Causative factors and variation of sediment yields in Kentucky

Conference · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5380929

Sholar, C J

Precipitation, topography, runoff, soils, and land use are the major causative factors of sediment yield in Kentucky. The variability and interaction of these factors directly affects the amount and type of sediment yields. Sediment yield and size data were collected during 1942-1945 and 1951-1981 throughout the five major physiographic regions of Kentucky and at selected stations on the main stem of the Ohio River. The Bluegrass region had the highest average annual suspended-sediment discharge of 741 tons per square mile. The Eastern Coal Field had the broadest range of average annual yields ranging from 25 to 1770 tons per square mile. The Mississippi Embayment region had the highest median value of annual suspended-sediment yield of 535 tons per square mile. Average percent sand in suspended sediment was highest in the Eastern Coal Field at 11 percent, and ranged from 2 to 56 percent. The Bluegrass region had the lowest average percent sand at 1.6 percent and ranged from 1 to 3 percent. Average percent silt varied in the regions by only 12 percent. The Western Coal Field had the lowest percent silt at 30 percent, and the Mississippian Plateaus region had the highest at 42 percent. The bedload discharge for selected stations was estimated to be in the range of 5 to 10 percent of the suspended-sediment discharge. Bedload sampling of the Ohio River at Louisville indicated an insignificant amount of sediment moving along the stream bed during high-water discharge.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Louisville, KY
• OSTI ID: 5380929
• Report Number(s): CONF-841204-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510100* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
520100 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
COAL PRODUCING DISTRICTS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EROSION
FEDERAL REGION IV
KENTUCKY
LAND POLLUTION
LAND USE
MASS TRANSFER
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MINING
MONITORS
NORTH AMERICA
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION
RAIN
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
RUNOFF
SEDIMENTS
SOIL CONSERVATION
SOILS
SURFACE MINING
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TOPOGRAPHY
USA
VARIATIONS
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION MONITORS
WATER QUALITY