If too much silt gathers in a waterway, the sediment itself can bury and suffocate fish and plants alike. A decrease in sunlight will interrupt feeding patterns of marine life and the flora beneath the water, fish may be unable to see their prey, while plants are unable to get enough sunlight. Large particles or sediment may dislodge even more silt along the way, causing an even greater problem, with consequences even further away.
Sediment and silt gathered in runoff from urban centers, construction sites, or farms can carry a large amount of toxins and chemicals. Heavy metals have been found in water downstream from major farms containing lead, mercury, and even arsenic. While a filtering curtain may not catch dissolved liquids, it will catch larger sediment that carry these metals or toxins themselves.
