Why control sediment?
Sediment fills drainage channels along roadways, restricts flows through culverts, and storm drain systems and fill navigable waterways, requiring costly maintenance and or dredging activities. Sediment changes the underwater environment by screening out sunlight which reaches the bottom, it may also increase water temperatures by absorbing the sunlight and thus warming the waters. Additionally, sediments blanket stream and lake bottoms and creates an environment which is not conducive to bottom dwelling organisms and may cover many of these organisms eggs. Many nutrients and chemicals may be attached to soil particles and are introduced into streams and waterways when they are transported to streams.
