Sediment and Stream Health - Pennsylvania Active
Sediment Core
USGS studies sediment deposition in reservoirs and streams
Removal of Legacy Sediments Effects Nutrient Loads in Streamflow
Effects of Legacy Sediment Removal on Nutrients and Sediment in Big Spring Run, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 2009–15
Sediment in streams, from land surface erosion in watersheds, is an important factor in determining the quality of Pennsylvania's surface waters and of downstream water bodies such as the Delaware Estuary and Chesapeake Bay. The USGS has a long-standing tradition of measuring suspended-sediment concentrations and estimating loads. Recent technological advances allow real-time estimates of suspended sediment in streams, which can be used for managing water quality and drinking-water withdrawals.
USGS collects data and conducts studies related to the production of sediment in Pennsylvania watersheds, transport processes controlling the rate of erosion, both in and out of the stream, and subsequent deposition in streams and reserviors. Many water quality constituents are partly bound to sediments, and sediment suspended in the water column has a major impact on aquatic life. Erosion of streambanks, scour at bridges, and deposition of sediments in reservoirs are some of the topics of USGS studies related to Pennsylvania's infrastructure.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Sediment Sources and Deposition in the Estuary
Below are data associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Effects of legacy sediment removal and effects on nutrients and sediment in Big Spring Run, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 2009–15
Effects of surface mining on streamflow, suspended-sediment, and water quality in the Stony Fork drainage basin, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Effects of specific land uses on nonpoint sources of suspended sediment, nutrients, and herbicides, Pequea Creek basin, Pennsylvania, 1979-80
Sedimentation in the East Branch Mahoning Creek basin, Clearfield and Jefferson Counties, Pennsylvania, June 1979 to June 1980
The effects of highway construction on sediment discharge into Blockhouse Creek and Steam Valley Run, Pennsylvania
Suspended-sediment discharge in five streams near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, before, during, and after highway construction
Postimpoundment survey of water-quality characteristics of Raystown Lake, Huntingdon and Bedford Counties, Pennsylvania
Sediment discharge from highway construction near Port Carbon, Pennsylvania
Effectiveness of sediment-control techniques used during highway construction in central Pennsylvania
Hydrology and sedimentation of Bixler Run Basin, central Pennsylvania
Sediment characteristics of five streams near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, before highway construction
Sediment discharge from an area of highway construction, Applemans Run basin, Columbia County, Pennsylvania
The effects of the Hurricane Agnes flood on channel geometry and sediment discharge of selected streams in the Susquehanna River basin, Pennsylvania
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- Overview
Sediment in streams, from land surface erosion in watersheds, is an important factor in determining the quality of Pennsylvania's surface waters and of downstream water bodies such as the Delaware Estuary and Chesapeake Bay. The USGS has a long-standing tradition of measuring suspended-sediment concentrations and estimating loads. Recent technological advances allow real-time estimates of suspended sediment in streams, which can be used for managing water quality and drinking-water withdrawals.
USGS collects data and conducts studies related to the production of sediment in Pennsylvania watersheds, transport processes controlling the rate of erosion, both in and out of the stream, and subsequent deposition in streams and reserviors. Many water quality constituents are partly bound to sediments, and sediment suspended in the water column has a major impact on aquatic life. Erosion of streambanks, scour at bridges, and deposition of sediments in reservoirs are some of the topics of USGS studies related to Pennsylvania's infrastructure.
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Sediment Sources and Deposition in the Estuary
During the past 10 years, integrated studies of sediment in Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries have been carried out by a team of USGS scientists, in collaboration with researchers from several universities, the Maryland Geological Survey, the U.S. Naval Research laboratory, the USEPA, and other institutions. The USGS worked with these investigators to prepare a comprehensive review of sediment... - Data
Below are data associated with this project.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Effects of legacy sediment removal and effects on nutrients and sediment in Big Spring Run, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 2009–15
Big Spring Run is a 1.68-square mile watershed underlain by mostly carbonate rock in a mixed land-use setting (part agricultural and part developed) in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Big Spring Run is a subwatershed of Mill Creek, a tributary to the Conestoga River. These watersheds are known contributors of nutrient and sediment loads to the Chesapeake Bay and several stream reaches are on the PAuthorsMichael J. Langland, Joseph W. Duris, Tammy M. Zimmerman, Jeffrey J. ChaplinFilter Total Items: 81Effects of surface mining on streamflow, suspended-sediment, and water quality in the Stony Fork drainage basin, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
A study of the Stony Fork basin in southern Fayette County, Pennsylvania, from 1977 through 1980 determined the impacts of surface coal mining on surface-water quality. Stony Fork was sampled at six sites, during which time the area of surface mines increased from 0.5 to 5.5 percent of the study area. Streamflow, suspended-sediment, and water quality data were collected at gaging stations upstreamAuthorsD.E. Stump, T.M. MastrilliEffects of specific land uses on nonpoint sources of suspended sediment, nutrients, and herbicides, Pequea Creek basin, Pennsylvania, 1979-80
