Elevated concentrations of suspended sediments in streams are a strong indicator of accelerated erosion, and, in the Army installation context, are often the result of training and testing activities. These suspended sediments can compromise biotic integrity, degrade water quality, decrease habitat quality, and result in downstream sedimentation. Nevertheless, there is currently no practical method for directly measuring either suspended sediment concentration (Csed) or the transported sediments in such water bodies. Turbidity (TNTU) and Csed data were analyzed in the laboratory for the soils of Fort Benning, Georgia. Soil samples were collected to represent a wide range of land uses including firing ranges, training areas, and riparian buffer zones. Results showed highly significant correlations between Csed and TNTU with linear regression equations of the form {Csed = f (TNTU)}. A network of sediment-turbidity monitoring stations has been established on the installation's major streams to calibrate the empirical model derived under laboratory-controlled conditions. These results strongly suggest that turbidity can be used as a surrogate to estimate suspended sediment concentrations in instances where water quality conditions must be evaluated (such as the development of sediment TMDLs and their control effectiveness. This is also important where logistical and/or financial constraints make a program of continuous stream sediment monitoring impractical. Since turbidity can be easily and inexpensively measured, such measurements may be used with confidence to estimate real-time continuous concentrations and loads of transported sediments in streams and creeks on Army lands
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