An understanding of the quantity and quality of sediment deposited in a reservoir is necessary for effective reservoir and basin management. Sedimentation affects the useful life of a reservoir for such important purposes as flood control, water supply, and recreation. Sediment quality is an important environmental concern because sediment may act as a sink for various water-quality constituents and as a source of constituents to the overlying water column and biota. An analysis of reservoir bottom sediments can provide historical information on sediment deposition as well as magnitudes and trends for water-quality constituents that are associated with sediment such as phosphorus, trace elements, and some pesticides. Such information can be used to document and understand the effects of various natural and human factors on reservoir conditions.
Reservoir sediment investigations conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey since 1995 have been completed with specific objectives being to:
- Estimate total sediment volume and mass
- Estimate annual sediment deposition and yield from the basin
- Determine the occurrence and trends of constituents
- Estimate annual constituent loads and yields from the basin
- Assess sediment quality
- Assess how reservoir conditions have changed over time and identify possible issues of concern
- Provide a baseline for future assessments
- Methods used include bathymetric surveying, bottom-sediment coring, chemical analysis, and statistical analysis
An understanding of the quantity and quality of sediment deposited in a reservoir is necessary for effective reservoir and basin management. Sedimentation affects the useful life of a reservoir for such important purposes as flood control, water supply, and recreation. Sediment quality is an important environmental concern because sediment may act as a sink for various water-quality constituents and as a source of constituents to the overlying water column and biota. An analysis of reservoir bottom sediments can provide historical information on sediment deposition as well as magnitudes and trends for water-quality constituents that are associated with sediment such as phosphorus, trace elements, and some pesticides. Such information can be used to document and understand the effects of various natural and human factors on reservoir conditions.
Reservoir sediment investigations conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey since 1995 have been completed with specific objectives being to:
- Estimate total sediment volume and mass
- Estimate annual sediment deposition and yield from the basin
- Determine the occurrence and trends of constituents
- Estimate annual constituent loads and yields from the basin
- Assess sediment quality
- Assess how reservoir conditions have changed over time and identify possible issues of concern
- Provide a baseline for future assessments
- Methods used include bathymetric surveying, bottom-sediment coring, chemical analysis, and statistical analysis