Factors Affecting Water and Sediment Quality

Environmental characteristics of river basins—such as climate, topography, geology, and vegetation—and the activities that occur within them shape the physical and chemical characteristics of rivers. The links between the characteristics of the drainage basin and the water and sediment quality in the river are described in the following sections:

• Climate and River Flow
  
• Winter Conditions
• Soils, Landscape, and Erosion
• Pollution
• River Obstructions
• Wetlands