Sediment Sampling and Data Processing

Sediment can be transported as suspended load (moves with the flow of the river) or as bedload (rolls along the riverbed) or can be deposited on the riverbed or bank. Sediment is naturally occurring and essential to supporting the ecological function of a water body. High sediment concentrations in rivers and streams, however, can be detrimental for a variety of reasons. Sediment must be physically measured to adequately inform water resources and sediment management decisions.

USGS collects sediment samples at thousands of locations across the U.S., using nationally consistent methods. USGS sediment data are available through our national databases and data dissemination tools (see the Data & Tools tab above).

The USGS also provides leadership for the Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project (FISP), which was created in 1939 to unify and standardize the research and development activities of Federal agencies involved in fluvial sediment studies. The FISP also has developed and approved a suite of physical sediment and water quality sampling equipment to collect accurate sediment samples. Visit the FISP page to find more information on this program. Key references and technical manuals for USGS sediment sampling activities are listed below.

Selected publications relating to sediment sampling and data processing

Davis, Broderick E., 2005, A guide to the proper selection and use of federally approved sediment and water-quality samplers, U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 2005-1087, 26 p. This report describes all sediment samplers approved by the FISP (and USGS) and includes a flowchart to assist in sampler selection based on river conditions.

Edwards, Thomas K. and Glysson, G. Douglas, 1999, Field methods for measurement of fluvial sediment: Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the U.S. Geological Survey, Book 3, Applications of Hydraulics, Chapter 2, 89 p. This report is the primary USGS manual on sediment sampling techniques and should be a key reference when planning and designing sediment sampling programs.

Freidman, L.C., and Erdmann, D.E., 1982, Quality assurance practices for the chemical and biological analyses of water and fluvial sediments: Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the U.S. Geological Survey, Book 5, Chapter A6, 181 p.  This report describes practices used by USGS to assure the quality of analytical data for water, fluvial sediment, and aquatic organisms processed by field and laboratory personnel.

Glysson, G.D., 1987, Sediment transport curves: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 87-218, 47 p. The report describes the process of developing sediment-transport curves, or calibrations between sediment concentrations or loads and water discharge. The method is widely used to estimate sediment concentrations or loads for periods when water discharge data are available but sediment data are not. However, other surrogate methods may be preferable if there is no clear, consistent relationship between water discharge and sediment transport.

Johnson, Gary P., 1996, Instruction manual for U.S. Geological Survey sediment observers: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-431, 35 p. Sediment concentrations in a stream vary with flow, time, and other factors; as a result, many samples must be collected to develop an adequate relation between the sediment concentration and the corresponding water discharge. The feasibility of USGS personnel to frequently visit a site and collect many samples is usually impractical. Therefore, local residents are sometimes contracted to collect these samples. These people are referred to as USGS Sediment Observers. This report is an instruction manual for Sediment Observers, describing simple sample collection techniques and proper timing of sample collection.

Koltun, G.F., Eberle, Michael, Gray, J.R., and Glysson, G.D., 2006, User’s manual for the Graphical Constituent Loading Analysis System (GCLAS): U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, Book 4, Chapter C1, 51 p. This report describes the USGS GCLAS software, which is used to develop a time series record of sediment or other water-quality constituent loads where samples are collected frequently enough to represent the shape of the chemograph during runoff periods, when connected by straight lines.

Nolan, K. Michael, Gray, John R., and Glysson, G. Douglas, 2005, Introduction to suspended-sediment sampling: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5077. This is a CD-ROM-based, virtual training class covering an introduction to USGS protocols for suspended-sediment sampling. The file can be downloaded and burned to a CD for viewing. This class will soon be converted to another electronic format (such as mp4).

Porterfield, George, 1972, Computation of fluvial-sediment discharge: Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the U.S. Geological Survey, Book 3, Chapter C3, 71 p. This report is an older, but still important, reference on methods to compute fluvial sediment records. Documentation on computation methods is provided on pages 17-56.

Stevens, Herbert H., Jr., 1985, Computer program for the computation of total sediment discharge: Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the U.S. Geological Survey, 85-4047.

Stevens, Herbert H., Jr., and Hubbell, David, W., 1986, Computer programs for computing particle-size statistics of fluvial sediments: Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the U.S. Geological Survey 86-4141.

Stevens, Herbert H., Jr., and Yang, Chih Ted, 1989, Summary and use of selected fluvial sediment-discharge formulas: Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the U.S. Geological Survey, 89-4026.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2006, Collection of water samples (ver. 2.0): U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, Book 9, Chapter A4, September 2006, 231. This chapter of the USGS’ National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data documents the use of scientifically sound, quality-assured field methods, including protocols, procedures, and recommended practices for the collection of water-quality data. Though collection methods specific to sediment are covered best in Edwards and Glysson (1999), described above, this report includes very useful tables in Appendix A4-A on sampler raising and lowering (transit) rates and volume guidelines to ensure isokinetic sampling.