Water Resources Research Act Program

Principal Investigators: Mark Lander, Shahram Khosrowpanah

Abstract: Soil erosion and sedimentation are a major sources of non-point pollution. It could damage the reefs, degree surface water quality, and reduce the productivity of soil. These problems are particularly serious in the humid tropics because tropical islands exhibit rainfall variability, variable topography, and infertile and highly weathered soils. Reducing soil erosion requires having a better understanding of the agents that contribute to the soil erosion such as the impact of rainfall intensity, volume, and duration. The objective of this study is to develop Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) average annual rainfall factor (R factor) values for the islands of the CNMI. One of the major benefits of this project is to enable various agencies dealing with soil erosion and non-point sources of pollution to identify areas of potentially high erosion. These areas can then be targeted for application of soil erosion control practices.