Glossary extracted starting with manual seeds, with PTM for the domain geo and language EN
| mean annual temperature | The average of the daily maximum and minimum temperatures. |
| clod | A compact, coherent mass of soil ranging in size from 5 to 10 millimeters (0.20 to 0.39 inch) to as much as 200 to 250 millimeters (7.87 to 9.84 inches) produced artificially, usually by the activity of man by plowing, digging, etc., especially when these operations are performed on soils that are either too wet or too dry for normal tillage operations. |
| bedrock | solid rock underlying soil, gravel or loose boulders; the Canadian Shield is composed of bedrock Best Management Practices |
| off-site enhancement | The improvement in conditions for fish and wildlife species away from the site or development activities that may have detrimental effects on fish and/or wildlife, as part or total compensation for those effects. |
| hypomelanistic | An animal having less black and/or brown color than a wild-type. |
| caecum | Refers to a sack or pouch connected to the intestine of mammals |
| endemic | Native to a particular country, nation, or region. |
| polychaets | A class of mostly marine worms in the Phylum Annelida, with anterior tentacles and palps and most segments bearing parapodia with bristles; free-swimming or sessile in tubes or burrows; often brightly colored, most 5-10 cm in length. |
| biological diversity | The number and kinds of organisms per unit area of volume; the composition of species in a given area at a given time. |
| du | distribution uniformity |
| ice sheet | A very large Ice Cap, also called continental glacier, as that of the antarctic continent. |
| random sample | (Statistics) A sample selected in such a manner that all possible samples of the same size have an equal and independent chance of being included. |
| frequency curve | A graphical representation of the frequency of occurrence of specific events |
| withdrawal | water removed from a ground water or surface water source for use. |
| head ditch | The water supply ditch at the head end of an irrigated field. |
| desalinize | See Desalination or Desalinization. |
| hec | Hydrologic Engineering Center; The part of the U.S |
| publicly-owned treatment works | a wastewater treatment plant that is owned by a state, unit of local government or Indian tribe, usually designed to treat domestic wastewaters |
| effluent | treated water flowing from a sewage treatment plant; can be used for landscape watering and artificial recharge. |
| displacement | (Geology) The distance by which portions of the same geological layer are offset from each other by a fault. |
| psychrometer | An instrument used to measure water vapor content of the atmosphere |
| noxious | Harmful to the health. |
| ceres | California Environmental Resources Evaluation System |
| nansen bottle | An ocean-water sampling bottle with spring-loaded valves at both ends that are closed at an appropriate depth by a messenger device sent down the wire connecting the bottle to the surface. |
| phase | A state of matter |
| time of concentration | The time required for water to flow from the farthest point on the water shed to the gaging station, culvert, or other point of interest. |
| porosity | the ratio of the volume of voids in a rock or soil to the total volume. |
| ford | a dip in a road constructed to facilitate crossing a stream |
| arid zone | often arbitrarily defined in Australia as those areas receiving less than 250 mm of annual rainfall in the south and 350 mm (or sometimes higher) in the north |
| policy | (Water Planning) A statement of governmental intent against which individual actions and decisions are evaluated |
| slurry | a watery mixture of insoluble matter resulting from some pollution control techniques. |
| termite | a wood-eating social insect (order Isoptera) that can cause serious structural damage to buildings in many regions of the United States |
| conservation standards | Standards for various types of soils and land uses, including criteria, techniques, and methods for the control of erosion and sediment and impacts on plant and animal species and necessary habitat resulting from land disturbing activities. |
| pressurized water reactor | A nuclear reactor in which water, heated by nuclear energy, is kept at high pressure to prevent the water from boiling |
| organic nitrogen | Nitrogen that is bound to carbon-containing compounds |
| confounding variable | (Statistics) A variable which is associated with two or more observed variables and which directly affects the relationship between the observed variables |
| nephelometric | method of measuring turbidity in a water sample by passing light through the sample and measuring the amount of light deflected. |
| cycloid scales | Scale resembling a circle. |
| serial distribution | An arrangement of Absorption Trenches, Seepage Pits, or Seepage Beds so that each is forced to pond, utilizing the total effective absorption area, before liquid flows into the succeeding component. |
| table | water beneath the surface of the ground, consisting largely of surface water that has seeped down, water beneath the earth's surface, occurring in aquifers at one or more depth levels, (see surface water). |
| cones | visual receptors of the vertebrate retina that can distinguish different wavelengths of the visual spectrum and is especially sensitive to bright light. |
| peninsula | A piece of land that projects into a body of water and is connected with the mainland by an Isthmus. |
| anthropogenic | Effects or processes that are derived from human activity. |
| thermoregulation | The act of controlling body temperature |
| courtship | pattern of behavioral interactions between males and females during reproduction |
| first flush | The first portion of a rain event washed out approximately 90% of the pollutants in the first part of a rain event. |
| orographic precipitation | rainfall that occurs as a result of warm, humid air being forced to rise by topographic features such as mountains |
| tailings pond | An excavated or diked area that is intended to contain liquid and solid wastes from mining and milling operations. |
| ice | a solid form of water. |
| avoidance | minimizing the effects of an activity on fish habitat through identifying and avoiding areas of concern. |
| cumulative effects | the combined environmental impacts that accumulate over time and space as a result of a series of similar or related individual actions, contaminants, or projects |
| atmometer | An instrument used to measure the rate of evaporation. |
| cultivar | Plant form originating from under cultivation. |
| colubrid | Any of numerous, widely distributed, chiefly nonvenomous snakes of the family Colubridae, which includes the king snakes, garter snakes, and water snakes. |
| siliceous | Containing or consisting of silica. |
| advisory | Statements that are issued by the National Weather Service for probable weather situations of inconvenience that do not carry the danger of warning criteria, but, if not observed, could lead to hazardous situations |
| erosion | the wearing away of the land surface by wind, water, ice or other geologic agents |
| milling process | process by which the valuable components of the ore are separated from waste material |
| circadian | Refers to a 24 hour period |
| porous | A condition which allows liquids to pass through. |
| translatory wave | (Hydraulics) A wave, such as a flood wave, whose water particles constantly progress in the direction of the wave movement; a characteristic of unsteady flow |
| sodic soils | soils with a high proportion of sodium relative to calcium, potassium and magnesium in the composition of the exchangeable cations on the clay fraction |
| sediment | Soil or mineral material transported by water or wind and deposited in streams or other bodies of water. |
| community water system | In Texas, a public water system which has a potential to serve at least 15 residential service connections on a year-round basis or serves at least 25 residents on a year-round basis. |
| lethargic | The state of being abnormally drowsy or stupor. |
| vegetated channel | main channel with riparian canopy and/or emergent and submerged aquatic vegetation. |
| land treatment | The whole range of BMPs implemented to control or reduce nonpoint source pollution. |
| plan position indicator | Also known as a PPI Scope, it is a radar indicator scope displaying range and azimuth of targets in polar coordinates. |
| pressure | Force per unit area |
| deep water | area where surface waves are not influenced by the sea-bottom. |
| copepods | Small aquatic crustaceans of the Class Copepoda. |
| dehumidify | To remove atmospheric moisture from. |
| saxitoxin | The primary toxin produced by dinoflagellate protozoans during blooms known as Red Tides in marine waters |
| current | The flow of the river. |
| monitoring well | (1) A well used to obtain water quality samples or measure groundwater levels |
| filtrate | Liquid that has been passed through a filter. |
| landslide | A movement of earth mass down a steep slope. |
| lindane | A pesticide that causes adverse health effects in domestic water supplies and is toxic to freshwater fish and aquatic life. |
| absolute humidity | A type of humidity that considers the mass of water vapor present per unit volume of space |
| waterstop | A strip of metal, rubber, or other material used to prevent leakage through joints between adjacent sections of concrete. |
| ice barrier | The outer margin of the antarctic ice sheet. |
| hurricane | (1) A severe tropical cyclone originating in the equatorial regions of the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea, traveling north, northwest, or northeast from its point of origin, and usually involving heavy rains |
| geothermics | The science pertaining to the earth's interior heat |
| duralumin | An alloy of aluminum that contains copper, manganese, magnesium, iron, and silicon and is resistant to corrosion by acids and sea water |
| nutrient | as a pollutant, any element or compound, such as phosphorous or nitrogen, that fuels abnormally high organic growth in aquatic ecosystems |
| isohel | A line drawn through geographic points having equal duration of sunshine or another form of solar radiation during a specified time period. |
| pond | A pond is a small body of water surrounded by land |
| agricultural drainage | (1) The process of directing excess water away from the root zones of plants by natural or artificial means, such as by using a system of pipes and drains placed below ground surface level |
| biota | The animals, plants, and microbes that live in a particular location orregion. |
| dredging | Cleaning, deepening, or widening of a waterway, using a machine (dredge) that removes materials by means of a scoop or a suction device. |
| bacterial plate count | A system used to quantify the number of bacteria in a sample of solid or liquid material by measuring the growth of bacterium into full colonies. |
| filtration | (1) The process in which suspended matter is removed from a liquid through a medium which is permeable to the liquid but not to the suspended material |
| sample size | (Statistics) The number of individual observations |
| coalescence | The merging of two water drops into a single larger drop. |
| subsurface | Of, relating to, or situated in an area beneath a surface, especially the surface of the earth or of a body of water. |
| thermoelectric power | Electrical power generated using fossil-fuel (coal, oil, or natural gas), geothermal, or nuclear energy. |
| drainage area | of a stream at a specified location is that area, measured in a horizontal plane, enclosed by a topographic divide from which direct surface runoff from precipitation normally drains by gravity into the stream above the specified location. |
| saturation point | The point when the water vapor in the atmosphere is at its maximum level for the existing temperature. |
| physiography | A description of the surface features of the Earth, with an emphasis on the origin of landforms. |
| perchloroethylene | a chlorinated solvent commonly used in dry cleaning |
| teleconnection | (Meteorology) A term which describes the influence of an aberration in weather patterns in one part of the world to cause strange weather in another area of the globe |
| hydrocarbons | Chemical compounds that consist entirely of carbon and hydrogen, such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal. |
| hydrology | The properties, distribution, and effects of water on the earth's surface, below the earth's surface, and in the atmosphere. |
| convective condensation level | The height at which a parcel of air, if heated sufficiently from below, will rise adiabatically until it is just saturated. |
| operational concept | Mode of operating a canal with respect to location of priorities; usually supply oriented (upstream concept) or demand oriented (downstream concept). |
| ice-minus | Of or relating to a strain of genetically altered bacteria that are applied to crop plants to inhibit the formation of frost. |
| toxic | harmful, poisonous, deadly |
| fauna | a collective group animals, particularly those of a certain region or time |
| calcium carbonate | the primary mineral that comprises the shell of a mollusk |
| bracts | 1 |
| stream | also the upper reaches of a reservoir, the water upstream from a structure or point on a stream, the small streams that come together to form a river, any and all parts of a river basin except the mainstream river and main tributaries. |
| feces | Waste materials, including undigested food and sloughed-off intestinal cells, that are expelled from the intestinal tract through the anus. |
| oxbow | a U-shaped bend in a river or stream that may or may not be cut off from the mainstem. |
| sphalerite | The major ore mineral of zinc (ZnS). |
