Erosion, sediment discharge, and channel morphology in the upper Chattahoochee River basin, Georgia, with a discussion of the contribution of suspended sediment to stream quality

The 3,550 square miles of the Upper Chattahoochee River basin is an area of diverse physiographic and land-use characteristics. The headwater areas are mountainous with steep, relatively narrow channels. Land in the headwater areas is heavily forested, but small towns and farms are common in the valleys of large streams. Downstream, the basin is characterized by low hills and wider stream channels. Land in this part of the basin is also predominantly forested; however, large agricultural and urban areas are common. Urban land use is particularly intensive within the Atlanta Metropolitan Area.