The release of previously deposited substances from sediments may represent a significant source of contaminants to the overlying water. Of special concern is the partitioning between aqueous- and sediment-phase heavy metals in response to resuspension events induced by hydrodynamic forces. In the paper, results from a set of field experiments are reported in which sediment cores from three stations in the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River were artificially resuspended. Statistical analysis of the data indicated that the concentrations of the dissolved metals Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the overlying water varied inversely with pH (p<.05) and directly with time when the pH was below 7.5. In addition, dissolved metals were consistently lower at the higher frequency of mixing. Only Zn showed a direct correlation between total and dissolved concentrations although all other metals revealed an increased positive correlation at the higher mixing rate. These results are interpreted in terms of surface sorption reactions, particle size distributions, and mass transfer controls on metal-sediment reaction rates.