| vertical visibility | The distance an observer can see vertically into an undefined ceiling, or the height corresponding to the top of a ceiling light projector beam, or the height at which a ceiling balloon disappears during the presence of an indefinite ceiling. |
| activated carbon adsorption | the process of pollutants moving out of water and attaching on to activated carbon. |
| neutrons | Uncharged building blocks of an atom that play a part in radio-activity |
| c.b.b | Captive bred & Born. |
| independent variable | (Statistics) A measurable quantity that, as it takes different values, can be used to predict the value of a Dependent Variable |
| fen | peat - accumulating wetland that generally receives water from surface runoff and (or) seepage from mineral soils in addition to direct precipitation; generally alkaline; or slightly acid. |
| virgin flow | the streamflow which exists or would exist if man had not modified the conditions on or along the stream or in the drainage basin. |
| filters | a screening device or porous substance used as a strainer for removing solid material from liquids. |
| spray chamber | A device that removes certain organic compounds from an airstream by condensation |
| irrigated area | The area upon which water is artificially applied |
| extrapolate/extrapolation | (Statistics) The continuation, by means of simple estimation or sophisticated analysis, of a trend of time series data beyond its last observed value |
| beach downdrift | area of beach towards which material is being moved by longshore transport. |
| dissolved solids | Disintegrated organic and inorganic material in water |
| particle count | (Water Quality) Results of a microscopic examination of treated water with a special "particle counter" that classifies suspended particles by number and size. |
| chemocline | (1) The transition zone between layers in a Meromictic Lake |
| erodible | susceptible to erosion: erosivity is the capacity (e.g |
| sinuosity | The ratio of the channel length between two points on a channel to the straight-line distance between the same two points; a measure of meandering. |
| ovoviviparous | Reproduces by eggs which remain in the mother's body until they are ready to hatch |
| regulation | artificial manipulation of the flow of a stream. |
| epilimnion | warm, less dense top layer in a stratified lake |
| salt marsh | Saltwater wetlands that occur along many coasts. |
| isopleth | A graph showing the occurrence or frequency of any phenomenon as a function of two variables |
| transportation | A process where the river moves, or transports materials (it's load) from one place to another. |
| force pump | A pump with a solid piston and valves used to raise a liquid or expel it under pressure. |
| depletion | The amount of water that flows into a valley, or onto a particular land area, minus the water that flows out of the valley or off from the particular land area. |
| deflocculate | To cause the particles of the disperse phase of a colloidal system to become suspended in the dispersion medium. |
| pathogenic microorganisms | Microorganisms that can cause disease in other organisms or in humans, animals, and plants. |
| visual resource management | The VRM system is an analytical process that identifies, sets, and meets objectives for maintaining the visual quality of public lands |
| dense fog advisory | Advisory issued when fog reduces visibility to 1/8 mile or less, creating possible hazardous conditions. |
| probable maximum flood | The largest flood for which there is any reasonable expectancy in a particular climatic era. |
| shear stress | the frictional force per unit area exerted on a streambed by flowing water |
| deep-draft harbor | A harbor designed to accommodate commercial cargo vessels having drafts greater than 15 feet (4.6 meters). |
| l | a unit of volume equal to 1/1000 of one cubic metre |
| river channels | Natural or artificial open conduits which continuously or periodically contain moving water, or which forms a connection between two bodies of water. |
| nuisance species | undesirable plants and animals, commonly exotic species. |
| carrion | The decaying flesh of a dead body, esp |
| aquiculture | the raising or fattening of fish in enclosed ponds |
| environmental manipulation | Actions taken directly or indirectly by man to alter the natural characteristics and evolving patterns of an Ecosystem through alterations to plant or animal life, or habitat conditions. |
| annual flood series | A list of annual floods for a given period of time. |
| dissolved solids | Very small pieces of organic and inorganic material contained in water |
| socs | See Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs). |
| sedimentation | the act or process of forming or accumulating sediment in layers; the process of deposition of sediment. |
| probability of exceedence | The probability that a random flood will exceed a specified magnitude in a given period of time. |
| nest | The burrow or pallet dug by the female in which to deposit her eggs. |
| stream order | A ranking of the relative sizes of streams within a watershed based on the nature of their tributaries |
| ul | Underwriter's Laboratory |
| lifted index | A measure of atmospheric instability that is obtained by computing the temperature that the air near the ground would have if it were lifted to a higher level and comparing it to the actual temperature at that altitude |
| residual chlorine | The level of chlorine existing in the distribution system after chlorination at a drinking water treatment plant. |
| coalescence | Liquid particles in suspension that unite to create particles of a greater volume. |
| frost pockets | A low area or depression at the base of a slope where frost collects. |
| hydrofoil | (Nautical) (1) A wing-like structure attached to the hull of a boat that raises all or part of the hull out of the water when the boat is moving forward, thus reducing drag |
| scud | Wind-driven clouds, mist, or rain; a gust of wind; ragged low clouds, moving rapidly beneath another cloud layer. |
| resource monitoring | The act of continually or periodically observing resources to determine changes and trends in their status and condition. |
| fetch | Area of water where waves are generated by the wind. |
| turbidity | the state, condition, or quality of opaqueness or reduced clarity of a fluid due to the presence of suspended matter. |
| mesosphere | The division of the Atmosphere above the Stratosphere |
| acidic | The condition of water or soil that contains a sufficient amount of acid substances to lower the pH below 7.0. |
| boil | To change from a liquid to a vapor by the application of heat till bubbles form and steam is given off |
| flanking line | A line of attached cumulus or towering cumulus clouds of descending height, appearing as stair steps (usually on the southwest side) of the most active part of a supercell. |
| algae | a large group of primarily aquatic plants that usually contain chlorophyll but lack the true roots, stems, and leaves that are characteristic of more complex plants |
| chaparral | A type of vegetation characterized by low, thickly growing evergreen shrubs or bushes with flat, broad leaves and interlacing branches; the typical natural growth of many areas with a climate of cool moist winters and long dry summers, as in much of the western United States. |
| drawdown | the local lowering of the water table around a pumping well. |
| flume | a natural or artificially made channel that diverts water. |
| lotic | Meaning or regarding things in running water. |
| osteoderm | A bony deposit in the form of a plate or scale found in the dermal layers of the skin. |
| reconnaissance | A preliminary inspection or survey of an area, such as a forest, range, watershed, or wildlife area, to gain general information useful for future management. |
| urbanisation | the shift of population from rural to urban areas |
| technology-based | Describing emission or effluent limitations that are not defined in terms of allowable releases that achieve a desirably low ambient pollutant concentration, but instead are based on the pollutant control efficiency that is achievable using current levels of technology. |
| rearing | describes all aspects of fish development to adulthood. |
| hail | Precipitation which forms into balls or lumps of ice over 0.2 inch (5.08 mm) in diameter |
| compensation | the placement of natural habitat, increase in the productivity of existing habitat or maintenance of fish production by artificial means in circumstances dictated by social and economic conditions, where mitigation techniques and other measures are not adequate to maintain habitats for Canada's fisheries resources. |
| curb stop | A water service shutoff valve located in a water service pipe near the curb and between the water main and the building. |
| cross-sectional analysis | (Statistics) Observations or characteristics of a variable analyzed without respect to variations due to time |
| autotomy plane | The zone or septum of soft tissue which passes through a caudal vertebrae, along which breakage takes place in autotomy. |
| perched ground water | Ground water in a saturated zone of material underlain by a relatively impervious stratum which acts as a barrier to downward flow and which is separated from the main ground water body by a zone of unsaturated material above the main ground water body. |
| secondary sexual features | characteristics expressed during the breeding season, such as enlarged mental glands, cloacal glands, and cirri in male salamanders |
| forest chemicals | Chemical substances or formulations that perform important functions in forest management |
| mprb | Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board |
| fault escarpment | (Geology) A fracture or fracture zone along which there has been displacement of one side with respect to the other. |
| ph | numeric value that describes the intensity of the acid or basic (alkaline) conditions of a solution |
| upper air/upper level | The portion of the atmosphere which is above the lower troposphere |
| nacre | the inner-most layer of shell that often has a pearl-like appearance |
| biofilm | Population of various microrganisms, trapped in a layer of slime and excretion products, attached to a surface. |
| declared underground water basin | An area of a state designated in some states by their respective State Engineers to be underlain by a ground water source having reasonably ascertainable boundaries |
| early seral condition | Synonymous with poor ecological conditions. |
| stream order | A hydrologic system of stream classification |
| water table | The boundary between the saturated and unsaturated zones |
| backflow | the backing up of water through a conduit or channel in the direction opposite to normal flow |
| revegetation | the re-establishment of vegetation in disturbed areas. |
| bioassay | A method for quantitatively determining the concentration of a substance by its effects on the growth of a suitable animal, plant, or microorganism under controlled conditions. |
| live birth | In reptiles, this is when the eggs hatch while still inside the female, and the young soon emerge alive |
| aquatic plant management | Steps taken to evaluate, establish a management plan, and do something to change the amount and types of aquatic plants in a lake. |
| laminae | The scales for the epidermal plates of the shell of turtles. |
| permafrost | any frozen soil, subsoil, surficial deposit, or bedrock in arctic or subarctic regions where below-freezing temperatures have existed continuously from two to tens of thousands of years. |
| minimum streamflow | the specific amount of water reserved to support aquatic life, to minimize pollution, or for recreation |
| geomorphology | The geologic study of the characteristics, origin, and development of landforms. |
| glaze | Homogeneous, transparent ice layers which are built up, either from supercooled rain or drizzle, or from rain or drizzle, when the surfaces on which it forms are at temperatures of 32°F (0°C) or lower |
| durability | the ability of a building component to perform its function over a long period without extra maintenance or unanticipated repair. |
| scour | process of water eroding material through high velocities in conjunction with moving sediment. |
| sustainable forestry | the practice of managing forest resources to meet the long-termforest product needs of humans while maintaining the integrity of forested landscapesand sustaining a full range of forest values-economic, social and ecological. |
| soil thin-layer chromatography | A method used to estimate the potential for leaching a chemical from soil by measuring the mobility of the chemical in soil under controlled conditions. |
| fisheries window | also referred to as the reduced risk window, timing window, or instream window |
| swamp | Low, wet land on which grass and trees grow. |
| outliers | (Data Analysis) Data values in a time series which are significantly different from the series trend and/or other data values such that their inclusion may jeopardize the model's ability to fit the data |
| comprehensive plan | (Natural Resource) A plan for water and related land resources development, that does consider all economic and social factors and provides the greatest overall benefits to the region as a whole. |
| saltatorial | refers to a form of locomotion in which the animal hops as it moves along |
| water jacket | A casing containing water circulated by a pump, used around a part to be cooled, especially in water-cooled internal-combustion engines. |
| dri [nevada] | See Desert Research Institute (DRI) [Nevada]. |
| centrifugation | A separation process, which uses the action of centrifugal force to promote accelerated settling of particles in a solid-liquid mixture. |
| bong | A water pipe that consists of a bottle or a vertical tube partially filled with liquid and a smaller tube ending in a bowl, used often in smoking narcotic substances. |
| settleable solids | Most generally, all solids in a liquid that can be removed by stilling the liquid |
