Sect. I. Sediment fundamentals. Transformation from mountain to sediment -- Setting the stage -- Surface water sediments -- Sediment properties -- Erosion -- Transport of sediment by water -- Sediment yield -- sect. II. Sediment damage. Yellow boy -- Physical sediment damage -- Biologically contaminated sediment -- Chemically contaminated sediments -- sect. III. Sediment sampling. Sampling sediments -- Collection of porewater -- Sediment physicochemical characteristics