Technical Report

Sponsor: GWRI

Start Date: 1999-03-01; Completion Date: 2000-02-29;

Keywords: Geomorphological and Geochemical processes, Climate and Hydrologic processes, Non Point Pollution, Sediments

Problem and Research Objectives:

Sediment in streams and lakes within the Southeast adversely affects aquatic habitats and presents a substantial health hazard by reducing the clarity of water, thus reducing biologic productivity. Coarse suspended solids also bury benthic habitats, thus diminishing overall species abundance and diversity. The ecological consequences of sediments in streams have been particularly detrimental to Georgia's native aquatic species. Additional consequences result from sediment transport. Nonpoint pollutant inputs to streams such as nutrients, metals, herbicides, insecticides, and fecal coliform are highly correlated with sediment inputs. The long term human and environmental health consequences from these non point sources are clearly a matter of local, regional, and national concern. Incomplete data limit the understanding of modern and historical sediment transport rates and inventories of Georgia Piedmont streams. A better understanding of historical and modern inputs provides the opportunity for identifying alternative management strategies for nonpoint pollution control that reduce or eliminate future environmental and health risks. The project investigated a multi-pronged approach for estimating the magnitude and distribution of suspended and bedload sediments.