Soil Erosion Assessment Using EPM Model in Onsar Wadi Basin in the Prerif Mountains, Morocco

Abstract

The study assesses water erosion in the Prerif area in northern Morocco using GIS, remote sensing, and applying the Erosion Potential Model (EPM), also known as the Gavrilovic model. The study quantifies erosion rates and their spatial distribution by analyzing data layers on lithology, aspect, slope, precipitation, and land use. The fieldwork and modeling reveal critical approaches to analyze, study and quantify the erosion. The results demonstrated a moderate erosion (500-1500 m³/km²/year) affecting over 50% of the Onsar Wadi basin (OWB), covering around 53 km². Areas with severe erosion impact about 4% of the OWB, with erosion rates exceeding 20,000 m³/km²/year. The findings aim to inform strategies and predict areas at risk of erosion for mitigating erosion's adverse effects on natural resources.