RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Quantifying relative contributions from sediment sources in Conservation Effects Assessment Project watersheds JF Journal of Soil and Water Conservation FD Soil and Water Conservation Society SP 523 OP 532 DO 10.2489/jswc.63.6.523 VO 63 IS 6 A1 Wilson, C.G. A1 Kuhnle, R.A. A1 Bosch, D.D. A1 Steiner, J.L. A1 Starks, P.J. A1 Tomer, M.D. A1 Wilson, G.V. YR 2008 UL http://www.jswconline.org/content/63/6/523.abstract AB A technique using the relationship between the naturally occurring radionuclide tracers, 7Be and 210Pbxs, was used to differentiate eroded surface soils and channel-derived sediments in the fine suspended sediment loads of runoff events in five Conservation Effects Assessment Project watersheds. A simple two end-member mixing model was used to determine the relative contribution from each source. Results suggest that eroded surface soils were more prevalent in the suspended load early in a runoff event, but channel contributions dominated the suspended load at later stages. The method proved useful for multiple sites due to a constant proportion of the atmospheric deliveries of the two radionuclides globally. Use of only two radionuclide tracers simplifies the differentiation of sediment sources within a watershed but limits precision.