Which process limits reservoir capacity affected by heavy sediment load in an alluvial river?

💡 Explanation

When sediment-laden inflows meet standing water, delta formation occurs because the flow velocity sharply decreases, causing rapid sediment deposition concentrated at the river mouth that then progrades upstream which progressively shallows out the reservoir. Therefore delta formation limits capacity, rather than eutrophication, bioaccumulation or thermal stratification which depend on other nutrient or temperature gradients.

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