Stream load

Hydraulic action describes the erosion caused by the dragging of water over the stream bed and bank.

This dragging, coupled with the impact of small parties, easily loosens and erodes smaller alluvial matter, such as gravel, sand, silt and clay (Mangelsdorf, 1990).

As these cobbles and boulders roll across the stream bed, they continue to crush and grind the bedrock, producing an assortment of eroded rock sizes (Ritter, 2006).

Mineral materials of many different shapes and particle sizes erode and contribute to overall stream load.

These include the largest and heaviest materials in the stream, ranging from sand and gravel to cobbles and boulders.

Flooded streams are often responsible for heavy sediment transportation and deposition downstream.

During a flood, increased suspended load may be visible, giving the stream a muddy color.

Streams such as this carry solid material as a result of erosion.
A high level of sediment in the Logan River due to thunderstorm activity
Dissolved and suspended load move with the natural stream flow, while the heavier bed load rolls across the floor of the stream.
Increased suspended load gives this flooded stream its muddy color.