Total Sediment Load

Total Sediment Load

Total sediment load is the amount of sediment transported by a waterway past a given point over a given amount of time. Total sediment load has two components: suspended sediment and bedload.

Suspended sediment refers to the tiny particles of organic and inorganic material that are light enough that when they are disturbed, they stay suspended in the water column for long periods of time and can be transported great distances by moving water. During low-flow or baseflow conditions, suspended sediment is the primary or even the only contributing factor to total sediment load.

Bedload refers to the sediment that is too heavy to remain suspended in the water, but that can still be moved by fast-flowing water. Smaller pebbles might bounce or skip along the bottom of the waterway (this is also known as saltation), while larger rocks or even boulders might roll along the streambed. Generally, bedload only contributes to total suspended sediment during storms, floods, or other high-flow conditions.