Soil erosion analysis and sedimentation control at the watershed scale requires spatially referenced data and information. In areas with significant snowfall, information on runoff from snowmelt and rainfall is a necessary prerequisite in the analysis of sedimentation in a watershed. Many watersheds, however, are ungaged, especially in mountainous regions, and thus require application of a hydrologic model to predict runoff. Geographic information systems (GIS) are well suited for characterization and representation of topography, geology, soils, vegetation, and land use and management affecting erosion and sedimentation. To characterize the climatic and hydrologic features, the GIS must be linked to other databases and hydrologic models.
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