| anthropod | A group of limbed and jointed animals that have external skeletons, including insects, arachnids and crustaceans. |
| noctilucent clouds | Rarely seen clouds of tiny ice particles that form approximately 75 to 90 kilometers above the earth's surface |
| type specimen | A specimen which is designated in the publication of a new name for an organism |
| cienaga | a marshy area where the ground is wet due to the presence of seepage or springs. |
| inorganic chemicals | Chemical substances of mineral origin, not of basically carbon structure. |
| environmental evaluation | That part of the planning process by governmental agencies that inventories and estimates the potential effects on the human environment of alternative solutions to resource problems, determines the need for an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and aids in the consideration of alternatives and the identification of available resources. |
| peat | Partially decomposed plants and other organic material that build up in poorly drained wetland habitats. |
| alluvium | A general term for detrital deposits made by streams on river beds, flood plains, and alluvial fans; Example: a deposit of silt or silty clay laid down during times of flood |
| ion | a positively or negatively charged atom or group of atoms. |
| solvent | Substances (usually liquid) capable of dissolving or dispersing one or more other substances. |
| ground water storage capacity | The space or voids contained in a given volume of soil and rock deposits |
| capillary phenomena | A phenomenon of water movement caused by Capillarity. |
| power-vented exhaust | a system that uses active exhaust to pull combustion gases out of the home |
| contaminant | introduced species, substance or material which was either not previously present or was present in a lesser amount, and that may have a harmful effect on the environment Cumulative Effects |
| alvusion | a sudden or perceptible change in a river's margin, such as a change in course or loss of banks due to flooding. |
| vertical temperature profile | A series of temperature measurements taken at various levels in the atmosphere that show the thermal structure of the atmosphere over a specific location |
| pressure altitude | The altitude in standard atmosphere at which a given pressure will be observed |
| channel | a natural or artificial watercourse that continuously or intermittently contains water, with definite bed and banks that confine all but overbanking streamflows. |
| lag time | the time from the center of a unit storm to the peak discharge or center of volume of the corresponding unit hydrograph. |
| closed basin | A basin is considered closed with respect to surface flow if its topography prevents the occurrence of visible surface outflow |
| pressure head | The relative pressure (excess over atmospheric pressure) divided by the unit weight of water; expressed in units of height. |
| sea | A sea is a large body of salty water that is often connected to an ocean |
| percolation | movement of water into openings or pores in rock or soil and its downward movement by gravity; contributes to ground water replenishment. |
| amprometric titration | a way of measuring concentrations of certain substances in water using the electric current that flows during a chemical reaction. |
| cirrostratus | A cirriform cloud that develops from cirrus spreading out into a thin layer, creating a flat sheetlike appearance |
| surge | The increase in sea water height from the level that would normally occur were there no storm |
| streambed | The channel through which a natural stream of water runs or used to run, as a dry streambed. |
| snow metamorphism | The transformation of snowflakes within a snowpack into different forms or structures. |
| sea ice | Ice that is formed by the freezing of sea water |
| absorber | A material capable of taking in a substance, such as oil, as a sponge takes up water. |
| scrub-shrub wetland | wetlands dominated by woody vegetation less than 6 meters tall. |
| contour trenching | Development of water storage Detention or Retention Facilities along the contour by excavation and placement of soils as an embankment along the downstream side |
| sustainability | The ability of an ecosystem to maintain ecological processes and functions, biological diversity, and productivity over time. |
| assimilation | the ability of a water body to purify itself of pollutants. |
| captive bred | This term is used to refer to reptiles and amphibians that were born or hatched in captivity |
| process water | Any water that comes in contact with a new material or product |
| tapered aeration | A modification of the activated sludge process wherein air is introduced at a higher rate at the head of the tank than in subsequent sections. |
| tetrodotoxin | a chemical found in the skin of newts, it causes vomiting and may cause paralysis |
| toxicity reduction evaluation | a study conducted to determine the source(s) of toxicity in a discharge effluent so that these sources can be controlled sufficiently to allow a discharger to comply with their permit limits. |
| landscape | A heterogeneous land area with interacting ecosystems that are repeated in similar form throughout. |
| pest | an animal, or sometimes a plant, occurring where it is not wanted by humans (see weed) |
| equipotential line | A line in a field of flow such that the total head is the same for all points on the line; therefore, the direction of flow is perpendicular to the line at all points. |
| non-man entry sewers | Those sewers considered to be too small for manual inspection, survey and work activities (e.g., renovation and repair) |
| sedimentation | (1) The combined processes of soil erosion, entrainment, transport, deposition, and consolidation |
| reimbursable costs | Those costs associated with a water project that are expected to be recovered, usually from direct beneficiaries, and repaid to the funding entity |
| ammonification | The transformation of organic nitrogen to ammonia, generally by means of bacterial activity. |
| secretion | Something that comes out of the body, such as a fluid that comes out of a gland. |
| residue studies | Research which examines the recalcitrance, bioavailability, toxicity, solubility, etc |
| ceam | Center for Exposure Assessment Modeling. |
| specific drawdown | The drawdown in a well per unit discharge. |
| nebraskan | (Geology) Of or relating to one of the glacial stages of the Pleistocene epoch which occurred in North America, which consisted of the Nebraskan (first stage), Kansan (second stage), Illinoian (third stage), and Wisconsin (fourth stage). |
| normal | A central value (such as an arithmetic average or median) of annual quantities for a 30-year period ending with the first year of a decade, e.g., 1931-1960, 1961-1990. |
| diffuser | A component of the ozone contacting system in an ozone generator that allows diffusion of an ozone containing gas. |
| national monument | An area owned by the federal government and administered by the National Park Service, U.S |
| mackerel sky | The name given to cirrocumulus clouds with small vertical extent and composed of ice crystals |
| foraminifera | An order of single celled protozoans. |
| sample | (Statistics) The sample consists of a number of randomly-selected, representative observations about an economic phenomenon; a part of a population taken to estimate a parameter of the whole population |
| liquid | a state of matter, neither gas nor solid, that flows and takes the shape of its container. |
| allogenic succession | Predictable changes in plant and animal communities in which changes are caused by events external to the community, for example, fire, drought, floods, etc. |
| volatile organic carbon | (Water Quality) A measure of the amount of particulate material in a water sample that is lost upon heating |
| bioremediation | The biological treatment of wastewater and sludge, by inducing the breakdown of organics and hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water. |
| monitor | To systematically and repeatedly measure conditions in order to track changes. |
| supercooled water | Water cooled below its freezing point without causing solidification. |
| flow rate | The rate, expressed in gallons or liters-per-hour, at which a fluid escapes from a hole or fissure in a tank |
| hydrosphere | Region that includes all the earth's liquid water, frozen water, floating ice, frozen upper layer of soil, and the small amounts of water vapour in the atmosphere. |
| west virginia high | An area of stagnant high pressure located over West Virginia during Indian Summer. |
| midventral | Pertaining to the middle of the belly |
| restoration | The renewing or repairing of a natural system so that its functions and qualities are comparable to its original, unaltered state. |
| subsidence | A sinking of a large area of the earth's crust |
| binocular vision | having to do with or the use of both eye simultaneously. |
| tyrosinase-negative | an albino whose cells lack tyrosinase, producing a white and yellow/orange animal with pink eyes |
| capillary forces | forces that cause ground water to rise above the surface of the saturated zone into the spaces between soil particles in the unsaturated zone. |
| oxidation-reduction potential | The electric potential required to transfer electrons from one compound or element (the Oxidant) to another compound (the Reductant); used as a qualitative measure of the state of oxidation in water treatment systems. |
| pluvial lake | A lake formed during a pluvial (rainy) period. |
| contrail | A visible trail of streaks of condensed water vapor or ice crystals sometimes forming in the wake of an aircraft |
| drifts | Normally used when referring to snow or sand particles are deposited behind obstacles or irregularities of the surface or driven into piles by the wind. |
| venturi scrubbers | Air pollution control devices that use water to remove particulate matter from emissions. |
| wall cloud | An abrupt lowering of a cloud from its parent cloud base, a cumulonimbus or supercell, with no visible precipitation underneath |
| crest gage | An instrument used to obtain a record of flood crests at sites where recording gages are not installed. |
| mean annual discharge | Daily mean discharge averaged over a period of years |
| test hole | (Hydraulics) A well hole drilled for experimental or exploratory purposes. |
| pasteurisation | The elimination of microrganisms by heat applies for a certain period of time. |
| seining | the deposition or formation of sediment. |
| no-net-loss | a working principle of Fisheries and Oceans Canada which strives to balance unavoidable habitat losses through avoidance, mitigation, and habitat replacement on a project-by-project basis. |
| raw sewage | Untreated domestic or commercial wastewater. |
| freeboard | the vertical distance between the lowest point along the top of a surface impoundment dike, berm, levee, treatment works or other similar feature and the surface of the liquid contained therein. |
| landfall | The point at which a tropical cyclone's eye first crosses a land mass. |
| windward | The direction from which the wind is blowing |
| obligate | Restricted to a single mode of behavior or environmental condition. |
| structure | The spatial arrangement of the living and nonliving elements of an ecosystem. |
| wfa | window-to-floor area ratio |
| demersal | (1) Dwelling at or near the bottom of a body of water, such as demersal fish |
| supercritical water | a type of thermal treatment using moderate temperatures and high pressures to enhance the ability of water to break down large organic molecules into smaller, less toxic ones |
| alberta clipper | A fast moving, snow-producing weather system that originates in the lee of the Canadian Rockies |
| semipermeable membrane device | A long strip of low-density, polyethylene tubing filled with a thin film of purified lipid such as triolein that simulates the exposure to and passive uptake of highly lipid-soluble organic compounds by biological membranes. |
| affinity | The keenness with which an ion exchanger takes up and holds on to a counter-ion |
| micrograms per liter | A unit expressing the concentration of constituents in solution as weight (micrograms) of solute per unit volume (liter) of water; equivalent to one part per billion in most streamwater and ground water |
| absorbed | The encorporation of a compound in solution within a mineral structure. |
| control system | An arrangement of electronic, electrical, and mechanical components that commands or directs the regulation of a canal system. |
| rain | Water falling to earth in drops that have been condensed from moisture in the atmosphere. |
| bead | A small, round object, especially a drop of moisture, as beads of sweat. |
| anion | A negatively charged ion that results from the dissociation of salts, acids or alkali's in solution. |
| burble | (1) A gurgling or bubbling sound, as of running water |
| risk | A measure of the chance that damage to life, health, property, or the environment will occur. |
| fossilian | Animals that need land or sand for burrowing. |
| particulates | the mechanical process which removes particulate matter by separating water from solid material, by passing it through a filter such as sand in many water filtration plants. |
| seawall | Massive structure built along the shore to prevent erosion and damage by wave action. |
| grade | (Hydraulics) The slope of a stream bed. |
| biocoenosis | A community of animal and plant life. |
| allocthonous detritus | Particulate matter originating outside, and carried into the lake. |
| canopy | A layer of continuous foliage in a forest stand |
| thermokarst | an irregular land surface formed in a permafrost region by melting ground ice and a subsequent settling of the ground. |
| sheller | see clammer |
