Soil erosion— Sediment yield research in progress

Abstract

The pace of research to understand erosion processes and to determine soil erosion rates and sediment yields has quickened in recent years. Many soil and water conservation planners have recognized the need to more fully understand the complex forces affecting detachment and movement of soil from erosion source to point of deposition.We learned long ago that deposited sediment limits the useful life of conservation structures and that we must optimize conservation designs because of a dwindling supply of good sites. More recently, with the advent of increased environmental concern, the necessity for the broadest consideration of all proposed developments and for predicting the environmental impact of optional soil and water conservation plans has been emphasized. The new awareness of the tremendous volume of urban and right‐of‐way construction erosion and its impact on society has intensified our concern. Furthermore, since sediment is a carrier of agricultural chemicals, the priority for a fuller understanding of soil erosion rates and watershed sediment yields has increased.