Suspended and Bedded Sediments
Suspended and bedded sediments (SABS) are defined by EPA as particulate organic and inorganic matter that suspend in or are carried by the water, and/or accumulate in a loose, unconsolidated form on the bottom of natural water bodies. This includes the frequently used terms of clean sediment, suspended sediment, total suspended solids, bedload, turbidity, or in common terms, dirt, soils or eroded materials.
DRAFT: Developing Water Quality Criteria for suspended and bedded sediments (SABs); Potential Approaches (PDF) (58 pp., 165 K)
- Appendix 1: The Biological Effects of Suspended and Bedded Sediment (SABS) in Aquatic Systems: A Review (PDF) (58 pp., 271 K), Internal Report (August 20, 2003)
- Appendix 2: Summary of Water Quality Guidelines for turbidity, suspended and Benthic sediments; British Columbia, Canada (PDF) (9 pp., 28 K)
- Appendix 3: Sediment-Related Criteria for Surface Water Quality (PDF) (24 pp., 68 K)
- Appendix 4: Table (Lotus 1-2-3 file) (93 K)
- Appendix 5: Guide to Selection of Sediment Targets for Use in Idaho TMDLs (PDF) (54 pp., 157 K)
Procedures for the Derivation of Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Benchmarks (ESBs) and Guidelines (ESGs)
- DRAFT: Technical Basis for the Derivation of Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Guidelines (ESGs) for the Protection of Benthic Organisms: Nonionic Organics (PDF) (194 pp., 9.7 MB; EPA 822-R-02-041)
- DRAFT: Methods for the Derivation of Site-Specific Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Guidelines (ESGs) for the Protection of Benthic Organisms: Nonionic Organics (PDF) (23 pp., 2.1 MB; EPA 822-R-02-042)
- Procedures for the Derivation of Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Benchmarks (ESBs) for the Protection of Benthic Organisms: Dieldrin (PDF) (75 pp., 9.6 MB)
- Procedures for the Derivation of Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Benchmarks (ESBs) for the Protection of Benthic Organisms: Endrin (PDF) (73 pp., 7 MB)
- Procedures for the Derivation of Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Benchmarks (ESBs) for the Protection of Benthic Organisms: Metal Mixtures (Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Nickel, Silver, and Zinc) (PDF) (121 pp., 3 MB)
- Procedures for the Derivation of Equilibrium Partitioning Sediment Benchmarks (ESBs) for the Protection of Benthic Organisms: PAH Mixtures (PDF) (175 pp., 3.5 MB)
- More ESB documents here.