Sediment is made up of loose particles of sand, silt and clay. It is a natural part of the Chesapeake Bay, created by the weathering of rocks and soil. In excess amounts, sediment can cloud the waters of the Bay and harm underwater grasses, fish, shellfish, etc. Sediment forms when rocks and soil weather and erode. There are two major sources of sediment: eroding land and stream banks and eroding shorelines and coasts. Excess sediment is a leading factor in the Chesapeake Bay’s poor health because of their small size. The particles of sand, silt and clay will float through the water rather than settle to the bottom and can be carried long distances especially during rainstorms. The water becomes cloudy and muddy-looking when a large amount is floating around. Cloudy water does not allow sunlight to reach the plants that grow on the bottom of the Bay and without sunlight, these plants die, which affects the young fish that use them for shelter and the soil and everything around them.