Sediment and aquatic habitat associations in river systems: Results from the ASCE Task Committee on Sediment Transport and Aquatic Habitats

Sediment transport is highly variable in space and time and a
natural part of the river environment.  Important linkages exist
between sediment transport processes and riverine aquatic
habitats.  If the sediment load or bed sediment type changes,
there are usually ecological consequences.  The responses are
usually complex, long lasting, and may be beneficial or
detrimental to a given resource.  Undesirable consequences of
water projects that modify sediment size distribution or load may
be avoided or mitigated when designers know about the
relationships between aquatic habitats and sediment transport. 
Accordingly, this paper has summarized knowledge linking sediment
transport and aquatic ecology.  Often hydraulic engineers and
aquatic ecologists have dissimilar frames of reference for the
evaluation of river systems.  However, this brief report should
provide a common footing for hydraulic engineers and the
environmental community in the evaluation of streams and aquatic
habitats.