By Scout Nelson
The Minnesota Office of Soil Health (MOSH) invites local conservationists to a free online workshop to explore new tools for visualizing erosion and precipitation trends at the watershed level. The session introduces the Daily Erosion Project (DEP), which provides daily estimates of soil loss and runoff from hillslopes.
The DEP is designed to meet Minnesota’s unique landscape needs and is the result of collaboration between the University of Minnesota and Iowa State University, funded by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. While the model produces detailed and complex data, the new interactive UMN dashboards make it easy to create user-friendly annual maps and charts, helping conservationists visualize trends, compare watersheds, and identify priority areas.
Participants will gain hands-on knowledge to:
- Grasp DEP fundamentals and its application.
- Navigate the DEP interactive map for daily erosion and precipitation data.
- Map hillslope soil loss and detect areas with high erosion risk.
- Compare runoff, precipitation, and soil loss across different watersheds.
- Export visuals and data for reporting, grants, and outreach.
The workshop is aimed at SWCD and Watershed District staff, Extension staff, and agricultural partners interested in using DEP to communicate effectively with stakeholders.
The one-hour webinar is scheduled for November 17, 2025, from 2:00-3:00 CST and is free to attend. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
For additional details, contact Marcelle Lewandowski at alewand@umn.edu. Participants can explore the Daily Erosion Project and UMN Annual Dashboards ahead of the workshop for a more interactive experience.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-sasiistock
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Weather