Sedimentation occurs when eroded material that is being transported by water, settles out of the water column onto the surface, as the water flow slows. The sediments that form a waterway's bed, banks and floodplain have been transported from higher in the catchment and deposited there by the flow of water.

What causes sedimentation to occur?

The sediment cycle starts with the process of erosion, whereby particles or fragments are weathered from rock material. ... Rills, gullies, streams, and rivers then act as conduits for sediment movement. The greater the discharge, or rate of flow, the higher the capacity there is for sediment transport.

Where is sedimentation most likely to occur?

This settling often occurs when water flow slows down or stops, and heavy particles can no longer be supported by the bed turbulence. Sediment deposition can be found anywhere in a water system, from high mountain streams, to rivers, lakes, deltas and floodplains.