Erosion Silt as a Factor in Aquatic Environments

Targeting riparian buffers and grassed waterways to address freshwater species decline

“…Mussel varieties differ in their ability to tolerate siltation in streams. Some species, such as the yellow sandshell, experienced substantial mortality from just 2.5 cm (0.98 in) of deposited silt (Ellis 1936;Henley et al 2000). Certain other mussel species experienced very widespread mortality only when exposed to 45 cm (17.7 in) of silt (Imlay 1972 Fish also vary widely in their ability to tolerate turbidity and siltation.…”

Report on the biological monitoring program for Bear Creek at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 1989-1994

“…Gravel and fine sediments have accumulated at both BCK 9.91 and 7.78. Excessive siltation reduces substrate heterogeneity, increases turbidity, limits plant growth, alters invertebrate communities, and increases fish egg and larval mortality; thereby limiting fish Creek chub survival and availability of food, cover, and 5.1.5 Future Studies spawning habitat (Ellis 1936;Chutter 1969;Gammon 1970;Hynes 1970Hynes , 1974Sorensen et al 1977;Muncy et al 1979;Berkman and Rabeni 1987).…”

Assessment of sediments in the riverine impoundments of national wildlife refuges in the Souris River Basin, North Dakota

“…Environmental Protection Agency, 1994;Morel and others, 1998;Hamilton and Buhl, 2004). Additionally, unconsolidated sediments can increase turbidity, reduce dissolved oxygen concentrations, alter nutrient availability, reduce sunlight penetration, bury invertebrate egg and plant seed banks, and affect aquatic biota (Ellis, 1936;McCabe and O'Brien, 1983;Dieter, 1991;Newcombe and MacDonald, 1991;Jurik and others, 1994;Gleason and Euliss, 1998;Gleason and others, 2003b). If sufficient, these changes can eliminate or reduce growth of submerged aquatic vegetation that provides foods and structure for fish, invertebrates, and wildlife (Robel, 1961;Kullberg, 1974).…”