THE SEDIMENT BUDGET APPROACH IN EROSION AND SEDIMENT STUDIES

The sediment budget approach in its highest form involves the measurement of all flux and storage components—gross upland erosion, colluvium, channel erosion, differential alluvial storage and loss in in different parts of the basin, and sediment yield or efflux. The approach was conceptualized by USDA scientists in the late 1930s and has been increasingly used over the last 35 years or so. Because some component are so difficult to measure, models and estimates are be used. In other cases, values are tares. The advantage of this approach is that measured values are robust. Additionally, long-term studies may show distributed processes in different part of the watersheds. The disadvantages are that it is highly labor intensive and sometimes requires decades to be ultimately useful.