturbed site conditions.