Sources and streambed storage of soft sediment and sediment-bound phosphorus in an agricultural Great Lakes tributary

Journal of Great Lakes Research
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Abstract

The East River, an agricultural tributary to the Lower Fox River and Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, USA, has excessive phosphorus (P) and suspended-sediment loads that contribute to downstream eutrophication and habitat-related impairments. Spatial variations and connectivity in the sources and streambed storage of soft, fine-grained (silt and clay) sediment and related sediment-bound P (sed-P) were examined, from first-order ephemeral channels to a downstream water-monitoring station. Analysis included field inventories, a channel corridor sediment and sed-P budget applied to an extended channel network, and geochemical fingerprinting. Corridor inventories included mass wasting along valley sides, eroding streambanks, gullying along perennial and ephemeral channels, and streambed storage volumes in perennial reaches; each converted to masses. Erosion results estimate 7400 Mg/yr of fine-grained sediment, similar to the mean annual suspended sediment load of 5400 Mg/yr. Corridor erosion contributed 7200 kg/yr of sed-P, less than the mean annual particulate-P load of 10,000 kg/yr P. Soft sediment storage was 1400 Mg, with 1500 kg sed-P. Apportionment of soft sediment as streambank sourced was spatially variable, contributing ≥95 % in high order reaches with high storage and as little as 20 % in upstream reaches, where gully, crop, and forest provided the remainder. Two nearby tributaries showed similarity in the predominance of streambank-sourced material in stored soft sediment but differences in geomorphic setting affected its spatial distribution. The results of this study show the importance of including corridor erosion as a source of sediment and sed-P in agricultural basins, which can be helpful in decision-making regarding conservation practices.

Suggested Citation

Broerman, H., Blount, J.D., Fitzpatrick, F., Williamson, T.N., Kreiling, R., Mevis, I., and Komiskey, M.J., 2026, Sources and streambed storage of soft sediment and sediment-bound phosphorus in an agricultural Great Lakes tributary: Journal of Great Lakes Research, v. 52, no. 2, 102735, 16 p., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2025.102735.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Sources and streambed storage of soft sediment and sediment-bound phosphorus in an agricultural Great Lakes tributary
Series title Journal of Great Lakes Research
DOI 10.1016/j.jglr.2025.102735
Volume 52
Issue 2
Publication Date March 22, 2026
Year Published 2026
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Description 102735, 16 p.
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Other Geospatial East River basin
Additional publication details