| organotins | Chemical compounds used in anti-foulant paints to protect the hulls of boats and ships, buoys, and pilings from marine organisms such as barnacles. |
| acidity | The quantitative capacity of water to neutralize a base, expressed in ppm or mg/L calcium carbonate equivalent |
| brine | water that contains more than 35,000 milligrams per liter of dissolved solids. |
| subnivean | Below the snow. |
| buoy | (Nautical) A float, often having a bell or light, moored in water as a warning of danger or as a marker for a channel |
| sustainable management | method of exploiting a resource that can be carried on indefinitely |
| cross-contamination | a condition created when a drill hole, boring, or improperly constructed well forms a pathway for fluid movement between a saturated zone which contains pollutants and a formerly separated saturated zone containing uncontaminated groundwater |
| mixture | Various elements, compounds or both, that are mixed. |
| marginal fish habitat | habitat that has low productive capacity and contributes marginally to fish production |
| mineral resource | Known mineral deposits of an area which have present or future utility. |
| soil absorption field | A sub-surface area containing a trench or bed with clean stones and a system of piping through which treated sewage may seep into the surrounding soil for further treatment and disposal. |
| placer | a surficial mineral deposit formed by mechanical concentration of mineral particles from weathered debris. |
| intraspecific nest parasitism | The addition of eggs to another female's nest. |
| el nio | a warm water current which periodically flows southwards along the coast of Ecuador and Peru in South America, replacing the usually cold northwards flowing current; occurs once every five to seven years usually during the Christmas season (the name refers to the Christ child) |
| measurement uncertainty | The estimated amount by which the measured quantity may depart from the true value. |
| adhesion | the molecular attraction asserted between the surfaces of bodies in contact |
| management bmps | BMPs that primarily involve a change in management practices, such as changing the timing, method, and/or amount of the application of a potential pollutant in order to reduce the chance of its contaminating water resources. |
| tempest | A violent windstorm, frequently accompanied by rain, snow, or hail. |
| workplan | a plan written by a proponent or approved Qualified Professional that details when and how and when works will be completed. |
| zodiac | The position of the sun during the course of the year as it appears to move though successive constellations |
| regolith | the layer or mantle of fragmented and unconsolidated rock material, residual or transported, that nearly everywhere forms the surface of the land and overlies or covers the bedrock. |
| fault | (Geology) A fracture in rock along which movement can be demonstrated |
| forage fish | Small fish which breed prolifically and serve as food for predatory fish. |
| federally listed | The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) maintains a list of species that are designated as Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened, or of Special Concern |
| asthenosphere | The zone inside the earth beneath the Lithosphere constituting the source of Igneous rock (Magma). |
| photosphere | The intensely bright portion of the sun visible to the unaided eye; the "surface" of the sun |
| pretreatment | processes used to reduce, eliminate, or alter the nature of wastewater pollutants from non-domestic sources before they are discharged into publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). |
| elongate | long or extended |
| alluvial land | Areas of unconsolidated alluvium, generally stratified and varying widely in texture, recently deposited by streams, and subject to frequent flooding. |
| orographic precipitation | Precipitation which results from the lifting of moist air over a topographic barrier such as a mountain range |
| embankment | a bank of earth or rock constructed above the normal ground surface, usually referred to as a bank. |
| riparian | Located on the banks of a stream or other body of water. |
| manhole | Vertical openings that serve as access holes for maintenance in sanitary or storm drain infrastructure |
| concordant flows | Flows at different points in a river system that have the same Recurrence Interval, or the same frequency of occurrence |
| pilot tests | The testing of a cleanup technology under actual site conditions in a laboratory in order to identify potential problems before implementation. |
| activated coal | This is the most commonly used adsorption medium, produced by heating carbonaceous substances or cellulose bases in the absence of air |
| national response team | representatives of 13 federal agencies that, as a team, coordinate federal responses to nationally significant incidents of pollution and provide advice and technical assistance to the responding agencies. |
| aerosol | A suspension of liquid or solid particles in air or gas. |
| hydrologic model | a computer model of a watershed used to evaluate how precipitation contributes to flow in streams |
| bactericidal | Able to kill bacteria. |
| per-capita water use | The water produced by or introduced into the system of a water supplier divided by the total residential population; normally expressed in gallons per-capita per day (gpcd). |
| ionosphere | The upper layer of the Atmosphere above the Stratosphere, from a distance of about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the earth's surface |
| aerobic treatment | process by which microbes decompose complex organic compounds in the presence of oxygen and use the liberated energy for reproduction and growth |
| critical habitat | Areas which are essential to the conservation of an officially-listed endangered or threatened species and which may require special management considerations or protection. |
| calibration | to check, adjust, or determine by comparison that a computer model will produce results that meet or exceed some defined criteria within a specified degree of confidence. |
| neurotoxin | A poisonous compound that acts on the nervous system. |
| contamination | the introduction into water of sewage or other foreign matter that will render the water unfit for its intended use. |
| estivation | Similar to hibernation, some herptiles will bury themselves and remain dormant when the climate is too dry and/or hot for comfort |
| dryland farming | The practice of crop production without irrigation in semiarid regions usually by using moisture-conserving farming techniques |
| slope | The ratio of the change in elevation over distance. |
| infiltration | The movement of water into soil or porous rock |
| rain | Precipitation in the form of liquid water droplets greater than 0.5 mm |
| total storage | The volume of storage below the maximum designed water surface level, including Dead Storage. |
| normal fault | (Geology) A Fault in which the hanging wall appears to have moved downward relative to the footwall. |
| aggradation | a progressive build up of a channel bed with sediment over several years due to a normal sequence of scour and deposition, as distinguished from the rise and fall of the channel bed during a single flood. |
| subsequent stream | A tributary stream flowing along beds of less erosional resistance, parallel to beds of greater resistance |
| forest road | An access route for vehicles into forest land. |
| omnivore | Animals that eat protein (meat) and plants for their diet. |
| surge | (1) To move in a billowing or swelling manner in or as if in waves |
| lake | A considerable body of inland water or an expanded part of a river. |
| predator | An animal that eats other animals. |
| physiographic province | an area with similar characteristics based on geology, soil type, and topography. |
| candle filter | A relatively coarse aperture filter, designed to retain a coat of filter medium on an extended surface. |
| snout to vent | A standard measurement of body length |
| terminal moraine | the end moraine extending across a glacial plain or valley as an arcuate or crescent ridge that marks the farthest advance or maximum extent of a glacier. |
| mineralization | (1) The general process by which elements present in organic compounds are eventually converted into inorganic forms, ultimately to become available for a new cycle of plant growth |
| jet | A forceful stream of fluid (as water or gas) discharged from a narrow opening or a nozzle. |
| retention basin | A permanent lake or pond used to slow stormwater runoff |
| net metering | an arrangement that allows on-site generators to send excess electricity flows to the regional power grid and offset a portion of the electricity flows drawn from the grid. |
| aquiculture | See Aquaculture |
| troposphere | The lowest layer of the earth's Atmosphere and the site of all weather processes |
| floodway | The channel of a river or stream and those parts of the adjacent floodplain adjoining the channel that are required to carry and discharge the base flood. |
| ecosystem | A community of organisms considered together with the nonliving factors of its environment. |
| municipal sewage | Liquid wastes, originating from a community |
| igneous rocks | rocks that have solidified from molten or partly molten material. |
| wastes | excessive dissolved solids make water unsuitable for drinking or industrial uses, (see TDS, total dissolved solids). |
| parasitic | characteristic of an organism that grows, feeds, and is sheltered on or in a different organism (the host) while contributing nothing to the survival of the host |
| lineament | (Geology) An essentially rectilinear topographic feature resulting from a fault or zone of faulting |
| cutwater | (1) (Nautical) The forward part of a ship's prow |
| coolant | An agent, such as water, that produces cooling as by drawing off heat by circulating through an engine or by bathing a mechanical part. |
| drain field | A network of buried piping or tubing where the fluid is discharged to the ground through seepage |
| hard water | water containing a high level of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals |
| acre-foot | A quantity or volume of water covering 1 acre to a depth of 1 ft; equal to 43,560 ft3, or 325,851 gal. |
| tetrapod | These are vertebrate (having a backbone or spinal column) animals that have four limbs |
| radionuclide | a radioactive particle, man-made or natural, with a distinct atomic weight number |
| muskeg | large expanses of peatlands or bogs that occur in subarctic zones. |
| compost | A mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter, used for fertilizing and conditioning land. |
| cyclonic precipitation | Precipitation which results from the lifting of air converging into a low-pressure area, or Cyclone. |
| asperse | To sprinkle, especially with holy water. |
| insectivore | Animals that eat insects for their diets. |
| rufous | Reddish-brown. |
| electrolyte | (1) (Chemistry) Any compound that dissociates into ions when dissolved in water |
| urostyle | A rod-like bone composed of fused tail vertebrae, present in frogs and toads. |
| source control | A practice, method, or technology used to reduce pollution from a source; for example, best management practices or end-of-pipe treatment. |
| dead time | The time required for the response to a change of input to a system to reach the location of a sensor (i.e., the time for a control initiated surge wave to travel from an upstream control check gate to a downstream sensor in a canal.) |
| turbellarian | The tiny eddies created in water by the cilia any of a class (Turbellaria) of mostly aquatic and free-living flatworms (as a planarian). |
| filter | A device used to remove solids from a mixture or to separate materials |
| zooplankton | tiny aquatic animals eaten by fish. |
| bed load | Material in movement along a stream bottom, or, if wind is the moving agent, along the surface |
| water purveyor | a public utility, mutual water company, county water district, or municipality that delivers drinking water to customers. |
| ventral scales | These are the 'belly scales' of the snake |
| mwmo | Mississippi Watershed Management Organization |
| contour | An imaginary line on the surface of the earth connecting points of the same elevation |
| indra | (Hinduism) A principal Vedic deity associated with rain and thunder. |
| brash | A mass or pile of rubble, refuse, or fragments, as of stone, brush, or ice. |
| specific discharge | For ground water, the rate of discharge per unit area, measured at right angles to the direction of flow. |
| floodwater detention capacity | That part of the gross reservoir capacity which, at the time under consideration, is reserved for the temporary storage of floodwaters |
| igneous rock | (Geology) A rock formed by the solidification of molten materials (magma) |
| meander | A bend in a river - usually in the middle or lower course |
| septage | Septic Tank sludge that is a combination of raw primary sludge and an anaerobically produced raw sludge. |
| cryptosporidium | A protozoan microbe associated with the disease cryptosporidiosis in man |
| free-flowing | Flowing without artificial restrictions. |
| distillation | water treatment method where water is boiled to steam and condensd in a separate reservoir |
| public water system | A system that provides piped water for human consumption to at least 15 service connections or regularly serves 25 individuals. |
| groundwater | Subsurface water and underground streams that can be collected with wells or that flow naturally to the earth's surface through springs. |
| hurricane watch | A formal advisory issued by forecasters at the National Hurricane Center when they have determined that hurricane conditions are a potential threat to a coastal area or group of islands within a 24 to 36 hour period |
| mainstem | The principle channel of a drainage system into which other smaller streams or rivers flow. |
