Sources and ecological consequences of deposited and suspended sediments in small tributaries of the upper Elk River watershed, West Virginia

Deposited and suspended sediments were sampled in small tributaries of the upper Elk River watershed to determine if differences exist in sediment transport and deposition based on land management activities of low disturbance, development, or timber harvesting. Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis ) were sampled to determine if a negative relationship existed between populations and deposited or suspended sediments. There were no significant relationships in deposited sediments among land use yet timber harvest and developed lands had significantly higher transported sediments than low disturbance lands. There were no significant relationships between brook trout populations and deposited sediments. However, a slight negative relationship did exist between increasing suspended sediments and adult brook trout. High gradients in study tributaries likely resulted in low deposition of sediments while land management activities likely contributed to increasing suspended sediments. Best management practices and the Forest Stewardship Program may help to reduce sediments disturbed by timber harvesting.