SUSPENDED SEDIMENT PRODUCTION FROM FORESTED WATERSHEDS ON OAHU,HAWAII1 |
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Authors: | R D Doty H B Wood R A Merriam |
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Abstract: | Suspended sediment from forested and agricultural watersheds was sampled over a five-year period on the island of Oahu. A variety of storm conditions were sampled, giving a measure of the extreme variability in suspended sediment production. Total annual suspended sediment from all watersheds sampled ranged from 8400 kg/km2 to 617,000 kg/km2. Normally, about 90 percent of the total suspended sediment was produced during less than 2 percent of the time. Suspended sediment concentrations rapidly increased during rising stream flow resulting from rain storms. Time to peak of less than two hours is common, with a similarly rapid return to prestorm conditions. The data presented indicate the great variability of suspended sediment yields, making establishment of effective standards difficult. |
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Keywords: | suspended sediment forests water quality standards Hawaii storm flow |
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