Setting up the Sediment Delivery Distributed (SEDD) Model: The Carapelle Watershed Case Study

Abstract

The Carapelle watershed in Southern Italy faces significant challenges related to soil erosion, exacerbated by its Mediterranean climate and agricultural practices. This study employs the SEdiment Delivery Distributed (SEDD) model to analyze sediment transport and erosion processes over a year. Key factors including slope steepness (S), slope length (L), land cover (C), soil erodibility (K), and climate (R) were integrated into the SEDD model to identify vulnerable areas susceptible to erosion. Data collected from monitoring stations revealed that sediment transport in the watershed is strongly influenced by seasonal variations in the flow regime, with peak values observed during major floods in the wet season. The effectiveness of Best Management Practices (BMPs), such as cover crops, in mitigating erosion will be evaluated based on model simulations and field observations.