| peak flow | The maximum instantaneous discharge of a stream or river at a given location |
| carnivorous | Flesh eating organisms. |
| trace element | a chemical element that occurs in minute quantities in a substance. |
| system head curve | A curve of system head comprising total static head and head loss in the system versus flow through the system. |
| remediation | methods used to remove or contain a toxic spill or hazardous materials from a Superfund site; a generic term used to describe cleanup activities. |
| ceilometer | An instrument that is used to measure the angular elevation of a projected light on the base of a cloud |
| vegetated swale | see rain garden. |
| meander belt | The zone along a valley floor that encloses a meandering river. |
| bioaccumulants | Substances that increase in concentration in living organisms as they take in contaminated air, water, or food because the substances are very slowly metabolized or excreted |
| snowmelt | (1) The runoff from melting snow |
| suspended load | Sediment that is transported by suspension in the water column of a stream or river. |
| hygrothermograph | An instrument which combines the features of the Hair Hygrograph and the Thermograph, recording both relative humidity and temperature on one chart. |
| parity | The condition or fact of having borne offspring. |
| co-dominant | Two or more plant species providing about equal areal cover which in combination control the environment. |
| cyanobacteria | Photosynthetic bacteria; often referred to as blue-green algae. |
| interference | A change in the water level of one well caused by the pumping at another well |
| mean higher high tide | The average height of the higher of two unequal daily high tides over 19 years. |
| eutrophic lake | Shallow, murky bodies of water that have excessive concentrations of plant nutrients causing excessive algal production. |
| soil zone | The Root Zone. |
| fascine | See Live Fascine. |
| wet bulb thermometer | A thermometer used to measure the lowest temperature in the ambient atmosphere in its natural state by evaporating water from a wet muslin-covered bulb of a thermometer |
| interpolate/interpolation | (Data Analysis) The fitting of data values between observed values |
| rain barrel | Rain barrels collect rainwater, which can be used in gardens and lawns, as well as preventing excessive runoff. |
| anoxic | Without oxygen |
| incised river | A river which cuts its channel through the bed of the valley floor, as opposed to one flowing on a floodplain; its channel formed by the process of degradation. |
| furrow irrigation | irrigation method in which water travels through the field by means of small channels between each group of rows. |
| closed lakes | Those that do not have an effluent in contrast to drainage lakes or open lakes which do have outlet streams |
| cassiterite | The major ore mineral for tin (SnO2) |
| plain | A large area of nearly flat land which does not have any significant hills. |
| cypriere | In Louisiana, a cypress swamp |
| silver iodide | A compound of silver and iodine, the crystalline structure of which closely approximates that of ice crystals; used as ice nuclei in weather modification. |
| rhabdomancy | Divination by means of a wand or rod, especially for discovering underground water or ores |
| hill | Smaller than a mountain, a raised part of the earth. |
| mare liberum | A navigable body of water, such as a sea, that is open to navigation by vessels of all nations. |
| contract | Any repayment or water service contract between the United States and a district providing for the payment of construction charges to the federal government, including normal operation, maintenance, and replacement costs pursuant to federal reclamation law |
| priority | The concept that the person first using water has a better right to it than those commencing their use later |
| mariculture | cultivation of fish and shellfish in estuarine and coastal areas |
| facultative bacteria | bacteria that can live under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. |
| bioconversion | The conversion of organic materials, such as plant or animal waste, into usable products or energy sources by biological processes or agents, such as certain microorganisms. |
| secondary standards | Standards, sometimes called Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels, address taste, odor, color, and other aesthetic aspects of drinking water that do not present health risks. |
| mot | British Columbia Ministry of Transport |
| heterogeneity | The fact or state of being dissimilar, as in composition, source, quantity, dimensions, and so on. |
| cri | Carpet & Rug Institute |
| limited degradation | An environmental policy permitting some degradation of natural systems but terminating at a level well beneath an established health standard. |
| wasteway | (1) Channel for conveying or discharging excess water or wastewater |
| benthic | pertaining to the bottom of a body of water, on or within the bottom substrate material. |
| hydrostatic pressure | The pressure in a fluid in equilibrium which is due solely to the weight of fluid above. |
| ultraviolet radiation | Light waves shorter than the visible blue-violet waves of the spectrum, i.e., below 3900 Angstroms (à ) |
| tin streaming | The mining of cassiterite placer deposits with the separation of the denser cassiterite from the less dense gangue minerals. |
| toilet | A room, shelter, or similar device used for defecation or urination equipped with a bowl-shaped fixture for this purpose fitted with a device for flushing with water. |
| diffraction | The result of light waves interfering with other after passing through a narrow aperture, causing them to bend or spread. |
| turbidimeter | a device that measures the cloudiness of suspended solids in a liquid; a measure of the quantity of suspended solids. |
| extirpation | removing, destroying, pulling up extermination or otherwise making extinct. |
| mces | Metropolitan Council Environmental Services |
| benthic organism | a form of aquatic life that lives on the bottom or near the bottom of streams, lakes, or oceans. |
| decay | The disintegration of organic materials into simpler forms, or into their original elements, by action of bacteria, fungi, or other microorganisms. |
| leachate | water or other liquid that has washed (leached) from a solid material, such as a layer of soil or waste; leachate may contain contaminants Leaching |
| raw sludge | The material settled out during the primary clarification of sewage. |
| duff | A spongy layer of decaying leaves, branches, and other organic materials covering the forest floor. |
| attrition | The wearing away of particles of rock as they bounce along the riverbed or knock against each other and wear away becoming more rounded. |
| alfalfa valve | A screw-type valve placed on the end of a pipe to regulate the flow of water. |
| dredge | a device for scraping or sucking the bottom of a waterbody, used for dredging. |
| concentrate | a product containing a valuable mineral or metal and from which most of the waste material has been removed Concentration |
| salina | (1) A salt marsh, spring, pond, or lake |
| retention basin | a pond to retain stormwater runoff and remove the majority of sediment within the stormwater, by settling |
| meander breadth | The distance between the lines used to define the Meander Belt. |
| sling | Slang for Spiderling, a baby spider. |
| alkaline | the condition of water or soil that contains a sufficient amount of alkali substance to raise the pH above 7.0. |
| mean | (Statistics) The sum of a set of observations divided by the number of observations |
| softscape | the natural elements of a landscape, such as plant materials and soil |
| umbo | the inflated dorsal part of the shell; also called the beak |
| net duty of water | The amount of water delivered to the land to produce a crop, measured at the point of delivery to the field |
| evapotranspiration | The loss of water from a land area through evaporation from the soil and through plant transpiration. |
| diffused air | (Water Quality) A type of aeration that forces oxygen into sewage by pumping air through perforated pipes inside a holding tank. |
| fecal coliform | Bacteria from the colons of warm-blooded animals which are released in fecal material |
| sidecast | The act of moving excavated material to the side and depositing such material. |
| seral | pertaining to the successional (following one after the other) stages of biotic communities. |
| tympanum | The membrane covering the external ear opening of the middle ear chamber or vestibule. |
| impervious | the quality or state of being impermeable; resisting penetration by water or plant roots |
| planktonic | exhibiting movements characteristic of plankton |
| lock | A section of a waterway, such as a canal, closed off with gates, in which vessels in transit are raised or lowered by raising or lowering the water level of that section. |
| bedew | To wet with or as if with Dew. |
| ad hoc | to establish for a specific purpose or situation |
| erosion | the process whereby materials of the Earth's crust are loosened, dissolved, or worn away and simultaneously moved from one place to another. |
| bathyscaphe | A free-diving, self-contained deep-sea research vessel consisting essentially of a large flotation hull with a crewed observation capsule fixed to its underside, capable of reaching depths of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) or more. |
| volumetric water content | That portion of the volume of a soil sample that is occupied by water, expressed as percent by volume. |
| blue water | The open sea. |
| ochre | Mixture of hydrated oxides of iron and manganese used as a filler in the manufacture of paints and some papers. |
| aquifer | An underground layer of rock or soil containing ground water. |
| precipitation | any form or all forms of liquid or solid water particles that fall from the atmosphere and reach the Earth's surface; includes drizzle, rain, snow, snow pellets, ice crystals, ice pellets and hail |
| philopatric | Of or relating to species or groups that remain in or habitually return to their native regions or territories. |
| merv | minimum efficiency reporting value |
| eutrophic zone | An area, particularly with respect to lakes, where there exists sufficient light for photosynthesis to take place. |
| bushfire | almost any form of fire burning out of control (see prescribed fire) |
| light fixture | illumination that is permanently fixed to the home |
| adsorbate | Any material adsorbed onto the surface of another. |
| dominant | A gene that causes an animal to look different than the wild-type and where the homozygous form and the heterozygous form look the same as each other. |
| projection | (Mathematical) Calculations made into the future based on current events and trends |
| thermal mass | Materials that absorb heat or coolness and store it for a long period of time |
| streamside management zone | An area adjacent to the banks of streams and bodies of open water where extra precaution is necessary in carrying out forest practices in order to protect bank edges and water quality. |
| hibernacula | The places in which an animal hibernates or overwinters; winter quarters. |
| meteoric water | groundwater which originates in the atmosphere and reaches the zone of saturation by infiltration and percolation. |
| drinkable | Suitable or fit for drinking; Potable. |
| eutrophication | The process of enrichment of water bodies by nutrients. |
| threshold limit value | The concentration of an airborne substance that a healthy person can be exposed to for a 40-hour work week without adverse effect; a workplace exposure standard. |
| potable water | water safe for human consumption Processed Kimberlite |
| wet vault | an underground storage/treatment facility constructed of reinforced concrete similar in nature to a wet pond, except that, being underground, they lack some of the biological contaminant removal mechanism present in wet ponds. |
| hydrocarbon | Organic compounds that are built of carbon and hydrogen atoms and are often used in petroleum industries. |
| buildable land | the portion of a site where construction can occur |
| low flow frequency curve | A graph showing the magnitude and frequency of minimum flow for a specified period of time (duration). |
| dinoflagellates | Unicellular biflagellate algae with thick cellulose plates |
| chop | A short, irregular motion of waves |
| cne | Curve Number Equation. |
| light-and-dark bottle technique | A method used to determine the extent of Photosynthesis in an aquatic Ecosystem |
| semi-aquatic | Animals living on both land and water |
| radioactive | Having the property of releasing radiation. |
| undercurrent | a current below the upper currents or surface of a fluid body. |
| tide cycle | The duration of a given tidal sequence, as for example, a lunar month or a tidal day. |
| liquid injection incinerator | Commonly used system that relies on high pressure to prepare liquid wastes for incineration, breaking them up into tine droplets to allow for easier combustion. |
| mean tide level | A plane midway between mean high water and mean low water. |
| detritus | decaying organic matter (mostly leaves and other matter from vegetation). |
| semipermeable | (1) Partially permeable |
| water well | An excavation where the intended use is for location, acquisition, development, or artificial recharge of ground water. |
| granite | A coarse grained igneous rock composed of quartz (over 20%) and feldspar in which plagioclase and alkali feldspar occur in approximately equal proportions |
| keratin | A hard, tough, non-soluble protein |
| carbamates | A class of new-age pesticides that attack the nervous system of organisms. |
| annual | (1) Measured by the year |
| hydrate | A solid compound containing water molecules combined in a definite ratio as an integral part of the crystal. |
