Seasonal and interannual patterns of sedimentation in the Corsica River (MD): Evaluating the potential influence of watershed restoration

Temporal and spatial trends in sediment deposition rates and sediment character were examined in the Corsica River over a 5-year period. The finest sediment and lowest deposition rates were observed in the middle of the river, whereas coarser, more rapidly depositing sediment was found at the up- and down-stream end-members. Averaged over the study period, sediment deposition rates decreased and sediment grain sizes increased, especially since 2010, which was ∼5 years after restoration began. These trends are consistent with sediment reductions within the watershed. This study highlights the time lag that often occurs between implementation of restoration activities and impacts to the adjacent aquatic environment. It also shows the need for relatively long time-series of data to place the potential impact of restoration within the context of natural variability of the system, especially with respect to variations in river discharge.