RUSLE2 Demystified – Workshop 1 of 3: Understanding RUSLE2 - Foundations for Defensible Erosion Modeling
Includes a Live Web Event on 2026/09/30 at 12:45 PM (MDT)
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RUSLE2 Demystified – Workshop 1 of 3: Understanding RUSLE2 - Foundations for Defensible Erosion Modeling
Melanie Sotelo | Associate Vice President & Director of Environmental Service| Casc Engineering and Consulting
Date: Wednesday 30th September 2026
Time: 11.45am 1.00pm PST
Level: Intermediate
Duration: 1.25 hour
Type of Course: Webinar – Live
Accurate prediction of soil erosion is a critical component of erosion and sediment control planning, stormwater compliance, and construction project design. RUSLE2 (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation Version 2) has become the preferred erosion prediction model for numerous transportation, infrastructure, and regulatory applications, including compliance with portions of California's Construction General Permit and certain Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements. Despite its widespread use, many engineers and environmental professionals rely on RUSLE2 without fully understanding the scientific principles, assumptions, limitations, and regulatory context underlying the model. This webinar provides a technical foundation for understanding how RUSLE2 estimates soil loss, when it should be applied, and how it supports defensible erosion prediction and compliance decisions.
Learning Outcomes.
- Explain the physical processes of soil erosion represented within RUSLE2.
- Describe the primary factors influencing erosion prediction, including rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, topography, vegetative cover, and management practices.
- Identify the regulatory drivers supporting the use of RUSLE2 for erosion prediction and compliance.
- Explain how RUSLE2 estimates average annual soil loss and sediment delivery.
- Recognize the capabilities and limitations of RUSLE2 when evaluating erosion control alternatives.
HOSTED BY:
Melanie Sotelo
Director of Environmental Services
CASC Engineering and Consulting
Melanie Sotelo is a seasoned environmental professional with over 30 years of experience in stormwater management and construction compliance. She currently serves as the Director of Environmental Services at CASC Engineering and Consulting, where she leads initiatives in civil and environmental engineering with a strong focus on water quality and regulatory compliance. Melanie holds multiple industry-recognized certifications, including CPSWQ (Certified Professional in Storm Water Quality), CPESC (Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control), QSD/P (Qualified SWPPP Developer/Practitioner), and ToR (Trainer of Record). She is also an active member of the State’s Construction General Permit Training Team, contributing to the development and delivery of statewide training programs.
With over 20 years of training experience, Melanie has delivered hundreds of sessions to QSDs, QSPs, municipal staff, and regulatory professionals. Her training portfolio spans in-person workshops, conference presentations, and online webinars. She is known for her engaging and interactive teaching style, which emphasizes real-world application, audience participation, and regulatory clarity. Melanie’s ability to translate complex permit requirements into practical strategies makes her a trusted educator and mentor in the stormwater compliance community.
This event is worth one (1) Professional Development Hours.
IECA is committed to fostering an environment of continuous learning and professional growth. Through a process of peer review and content selection standards, we ensure that our content is robust, relevant, and aligned with industry standards. We respect the authority of certification organizations to evaluate and accept professional development activities according to their criteria, acceptance of professional development credits is at the discretion of your certifying organization.