| downdrift | Direction of alongshore movement of beach materials. |
| codes of practice | sets of guidelines adopted by management agencies concerned with minimising impacts of operations on the environment and with worker safety |
| hydrochlorofluorocarbon | a organic compounds composed of carbon, fluorine, chlorine and hydrogen, used as a refrigerant |
| dyke | An artificial embankment constructed to prevent flooding. |
| catalase | A red crystalline enzyme that consists of a protein complex with hematin groups and catalyzes the decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide into water and oxygen. |
| preheating | Heating of feedwater prior to desalting in a membrane process in order to render desalting more efficient. |
| biota | all living organisms of an area. |
| vertebrate | Animals that have a backbone. |
| headwaters | The source and upper part of a stream. |
| due diligence | a legal term that requires individuals on the job to maintain a reasonable standard of care |
| dechlorination | Removal of chlorine from treated wastewater before discharge into a receiving stream. |
| ground water | its occurrence and movements, its replenishment and depletion, the properties of rocks that control ground water movement and storage and the methods of investigation and utilization of ground water. |
| finite volume | a method of solving the governing equations of a numerical model by dividing the spatial domain into a mesh of nodes and corresponding volumes around each node |
| setback | Denotes the positioning of a levee or structure in relationship to a stream bank |
| hydraulic radius | The cross-sectional area of a stream of water divided by the length of that part of its periphery in contact with its containing conduit; the ratio of area to wetted perimeter |
| pyrogen | Substance that is produces by bacteria and it fairly stable |
| off-site enhancement | The improvement in conditions for fish or wildlife species away from the site of a hydroelectric project that had detrimental effects on fish and/or wildlife, as part or total compensation for those effects |
| bloom | a proliferation of algae and/or higher aquatic plants in a body of water; often related to pollution or excessive nutrients, especially when they accelerate growth. |
| vapor plumes | flue gases that are visible because they contain water droplets. |
| channel bank | The sloping land bordering a channel |
| backbar channel | A channel formed behind a bar connected to the main channel but usually at a higher bed elevation than the main channel |
| overflow rate | One of the guidelines for design of the settling tanks and clarifiers in a treatment plant to determine if tanks and clarifiers are used enough. |
| biological additives | Cultures of bacteria, enzymes, or nutrients that are introduced into an oil discharge or other wastes to promote decomposition. |
| injection well classes | Classifications of the U.S |
| immiscibility | the inability of two or more substances or liquids to readily dissolve into one another, such as soil and water. |
| ordinate | (Mathematics) The plane Cartesian coordinate representing the distance from a specified point to the x-axis (Abscissa), measured parallel to the y-axis. |
| tarn | a relatively small and deep, steep-sided lake or pool occupying an ice-gouged basin amid glaciated mountains. |
| biological diversity | The variety of different species, the genetic variability of each species, and the variety of different ecosystems that they form. |
| chemistry | The science of substances |
| cavern | a large underground opening in rock (usually limestone) which occurred when some of the rock was dissolved by water |
| snow level | The elevation in mountainous terrain where the precipitation changes from rain to snow, depending on the temperature structure of the associated air mass. |
| relative humidity | The ratio of the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere to the amount necessary for saturation at the same temperature |
| spatter | (1) To scatter in drops or small blobs |
| range resolution | The ability of radar to distinguish between targets on the same azimuth but at different ranges. |
| anoxic | (1) Denotes the absence of oxygen, as in a body of water |
| water transfer | Artificial conveyance of water from one area to another across a political or hydrological boundary |
| ore minerals | Metalliferous minerals which can be exploited with a profit. |
| mitochondria | Self-replicating organelles, bounded by two membranes, that are found in the cytoplasm of all eukaryotic cells and produce cellular energy in the the form of ATP via the oxidative phosphorilation reactions. |
| crib dam | A barrier or form of Gravity Dam constructed of timber forming bays, boxes, cribs, crossed timbers, gabions or cells that are filled with earth, stone or heavy material |
| biological oxidation | Decomposition of complex organic materials by microrganisms through oxidation. |
| hydrosphere | Considered as the water portion of the earth's surface |
| statistically significant | (Statistics) Describes the difference between two groups or two samples from the same population, one of which serves as the unaffected control group and the other having been subject to manipulation (cause and effect) by some external factor |
| sprinkle | A light rainfall. |
| ion | An atom in a solution that is charged, either positively (cations) or negatively (anions). |
| neutral soil | A soil in which the surface layer, at least to normal plow depth, is neither acid nor alkaline in reaction, approximately 7.0 pH. |
| lwd | large woody debris |
| moisture tension | The equivalent negative pressure in the soil water |
| subduction zone | According to the theory of Plate Tectonics, a region at the boundary of two of the plates that form the crust of the earth where one of the plates is forced downward into the mantle |
| special protection areas | Designated under the EC Birds Directive (79/409/EEC Conservation of Wild Birds), these are internationally important sites, being set up to establish a network of protected areas of birds |
| dredging | removal of mud from the bottom of water bodies |
| species diversity | The number of different Species occurring in some location or under some condition. |
| colluvial material | (Geology) Material consisting of Alluvium in part and also containing angular fragments of the original rocks |
| nonpoint source | a source (of any water-carried material) from a broad area, rather than from discrete points. |
| transmissometer | An electronic instrument system which provides a continuous record of the atmospheric transmission between two fixed points |
| off-site enhancement | The improvement in conditions for fish or wildlife species away from the site or development activities that may have detrimental effects on fish and/or wildlife, as part or total compensation for those effects. |
| mooring | a place or structure to which a vessel can be secured, usually off-shore |
| visitor-day | See recreation-day. |
| leachate | a liquid that has percolated through soil containing soluble substances and that contains certain amounts of these substances in solution. |
| residual depression storage | Depression storage existing at the end of a period of excess rain. |
| lateritic soil | Land that consist of minerals that are rich in iron and aluminum compounds, other minerals having been removed by Leaching |
| particulate matter | in this report, the term particulate matter has been used interchangeably with particles |
| percolation | the movement of water through the subsurface soil layers, usually continuing downward to the groundwater or water table reservoirs. |
| ground water reservoir | primarily from the surface, infiltration of rain and snowfall and its movement to the water table is one form of natural recharge, the volume of water added by this process, (see ground water). |
| micrograms per liter | One one-thousandth of a Milligram per Liter (mg/l) |
| climatic year | A period used in meteorological measurements |
| cloud seeding | A Weather Modification technique involving the injection of a substance into a cloud for the purpose of influencing the cloud's subsequent development |
| limiting nutrient | The plant nutrient present in lowest concentration relative to need: limits growth such that addition of the limiting nutrient will stimulate additional growth |
| evaporites | a class of sedimentary rocks composed primarily of minerals precipitated from a saline solution as a result of extensive or total evaporation of water. |
| standard solution | any solution in which the concentration is known. |
| dilution factor | The extent to which the concentration of some solution or suspension has been lowered through the addition of a Diluent. |
| remedial response | (Environmental) Long-term action that stops or substantially reduces a release or threat of a release of hazardous substances that is serious but not an immediate threat to public health. |
| voids | A general term for pore spaces or other openings in rock. |
| scour | Concentrated erosive action of flowing water in streams that removes and carries away material from the bed and banks. |
| solid | A state of matter, neither liquid nor gas |
| deoxyribonucleic acid | A molecule that carries genetic information in the cell; composed of two complimentary chains of nucleotides wound in a double helix; capable of self-replication and coding for ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis. |
| rainfall intensity frequency | The average time interval between the occurrence of the rainfall or precipitation of a given or greater intensity. |
| air mass | A large body of air |
| archipelago | An archipelago is a group or chain of islands clustered together in a sea or ocean. |
| imhoff cone | A clear, cone-shaped container used to measure the volume of settleable solids in a specific volume of water. |
| hydrolysis | The splitting (lysis) of a compound by a reaction with water |
| information collection rule | A rule promulgated by the U.S |
| oxygen deficit | (Water Quality) The difference between observed oxygen concentration and the amount that would theoretically be present at 100 percent saturation for existing conditions of temperature and pressure. |
| growth lines | darkened lines on the surface of the shell indicating periods of rest during growth |
| physiography | Description of nature or natural phenomenon in general; physical geography. |
| clean water act | federal legislation enacted in 1972 to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the surface waters of the United States |
| megawatt | A unit of electricity equivalent to 1000 kilowatts. |
| cutoff | where the stream cuts through the neck of a meander bend. |
| internal drainage | surface drainage whereby the water does not reach the ocean, such as drainage toward the lowermost or central part of an interior basin. |
| intraspecific | Interactions within a species |
| extensive landuse zone | the non-improved land tenures of Australia that are used for grazing |
| torpor | The dormant, inactive state of a hibernating or estivating animal. |
| pedestrian-oriented design | an arrangement of features in the urban landscape that promote walking |
| photodissociation | The process by which a chemical compound breaks up into simpler constituents after absorbing radiant energy. |
| mixed layer | It is the upper portion of the boundary layer in which air is thoroughly mixed by convection |
| free ground water | Water in interconnected pore spaces in the Zone of Saturation down to the first impervious barrier, moving under the control of the water table slope. |
| percolating waters | waters passing through the ground beneath the Earth's surface without a definite channel. |
| grout curtain | (Dam) A barrier produced by injecting grout into a vertical zone, usually narrow horizontally, in the foundation of a dam to reduce seepage under the dam |
| holding pond | a small basin or pond designed to hold sediment laden or contaminated water until it can be treated to meet water quality standards or be used in some other way. |
| humid | Containing or characterized by perceptible moisture |
| scenic rivers | Rivers or sections of rivers that are free of impoundments, with shoreline and watersheds still largely primitive, and shorelines largely undeveloped, but accessible in places by roads. |
| classification | (Soils)The systematic arrangement of soils into groups or categories on the basis of their characteristics |
| solute | chemical or pollutant in a specified volume or weight of solvent, air, water, soil or other medium, accumulating a level of some material over and above the level found in the ambient environment, generally applied to an organism. |
| cape | (1) A point or head of land projecting into a body of water |
| aerobic | A process that takes place in the presence of oxygen, such as the digestion of organic matter by bacteria in an oxidation pond. |
| intensive landuse zone | Agricultural area of Australia where the predominant landuses are cropping (both irrigated and rainfed) and improved grazing, with introduced grasses and legumes |
| primacy | Term used to denote that individual states have been delegated the authority to implement the requirements, as prescribed by the U.S |
| lotic | (1) Of, relating to, or living in moving water |
| ground water | The water that occurs beneath the earth's surface between saturated soil and rock and that supplies wells and springs. |
| parturition | The act or process of giving birth. |
| integrated pest management | A systems approach that combines a wide array of crop production practices with careful monitoring of pests and their natural enemies |
| fry | Newly hatched or juvenile fish. |
| disinfectants | Fluids or gasses to disinfect filters, pipelines, systems, etc. |
| icefoot | A belt of ledge of ice that forms along the shoreline in Arctic regions. |
