Suspended solids transport in the regulated River Blithe, Staffordshire, U.K.

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Suspended solids concentrations and turbidity were monitored on the regulated River Blithe at two sites downstream of the reservoir for a period of 18 months. Changes in the suspended solids loads transported and the nature of the material in suspension are related to dam overspill and tributary flood events. A hysteretic relationship between suspended solids concentrations and discharge is characteristic of both sites, sediment supply being limited within the regulated river. Downstream of the dam, rapid bank erosion occurred on meander bends but the suspended solids loads transported by the regulated river relate more to the resuspension and transport of tributary injected sediments and scouring of a dense periphyton. Close to the dam, fine biogenic matter dominated the seston, which scanning electron microscopy revealed to contain algal fragments and inorganic diatom frustules, but downstream, tributary‐derived minerogenic particles were dominant.</jats:p>