Presented by David T Lightle, CPESC
Dave Lightle is originally from Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois in 1967. He joined the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (Formerly the Soil Conservation Service and held various county state and regional positions as a Soil Conservationist and Agronomist over his 44 year USDA career. Prior to retirement in 2010 he worked as the Agronomist on the USDA, NRCS, Soil Interpretations Staff at the National Soil Survey Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. In that position he served as national database manager for erosion prediction models (RUSLE2 and WEPS). In addition he was the lead contact for the RUSLE2 model for NRCS. He also developed of the Soil Conditioning Index, the Soil Tillage Intensity Rating and other tools used by staff in the 3000 NRCS field offices.
In September 2010, Dave became a private consultant specializing in RUSLE2 training, database development, user interface customization and RUSLE2 support. Dave has conducted training workshops on adapting RUSLE2 for use by two Canadian provinces and assisted them in implementing RUSLE2 by customizing the model and databases for use in Canada. In addition, as a part time employee of by Brown and Caldwell in Walnut Creek, California, Dave customized RUSLE2 for use by Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation in 2011. He provides training, develops custom databases, custom screens and printing options and assists clients in the use of RUSLE2 on construction sites. Among his clients and their consultants are: Idaho Transportation Department, Southern California Edison, Sandia National Labs, Los Alamos National Lab, New Mexico Department of Transportation, Savannah River Site, and Pacific Gas and Electric.
In his consulting work Dave has utilized a new modified version of RUSLE2 containing new perennial vegetation modeling science to develop a specific database and custom user screens and access controls for each customer. Dave has developed specific RUSLE2 user screens for construction site users. He has also developed numerous new sediment barrier practice files, new mulch and commercial erosion control blanket files and new management files to represent common Best Management Practices required by Caltrans and Idaho on their road and highway construction projects.
Dave previously has presented RUSLE2 training at Environmental Connection 2009 and 2010 as a co-instructor, and at Environmental Connection 2014, 2015 and 2016 as the primary instructor.