Erosion Risk Management Tool (ERMiT) – A Probability-based Erosion Prediction Model

After wildfires, land managers must assess the potential for increased flooding, erosion, and sedimentation, and the increased threat these effects may pose to people, structures, and valued resources. A Web-based Erosion Risk Management Tool (ERMiT) has been developed to predict surface erosion from postfire hillslopes, and to evaluate the potential effectiveness of various erosion mitigation practices. The model uses a probabilistic approach that incorporates temporal and spatial variability in weather, soil properties, and burn severity for forests, rangeland, and chaparral hillslopes. Using multiple runs of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model, ERMiT provides event-based erosion rate probabilities-with and without treatmentsfor five post-fire years.