Total Suspended Solids
The transport of sediment is a natural function of rivers. Modification of the landscape has accelerated the rate of erosion of soil into waterways. Elevated sediment (suspended soil particles) has many impacts. It makes rivers look muddy, affecting aesthetics and swimming. Sediment carries nutrients, pesticides, and other chemicals into the river that may impact fish and wildlife species. Sedimentation can restrict the areas where fish spawn, limit biological diversity, and keep river water cloudy, reducing the potential for the growth of healthy aquatic plants.