Work

Evaluating Trends and Insights from Historical Suspended Sediment and Land Management Data in the South Fork Clearwater River Basin, Idaho County, Idaho, USA

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In forested watersheds, suspended sediment concentration (SSC) is an important parameter that impacts water quality and beneficial use. Water quality also has impacts beyond the stream channel, as elevated SSC can violate Indigenous sovereignty, treaty rights, and environmental law. To address elevated SSC, watershed partners must understand the dynamics of the sediment regime in the basins they steward. Collection of additional data is expensive, so this study presents modeling and analysis techniques to leverage existing data on SSC. Using data from the South Fork Clearwater River in Idaho County, Idaho, USA, we modeled SSC over water years 1986–2011 and we applied regression techniques to evaluate correlations between SSC and natural disturbances (channel-building flow events) and anthropogenic disturbances (timber harvesting, hazardous fuel management, controlled burns, and wildfire). Analysis shows that SSC did not change over the period of record. This study provides a monitoring program design to support future decision making leading to reductions in SSC.

Source: Hydrology

DOI: 10.3390/hydrology12030050

Authors: Kevin M. Humphreys, David C. Mays

Institution: University of Colorado Denver

Language: English

Topic: Soil erosion and sediment transport

Subfield: Soil Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,172