Sediment transport and aquatic vegetation data from three locations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California, 2017 to 2018

We measured currents, suspended-sediment concentration (SSC), bed sediment characteristics, and vegetation biomass density in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in 2017-2018, as part of a project investigating the influence of invasive aquatic vegetation (IAV) on flow and sediment flux. This data release includes data from three sites: Lindsey Slough (April 2017), Middle River (March 2018) and the lower Mokelumne River (March 2018). At all three sites the IAV is dominated by the submerged species Egeria densa. Station locations, instrumentation, and measured variables are detailed on pages for each data type. IAV a poses a growing hazard to navigation, infrastructure, and ecosystems in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. IAV has the potential to retard water flow, affecting SSC and sediment flux. The purpose of project is to investigate the influence of IAV on currents, SSC, and sediment flux in the Delta. These effects of IAV may have consequences to water clarity which influences the fish habitat quality, and to sediment supply to marshes and to the San Francisco Estuary. The information will be of interest to agencies that manage and control IAV in the Delta, including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Division of Boating and Waterways, and Department of Water Resources. Funding for this study was provided by the USGS Priority Landscapes Program for the San Francisco Bay and Delta. These data provide information on IAV density, bed elevation and bed characteristics, sediment size distribution, current velocities, and sediment transport. Please read metadata carefully for each dataset.