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Reservoirs Fill Up With Sediment

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Rivers naturally carry sediment, and when dams slow a river, that sediment builds up behind the dam. Here a delta has formed upstream of a reservoir's dam.

Colorful layers mark where sand has fallen out of fast-moving water as the flow slows near the dam. Eventually, the entire reservoir fills up with sand.

Water flow and sediment layers can form complex and dynamic feedback loops. Here, dunes have built up under the water and march leftward toward the dam.

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