| stratus fractus | Stratus clouds that appear in irregular fragments, as if they had been shred or torn |
| certificate of water right | an official document which serves as court evidence of a perfected water right. |
| erosion potential | A ranking of a soil's potential to erode. |
| coupon test | A method of determining the rate of corrosion or scale formation by placing metal strips (or coupons) of a known weight in the pipe. |
| hydrology | the science that deals with water, its properties, distribution and circulation over the Earth's surface Impoundment |
| flow augmentation | The addition of water to a stream, especially to meet instream flow needs. |
| process verification | Verifying that process raw materials, water usage, waste treatment processes, production rate and other facts relative to quantity and quality of pollutants contained in discharges are substantially described in the permit application and the issued permit. |
| plateau | A level, elevated land area, usually between 2,000 and 6,000 feet (610-1,830 meters) in elevation. |
| zenith | The point which is elevated 90 degrees from all points on a given observer's astronomical horizon |
| coldwater fish | Fish such as trout and salmon; preferred water temperature ranges between 7-18 degrees C (45-65 degrees F); coolwater fish, such as striped bass, northern pike, and walleye, have a range between that of coldwater and warmwater fish. |
| bct | Best [conventional] Control Technology. |
| melanin | Black or brown skin pigments. |
| vascular plant | a plant composed of or provided with vessels or ducts that convey water or sap |
| aerobic | Characterizing organisms able to live only in the presence of air or free oxygen, and conditions that exist only in the presence of air or free oxygen |
| 100-year storm | A precipitation event used for stormwater drainage system design, based on a frequency analysis of historical data |
| nadir | The point on any given observer's celestial sphere diametrically opposite of one's zenith. |
| antecedent streams | Antecedent streams are those in place before the rising of mountain chains |
| erosion | The process whereby materials of the Earth's crust are loosened, dissolved, or worn away and simultaneously moved from one place to another. |
| computer applications | Computer programs written to perform certain tasks, such as word processing, mapping, etc. |
| diatoms | Single-celled, colonial, or filamentous algae with siliceous cell walls constructed of two overlapping parts. |
| desorption | The opposite of adsorption; the release of matter from the adsorption medium, usually to recover material. |
| long term captive | A wild caught animal that has been in captivity for a number of years. |
| gamma radiation | High energy photons which are emitted by many radioactive substances. |
| infiltration | the passage of water through the soil surface and into the soil matrix |
| gust | A sudden significant increase in or rapid fluctuations of wind speed |
| gl | one thousand million litres |
| englacial | Located or occurring within a glacier. |
| symbiotic | a close association between the individuals of pairs of species often leading to mutual gains |
| condensation | The process by which a vapour becomes a liquid or solid; the opposite of evaporation |
| ectotherm | An animal whose body temperature varies with the temperature of its surroundings (also called cold-blooded). |
| effloresce | (Chemistry) To become a powder by losing water of crystallization, as when a hydrated crystal is exposed to air. |
| pathogen | any living organism that causes disease. |
| credit interpretation request | in LEED for Homes, a project team's request for clarification on the Rating System |
| well yield | The volume of water discharged from a well in gallons per minute or cubic meters per day. |
| irrigated cropland | All lands being supplied water by artificial means, excluding waterfowl refuges, that are being used for the production of orchard, field, grain crops and pasture. |
| taiga | A region of boreal forest, the largely evergreen forest vegetation of northern areas of the Northern Hemisphere, below the arctic and subarctic tundra regions. |
| portal | the ground level entrance or opening to an under ground mine Potable Water |
| thermohaline | In oceanography, it pertains to when both temperature and salinity act together |
| deposition | The settling out of a soil particle or aggregate of particles from the water column. |
| surfactant | a material that facilitates and accentuates the emulsifying, wetting and other surface-modifying properties of substances |
| priority pollutant | Chemical designated by the U.S |
| canopy closure | The degree of canopy cover relative to openings (Forestry Canada 1992) |
| baseline | A quantitative level or value from which other data and observations of a comparable nature are referenced |
| stage | height of the water surface above an established datum plane, such as in a river above a predetermined point that may (or may not) be near the channel floor. |
| bed slope | The inclination of the channel bottom, measured as the elevation drop per unit length of channel. |
| lagoon | a shallow stretch of seawater (or lakewater) near or communicating with the sea (or lake) and partly or completely separated from it by a low, narrow, elongate strip of land. |
| open space/open space use | Refers to the current employment of land, the preservation of which conserves and enhances natural or scenic resources, protects streams and water supplies or preserves sites designated as historic pursuant to law. |
| muck | dark, finely divided, well-decomposed, organic matter forming a surface deposit in some poorly drained areas. |
| mizzle | To rain in fine, mist-like droplets; to drizzle |
| corn snow | Snow that has melted and refrozen into a rough, granular surface. |
| density | a measure of how heavy a specific volume of a solid, liquid, or gas is in comparison to water. |
| majors | Larger Publicly-Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) with flows equal to at least one million gallons per day (mgd) or servicing a population equivalent to 10,000 person, certain other POTWs having significant water quality impacts |
| monitoring well | a well used to obtain water quality samples or measure groundwater levels. |
| bib | a patch of colored feathers under the chin of a bird. |
| beaufort wind scale | A system of estimating and reporting wind speeds |
| argon | A colorless, odorless inert gas that is the third most abundant constituent of dry air, comprising 0.93% of the total. |
| closed conduit system | A conveyance system where the flow of water is confined on all boundaries (i.e., pipe systems). |
| slickensides | (Geology) A smooth striated polished surface produced on rock by movement along a fault. |
| afy | Acre-Feet per Year. |
| liquor | (Water Quality) A liquid solution containing dissolved substances |
| riparian water right | the legal right held by an owner of land contiguous to or bordering on a natural stream or lake, to take water from the source for use on the contiguous land. |
| live branch cuttings | Living, freshly cut branches from woody shrub and tree species that readily propagate when embedded in soil. |
| policy | In this context, "policy" refers to the generic shoreline management options (No Active Intervention, Hold the Existing Line of Defence, Managed Realignment and Advance the Existing Line of Defence). |
| oxalic acid | Oxalic Acid is a toxic organic acid that are found in plants |
| enrichment | the addition of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous from wastewater effluent or agricultural runoff to surface water |
| pathogens | Disease-producing microrganisms. |
| water gate | A gate that provides access to a body of water; a Floodgate. |
| aquatic life use | a beneficial use designation in which the water body provides suitable habitat for survival and reproduction of desirable fish, shellfish, and other aquatic organisms. |
| sinks | processes or places that remove or store gases, solutes or solids in accumulating parts of the environment |
| biological magnification | Refers to the process whereby certain substances such as pesticides or heavy metals move up the food chain, work their way into rivers or lakes, and are eaten by aquatic organisms such as fish, which in turn are eaten by large birds, animals or humans |
| annular | In the form of a ring. |
| watershed | the area of land from which rainfall (and/or snow melt) drains to a single point |
| drawdown | the drop in the water table or level of groundwater when water is being pumped from a well; the amount of water used from a tank or reservoir; the drop in the water level of a tank or reservoir. |
| acidic | has a pH of less than 7. |
| reforestation | The natural or artificial restocking of an area with forested trees. |
| overfishing | The removal of a sufficiently large number of certain fish from a body of water such that breeding stocks are reduced to levels that will not support the continued presence of the fish in desirable quantities for sport or commercial harvest. |
| bajada | A long outwash detrital (sedimentary) slope at the base of a mountain range. |
| mineral processing | Mineral processing is a branch of engineering which focuses on separating minerals of value from the unwanted waste or gangue minerals |
| vd3 | Vitamin D3, used in the absorption of calcium in reptile and amphibian diets. |
| neotony | Retention of larval or embryonic characteristics past the time of reproductive maturity. |
| statistical inference | (Statistics) The area of statistics that describes the procedures by which we use the observed data (the sample) to draw conclusions about the population from which the data came or about the process by which the data were generated |
| permanent hardness | Water hardness that cannot be reduced or removed by heating the water, a reflection of the presence of dissolved calcium, magnesium, iron and other divalent metal ions |
| raindrop | A drop of rain. |
| affected public | The people who live and/or work near a hazardous waste site or other source of pollutant emissions. |
| antifreeze | A substance, often a liquid such as ethylene glycol or alcohol, mixed with another liquid, such as water, to lower its freezing point. |
| ph | The negative logarithm of the molar concentration of the hydrogen ion, or, more simply acidity. |
| hydrocarbons | any substance containing carbon and hydrogen in various combinations (e.g |
| leaching | occurs when a liquid (e.g |
| water cycle | The cycle of evaporation and condensation that controls the distribution of the earth's water as it evaporates from bodies of water, condenses, precipitates, and returns to those bodies of water |
| geologic erosion | Normal or natural erosion caused by geological processes acting over long geologic periods and resulting in the wearing away of mountains, the building up of flood plains, coastal plains, etc. |
| drumlin | An elongated hill or ridge of Glacial Drift. |
| snowfall | The rate at which snow falls, usually expressed in inches of snow depth over a six hour period. |
| hepatotoxin | A poisonous compound that causes injury to the liver. |
| floodplain | the area on either side of the bankfull channel that carries the flow greater than the bankfull flow, that is, all storms greater than the one-to-two year storm |
| pipebursting | A system by which a burster unit splits the existing pipe while simultaneously installing a new polyethylene pipe |
| waterer | (1) A person who obtains or supplies drinking water |
| dry sclerophyll | a type of eucalypt forest found in moderate rainfall (less than 1000 mm per year) areas sometimes called 'open forests' (see wet sclerophyll) |
| anchor | A series of methods used to secure a structure to its footings or foundation wall so that it will not be displaced by flood or wind forces. |
| condensate | Water obtained by condensation of water vapour. |
| moorings | The place where a ship or boat is docked (or tied up) |
| laminar flow | A flow in which fluid moves smoothly in streamlines in parallel layers or sheets |
| riparian habitat | The aquatic and terrestrial habitat adjacent to streams, lakes, estuaries, or other waterways. |
| fresh | (1) Not saline or salty |
| oceanography | The science relating to the study of the ocean. |
| terrestrial | Living or growing on land rather than in water or air. |
| cold advection | The horizontal movement of colder air into a location |
| watershed approach | a coordinated framework for environmental management that focuses public and private efforts on the highest priority problems within hydrologically defined geographic areas. |
| species at risk | a species that has been defined as at risk' [of extirpation] by either the federal or provincial government due to its vulnerable, threatened or endangered status. |
| streamflow | the discharge of water in a natural channel. |
| water resource district | A legal entity established by state statute to facilitate local administration in all phases of water development, utilization, and control. |
| gravel | See cobble. |
| attached ground water | The portion or amount of alkali substances in the ground sufficient to raise the pH value above 7.0 or to be harmful to the growth of crops, a condition called alkaline. |
| basin yields | The amount of water which will flow from a drainage or catchment area in a given storm. |
| median particle size | value for which half the particles in a sample have a greater diameter and half a lesser diameter. |
| fall overturn | A physical phenomenon that may take place in a body of water during early autumn |
| wave cyclone | A cyclone which forms and moves along a front |
| mountain | A mountain is a very tall high, natural place on Earth - higher than a hill |
| species | Populations of organisms that may interbreed and produce fertile offspring having similar structure, habits, and functions. |
| slake | (1) To satisfy (a craving) as to quench a thirst |
