History of suspended-sediment data collection and inventory of available data for the Tennessee and Cumberland River basins

Abstract

Abstract : Since the early 1930's, a considerable amount of suspended-sediment data has been collected in the Tennessee and Cumberland River basins, primarily by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the U.S. Geogical Survey. These data sets cover a wide range of drainage areas and sampling frequencies. The most valuable data sets are those where the frequency of sampling was sufficient to compute daily sediment records. In 1934 and 1935, the Tennessee Valley Authority established 51 daily record suspended-sediment stations on the Tennessee River and its major tributaries. Most of these stations were operated for 3 to 4 years, but nine of the stations were operated for 8 years. From 1962 to 1965, the Tennessee Valley Authority again collected daily sediment record at 10 of the original 51 stations. In addition to the data sets collected on the major rivers, the Tennessee Valley Authority has conducted several intensive studies of small watersheds throughout the Tennessee River Basin.