How is bed load sediment typically moved in a stream?

Bed load sediment is typically moved in a stream mainly through the processes of rolling, sliding, or skipping along the stream bed. This movement occurs due to the force of flowing water, where larger and heavier particles, such as gravel and sand, are transported along the bottom of the water body rather than being swept up into the water column.

When the current strength is sufficient, these particles can be displaced by the flow and may move in a series of short hops or skips, which is a process known as saltation. Smaller particles may roll or slide along the streambed, contributing to the continuous transport of sediment under various flow conditions.

This is in contrast to other sediment transport methods; for instance, particles in suspension are carried throughout the water column, often consisting of finer sediment that can remain suspended even in slower water. Similarly, floating sediment would typically refer to organic material or debris rather than bed load, and being washed away by floodwaters often refers to the mass movement of sediment rather than the typical mechanisms of bed load transport.