1. 6.2 The Work of Streams

2. Bed Load
• Sediment that is carried by a stream along the
bottom of its channel

3. capacity
• The total amount of sediment a stream is able
to transport

4. alluvium
• Sorted material deposited by a stream

5. Delta
• An accumulation of sediment formed where a
stream enters a lake or an ocean

6. Natural Levee
• An elevated landform that parallels a stream
and acts to confine its waters, expect during
floodstage

7. floodplain
• The flat, low-lying portion of a stream valley
subject to periodic flooding

8. flood
• Occurs when the discharge of a stream
becomes so great that it exceeds the carrying
capacity of its channel and overflows its banks

9. Drainage basin
• The land area that contributes water to a
stream

10. Divide
• An imaginary line that separates the drainage
of two streams; often found along a ridge

11. Key Concept
• Streams generally erode their channels lifting
loose particles by abrasion, grinding, and by
dissolving soluble materials.

12. Key Concept
• Deposition occurs as streamflow drops below
the critical settling velocity of a certain
particle size. The sediment in that category
begins to settle out.

13. Key Concept
• A narrow V-shaped valley shows that the
stream’s primary work has been down

14. Key Concept
• Most floods are caused by rapid spring snow
melt or storms that bring heavy rains over a
large region.

15. Key Concept
• Measures to control flooding include artificial
levees, flood control dams, and placing limits
on floodplain development.

16. Key Concept
• A drainage basin is the land area that
contributes water to a stream