A Preliminary Analysis of Suspended and Bedload Sediment in Ruddiman Creek

Landuse within a watershed influences the response of rivers to rain events. The development of urban areas with impervious surfaces can affect stormwater volume, velocity, and sediment loads. The resulting disturbance from unstable hydrology and sediment transport has impacted the biota of Ruddiman Creek in Muskegon, Mi. The stream is located in a subwatershed of Muskegon Lake, a Great Lakes Area of Concern and is included on Michigan 303(d) List of Impaired Waters. The source of the unstable hydrology and sedimentation in Ruddiman Creek is under current investigation at Annis Water Resources Institute. To assess the nature and extent of the sedimentation problems, suspended sediment concentration(SSC) and bedload sediment (weight and grain size distribution) will be determined for baseflow and storm event samples taken over a 13 month period from six tributary and three storm sewer outfalls. The results of samples collected during Jan-Mar, 2011 will be presented