Sediment Transfer Variation Approach at Large Rural Watersheds Scale of Northern France

In the French “Nord-Pas-de-Calais” region, sediments suspended in runoff waters coming from rural watersheds play a major part in the turbidity of surface waters, silting up of streams, and silting of permanent structures such as canals and ports.

One of the main factors in processes limiting sediment transfers is the vegetation cover. Quantitative assessment and comparative analysis of the impacts of vegetation cover performed in various scales (fields, smaller watersheds, and larger watersheds) allow showing effects' analogy in these cases. As a result, it is possible to estimate and quantify, at little cost, the risks induced by erosion and runoff in the larger rural watersheds, and the need to change land use. Thereby, watersheds where the situation is more favorable can serve as a model.