RUSLE2 Demystified – Workshop 2 of 3: Building a Defensible RUSLE2 Analysis
Includes a Live Web Event on 2027/01/19 at 12:45 PM (MST)
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RUSLE2 Demystified – Workshop 2 of 3: Building a Defensible RUSLE2 Analysis
Date: January 19th, 2027 11:45pm-1:00pm PST
Presenter: Melanie Sotelo | Associate Vice President & Director of Environmental Service| Casc Engineering and Consulting
Level: Intermediate
Duration: 1.25 hour
Type of Course: On - Demand
PDH credits: 1
RUSLE2 is widely used to estimate soil erosion and support erosion and sediment control planning. However, developing a
defensible analysis requires more than understanding the model's underlying principles. Practitioners must be able to
translate actual site conditions into reasonable modeling inputs, select appropriate data sources, and document the
assumptions used to represent a project.
Building on Part 1 of the RUSLE2 Demystified webinar series, this second session focuses on developing the information
needed for a RUSLE2 analysis. Topics include identifying representative project areas, understanding climate and soil data
sources, evaluating slope characteristics, and selecting appropriate cover, management, and supporting practice inputs.
Particular attention will be given to construction and other land-disturbing activities, where site conditions may change
substantially over time. Participants will also learn how to evaluate input assumptions, recognize limitations in available
databases, and document decisions to support technically defensible analyses.
The webinar emphasizes practical input development and professional judgment rather than step-by-step software
operation, which will be addressed in Part 3 of the series.
Learning Outcomes.
1. Identify and evaluate: Appropriate sources of climate, soil, and topographic information
needed to develop a RUSLE2 analysis, including the limitations of available data.
2. Describe how to translate: Actual project conditions into representative RUSLE2 inputs,
including slope characteristics, cover, management practices, construction sequencing, and
changing site conditions.
3. Explain how to document and evaluate: Modeling assumptions, input selections, and data
limitations to support a reasonable and defensible RUSLE2 analysis.
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.
