Field code	Description	Typical photograph
Field indicators: sedimentation
S1	Homogeneous bed texture. The channel bed and bars exhibit minimal sediment textural variability. (Sediment sorting is influenced by changes in LWD characteristics—low variability means that sediment is all similarly sized, regardless of actual texture.) Occurs in both aggrading and degrading channels (typical of RP morphologies).
S2	Sediment fingers. Long linear fingers or stripes of fine-textured sediment (commonly coarse sand in cobble-gravel bed streams) extend longitudinally along the channel bed. Typical of aggrading intermediate and large channel morphologies.
S3	Sediment wedges. The channel develops extensive wedges of sediment. In extreme cases, the channel can be completely de-watered. Occurs in all morphologies in aggrading channels (associated with channel bends, bedrock outcrops, LWD jams, or large pieces of LWD or root wads). Sediment wedges may occur in degrading channels when a supply-limited channel begins to erode an old wedge surface.
S4	Extensive bars. Areas of bar extend throughout the entire channel reach and consist primarily of bed material with minimal flowing water during low flows (the extreme is a de-watered channel and may develop in association with individual sediment wedges). Usually occurs in aggrading channels and is typical of all morphologies.
S5	Extensively scoured zones. The majority of bed and bar material is absent due to scouring flows, typical of degrading channel beds. Occurs in all morphologies.