INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SEDIMENT OBSERVERS

1 U.S. Geological Survey Sediment Data 1 Fundamentals of Sediment Transport 3 The U.S. Geological Survey Sediment Observer's Duties 11 When to Sample 11 How to Sample 15 Communication with the U.S. Geological Survey 31 Safety 31 Summary 33 References 33 FIGURES 1. Diagram showing example of published U.S. Geological Survey sediment data 5 2. Photograph showing stream-gaging shelter and equipment 7 3. Graph showing relation of water discharge and sediment concentration with time, Kaskaskia River near Venedy Station, Illinois, April 1994 9 4. Photographs showing staff and wire-weight gages 17 5. Sketch of a US DH-76 suspended-sediment sampler 21 6. Sketch showing side view of a sampler in the water, and how sediment concentrations can vary by depth 23 7. Diagram showing Sediment Observer's log sheet and sample bottle completed correctly 27