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cooperated with the U.S. Geological Survey in a study to quantify nonpoint-source loadings from an agricultural area in Pennsylvania. Pequea Creek, a tributary to the Susquehanna River, drains a 154-square mile agricultural area in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Previous studies defined the Pequea Creek basin as aAuthorsP. L. Lietman, J. R. Ward, T.E. BehrendtSedimentation in the East Branch Mahoning Creek basin, Clearfield and Jefferson Counties, Pennsylvania, June 1979 to June 1980
Parts of the East Branch Mahoning Creek basin, a forested area of 29.6 square miles in west-central Pennsylvania, are disturbed by farming, surface mining, unpaved haul roads, eroding reclaimed areas, and logging. Streamflow was measured and water samples collected at a site upstream from the mouth from June 1979 to June 1980 during base flow and storm periods to evaluate sediment discharges. An aAuthorsKim L. WetzelThe effects of highway construction on sediment discharge into Blockhouse Creek and Steam Valley Run, Pennsylvania
From October 1972 through September 1977, the effects of highway construction in the 38 square mile Blockhouse Creek basin were studied. Water discharge, suspended-sediment discharge, and stream-temperature data were collected at four stations in the basin. The 5-year period included 1 year before construction, 2 years during construction, and 2 years after construction. The effects of stream reloAuthorsRobert A. HainlySuspended-sediment discharge in five streams near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, before, during, and after highway construction
Rainfall, streamflow, sediment, and turbidity data were collected as part of a study to evaluate the effects of highway construction on suspended-sediment discharges in streams. The study was also designed to evaluate the effectiveness of different erosion-control measures in reducing sediment discharge. Although highway construction increased suspended-sediment discharges from two to four-fold, tAuthorsLloyd A. ReedPostimpoundment survey of water-quality characteristics of Raystown Lake, Huntingdon and Bedford Counties, Pennsylvania
Water-quality data, collected from May 1974 to September 1976 at thirteen sites within Raystown Lake and in the inflow and outflow channels, define the water-quality characteristics of the lake water and the effects of impoundment on the quality of the lake outflow. Depth-profile measurements show Raystown Lake to be dimictic. Thermal stratification is well developed during the summer. Generally hAuthorsDonald R. WilliamsSediment discharge from highway construction near Port Carbon, Pennsylvania
The effects of highway construction on suspended-sediment loads were studied in the upper reaches of the Schuylkill River basin, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, from April 1975 to March 1977. From March 1975 to October 1976, 4.3 miles of State Route 209 was relocated through the upper reaches of the basin, a mountainous watershed with a drainage area of 27.1 square miles. About 16,000 tons of susAuthorsRobert E. HelmEffectiveness of sediment-control techniques used during highway construction in central Pennsylvania
A different method for controlling erosion and sediment transport during highway construction was used in each of four adjacent drainage basins in central Pennsylvania. The basins ranged in size from 240 to 490 acres (97 to 198 hectares), and the area disturbed by highway construction in each basin ranged from 20 to 48 acres (8 to 19 hectares). Sediment discharge was measured from each basin for 3AuthorsLloyd A. ReedHydrology and sedimentation of Bixler Run Basin, central Pennsylvania
Rainfall, streamflow, stream chemical, and sediment discharge data were collected from Bixler Run near Loysville, Pa., during the period from February 1954 to September 1969 as part of a project to evaluate sediment discharge from an agricultural area in which soil-conservation techniques were being adopted at a moderate rate. The study was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation wiAuthorsLloyd A. ReedSediment characteristics of five streams near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, before highway construction
Rainfall, streamflow, sediment, and turbidity data are being collected as part of a study to evaluate the effects of highway construction on sediment discharge. The study is also designed to determine the effectiveness of different erosion-control measures in reducing sediment discharges. The study area, near Enola, Pa., consists of five adjacent drainage basins, four of which will be crossed by IAuthorsLloyd A. ReedSediment discharge from an area of highway construction, Applemans Run basin, Columbia County, Pennsylvania
The effects of highway construction on stream sediment loads were studied in Applemans Run basin, Columbia County, Pa., from October 1971 to May 1974. During the investigations, about 5,200 tons of suspended-sediment were discharged from the basin. Of this amount, about 2,700 tons, or about half the total sediment discharge, as derived from the highway construction area. Annual suspended-sedimentAuthorsDavid A. EckhardtThe effects of the Hurricane Agnes flood on channel geometry and sediment discharge of selected streams in the Susquehanna River basin, Pennsylvania
The Hurricane Agnes flood seems to have hardly changed the channel geometry of the Pennsylvania streams studied in this report. The 10 sites studied generally showed that the width of the stream channels had been changed little by the flood and that streambed altitudes had been lowered less than a foot (0.3 m). The velocity of the streams at a given discharge had decreased. In comparison, the sediAuthorsJohn R. Ritter - Web Tools
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