Sediments

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-025104",
  "term": "Sediments",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Soil, sand, and minerals washed from land into water, usually after rain. They pile up in reservoirs, rivers and harbors, destroying fish and wildlife habitat, and clouding the water so that sunlight cannot reach aquatic plants. Careless farming, mining, and building activities will expose sediment materials, allowing them to wash off the land after rainfall.\n\n2. Unconsolidated materials on the bottoms of rivers and lakes. Sediments (mud) consist primarily of clay, silt, sand, and gravel along with some organic material from decomposing plants and animals.",
  "subject": "Land, waste and cleanup",
  "references": [
    "Terms of Env; Aquatic Biodiversity Glossary; Terms of Environment; Region 5 Cleanup Site: Environmental Glossary",
    "Region 5 Cleanup Sites Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/sediments/"
}