What occurs to sediment when stream flow enters a larger water body?

When stream flow enters a larger water body, such as a river entering a lake or an ocean, the velocity of the water decreases significantly due to the increased surface area and volume of the larger body. As the flow slows down, the capacity for that water to carry sediment diminishes. Consequently, the heavier sediment particles, which require more energy to remain suspended, begin to settle out of the water column. This process is known as sediment deposition, where the sediment drops its load into the standing or slower-moving water.

This is a fundamental concept in sediment transport and deposition in fluvial and deltaic environments. The transition from a confined channel to a more open space plays a crucial role in the sorting and deposition of sediment, leading to features like deltas where rivers build up deposits of sediment as they enter larger bodies of water.