| drainage field ditch | A shallow graded ditch for collecting excess water within a field, usually constructed with flat side slopes for ease of crossing. |
| condensation | (1) (Physics) The process by which a gas or vapor changes to a liquid or solid; also the liquid or solid so formed |
| bivalve | a mollusk with a shell that consists of two symmetrical valves |
| neurotoxin | A poison that affects the nervous system. |
| special assessment district | A legally established area for the express purpose of levying a special fee for public improvements that are of a special rather than a general benefit. |
| critical area | Area or source of nonpoint source pollutants identified in the project area as having the most significant impact on the impaired use of the receiving waters. |
| breakpoint chlorination | addition of chlorine to the point where all organic matter and ammonia compounds have been destroyed and any additional chlorine becomes a free chlorine residual available for disinfection. |
| bioremediation | a process that uses living organisms to remove pollutants. |
| plimsoll's mark | (Nautical) The load-line mark conspicuously painted originally on the sides of all British merchant vessels and used to indicate the limit of submergence allowed by law |
| infiltration index | The average rate of infiltration, in inches per hour, derived from a time intensity graph of rainfall, so that the volume of rainfall in excess of this rate equals the total direct runoff |
| angiosperms | (Botanical) The vast majority of seed plants characterized as having ovules and seeds in a closed ovary |
| compound | A substance composed of separate elements, ingredients, or parts |
| bankfull | The discharge that fills the channel without overflowing onto the flood plain. |
| ce-qual-icm | Three-dimensional, time variable, integrated-compartment eutrophication model. |
| toxaphene | chemical that causes adverse health effects in domestic water supplies and is toxic to fresh water and marine aquatic life. |
| ejector | (1) A device using a jet of water to withdraw a fluid from a space |
| graben | (Geology) (1) A depressed tract bounded on at least two sides by faults and generally of considerable length as compared to its width |
| sedimentary rocks | rocks resulting from the consolidation of loose sediment that has accumulated in layers. |
| landfill | (Water Quality) A disposal site which disposes of solid wastes on land |
| milligram | A mass equal to 10-3 grams. |
| nutrients | primarily nitrate and phosphate, content of natural waters, usually resulting in an increase in biomass and productivity of algae which may result in the depletion of the oxygen concentration in the water leading to a fish kill, from natural erosion and runoff from the land or from anthropogenic sources. |
| aquatic invertebrates | Aquatic animals without an internal skeletal structure such as insects, mollusks, and crayfish. |
| desiccate | (1) To dry out thoroughly |
| pop's | Persistent Organic Pollutants, complex compounds that are very persistent and difficultly biologically degradable. |
| chemosensory | Using the sense of smell. |
| disposal pond | A small, usually diked, enclosure that is open to the atmosphere and into which a liquid waste is discharged |
| average discharge | In the annual series of the U.S |
| moe | British Columbia Ministry of Environment |
| relative abundance | The number of organisms of a particular kind present in a sample relative to the total number of organisms in the sample. |
| shgc | solar heat gain coefficient |
| soluble | That which can be dissolved; able to pass into solution. |
| water solubility | the maximum possible concentration of a chemical compound dissolved in water. |
| coldwater fish | A fish that requires relatively cool water for survival |
| superchlorination | Chlorination with doses that are deliberately selected to produce water free of combined residuals so large as to require dechlorination. |
| aquitard | geological formation that may contain groundwater but is not capable of transmitting significant quantities of it under normal hydraulic gradients |
| port | (1) A place on a waterway with facilities for loading and unloading ships; a city or town on a waterway with such facilities |
| mollusca | the snails and similar organisms with an asymmetrical, spirally-coiled shell. |
| aquatic biology | Field of biological study that deals with aquatic plants and animals. |
| risk assessment | A methodology used to examine all possible risks involved with a particular product or organism |
| designed landscape | the arrangement of features on a site, including softscapes (e.g., grass, shrubs) and hardscapes (e.g., patios, fountains) but not driveways or areas under roof |
| static water level | elevation or level of the water table in a well when the pump is not operating; the level or elevation to which water would rise in a tube connected to an artesian aquifer or basin in a conduit under pressure. |
| crp | Conservation Reserve Program |
| toxicant | Any chemical that has the potential of causing acute or chronic adverse effects in animals, plants, or humans. |
| truckee-carson irrigation project [nevada] | Original name of the Newlands (Irrigation) Project [Nevada] |
| flow velocity | The volume of water flowing through a unit cross-sectional area of an aquifer |
| sediment load | The soil particles transported through a channel by stream flow. |
| caudal luring | Caudal luring is the use of tail movements employed by a predator to attract prey animals. |
| water conserving irrigation system | Irrigation systems including a combination of drip irrigation, soaker hoses, bubblers, and low-trajectory spray heads for water distribution; zoning irrigation for different water-demand plant types; electronic timers with five-day programming and rain override devices, irrigation schedules for early morning watering every five to seven days; and soil moisture sensors. |
| productivity | the sum of technological change and change in economic efficiency |
| hydrostatic pressure | pressure exerted by or existing within a liquid at rest with respect to adjacent bodies. |
| biogeochemical cycling | the flow of chemical substances to and from the major environmental reservoirs (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere). |
| coagulant aid | (Wastewater Treatment) Fine particles with high surface area and high specific gravity providing for increased particle collisions during the neutralization process in wastewater treatment plants |
| run-of-river dam | A hydroelectric generating power plant that operates based only on available streamflow and some short-term storage (hourly, daily, or weekly) |
| guano | A natural manure composed of chiefly of bat excrement |
| floe ice | Ice usually several feet thick, which has formed on the surface of a body of water and then has broken into pieces and is floating on the water's surface. |
| rearing habitat | Areas in rivers or streams where juvenile fish find food and shelter to live and grow. |
| fetch | (1) The distance traveled by waves in open water, from their point of origin to the point where they break |
| riverine | Relating to, formed by, or resembling a river including tributaries, streams, brooks, etc. |
| celestial sphere | The apparent sphere of infinite radius having the earth as its center |
| bop | The ENERGY STAR National Builder Option Package is a set of prescriptive requirements that must be verified and field-tested in accordance with HERS standards. |
| steady state inhibition | The time point at which continued dosing at the same level results in no further increase in cholinesterase inhibition. |
| species | A class of individuals having common attributes and designated by a common name; a particular kind of atomic nucleus, atom, molecule, or ion. |
| altitude | How high a place is above sea level. |
| brush layer | Live branch cuttings laid in crisscrossed fashion on benches between successive lifts of soil. |
| rapids | A reach of stream that is characterized by small falls and turbulent high velocity water. |
| chlorine contact chamber | the part of a wastewater treatment plant where treated water is disinfected by chlorine. |
| fjord | A fjord is a long, narrow sea inlet that is bordered by steep cliffs. |
| kelp beds | significant aggregations of a large, fast growing marine algae throughout the water column. |
| temperature inversion | A surface cooling at the earth's surface which sometimes leads to an increase in temperature with altitude. |
| photolysis | The lysis of water to give oxygen and hydrogen under the influence of light |
| discharge permit | Legal contract negotiated between federal and state regulators and an industry or sewage treatment plant that sets limits on many water pollutants or polluting effects from the discharges of its pipes to public waters. |
| reforestation | The planting of trees on land from which the forest has been removed. |
| tundra | a vast, nearly level, treeless plain of the arctic and subarctic regions |
| illinoian | (Geology) Of or relating to one of the glacial stages of the Pleistocene epoch which occurred in North America, which consisted of the Nebraskan (first stage), Kansan (second stage), Illinoian (third stage), and Wisconsin (fourth stage). |
| thunder | The crashing or booming sound produced by rapidly expanding air along the path of the electrical discharge of lightning. |
| saturated adiabatic lapse rate | The lapse rate in the saturated lower layers of the air |
| flashboard | A temporary barrier, relatively low in height and usually constructed of wood, placed along the crest of the spillway of a dam to allow the water surface in the reservoir to be raised above spillway level in order to increase the storage capacity |
| specific storage | The volume of water removed or added within the unit volume of an aquifer per unit change in head. |
| a priori classification | A classification made prior to experimentation. |
| vertebrate | Typically describes an animal with a backbone or spinal column and includes mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. |
| parent material | The unconsolidated and more or less chemically weathered mineral or organic matter from which the Solum of soils is developed by Pedogenic processes. |
| inorganic soil | soil with less than 20 percent organic matter in the upper 16 inches. |
| putrefaction | Biological decomposition of organic matter; associated with anaerobic conditions. |
| aquatic macrophytes harvesting | The manual and mechanical cutting and collecting of aquatic plants from lakes. |
| tap | A valve and spout used to regulate delivery of a fluid at the end of a pipe. |
| abandoned water right | A water right which has not been put to Beneficial Use for generally five or more years, in which the owner of the water right states that the water right will not be used, or takes such actions that would prevent the water from being beneficially used |
| badt | Best Available Demonstrated Technology. |
| propagate | human supervised plant or animal breeding |
| science advisory board | An independent body established by the Administrator of the U.S |
| calcareous | composed of, or containing lime or limestone |
| spring | an issue of water from the earth; a natural fountain; a source of a body or reservoir of water. |
| arsenite | An inorganic form of arsenic which is partially reduced (As3+). |
| mutchkin | (Scottish) A unit of liquid measure equal to 0.9 U.S |
| hectare | 10 000 square metres |
| strip cropping | Growing crops in a systematic arrangement of strips or bands that serve as barriers to wind and water erosion. |
| dual-flush toilet | a toilet with two flush volumes, one for solid waste and a reduced volume for liquid waste. |
| froude number | a dimensionless number comparing inertial and gravitational forces |
| pollution | the direct or indirect alteration of the physical, thermal, biological or radioactive properties of any part of the environment in such a way as to create a hazard or potential hazard to the health, safety or welfare of any living species |
| barometer | An instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure |
| filtrate | A liquid that has passed through the filter medium. |
| ordinary least squares | (Statistics) Mathematical procedures for attributing the variability of one quantity to changes in one or more other quantities |
| exotic species | Plants or animals not native to the area. |
| freehold tenure | land owned privately (see also leasehold land) |
| stability hazard | A potential or rating for a slope assessing its susceptibility to slope failure. |
| estrus | female mammals typically are receptive to mating with a male only when reproductive hormones and other physiological changes allow her to be receptive |
| sewage | The liquid waste from domestic, commercial, and industrial establishments. |
| enhancement | Emphasis on improving the value of particular aspects of water and related land resources. |
| heat sink | Any material used to absorb heat |
| pluvial period | A period of increased rainfall and decreased evaporation, which prevailed in nonglaciated areas during the time of ice advance elsewhere. |
| backwater | (1) A small, generally shallow body of water attached to the main channel, with little or no current of its own. |
| adsorption | the adherence of gas molecules, ions, or molecules in solution to the surface of solids. |
| anisotropy | (1) The condition of having different properties in different directions |
| mcl goal | Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, a non-enforceable concentration of a drinking water contaminant, set at the level at which no known or anticipated adverse effects on human health occur and which allows an adequate safety margin |
| tyrosinase | An enzyme required for synthesizing melanin. |
| limestone | a sedimentary rock consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate, primarily in the form of the mineral calcite. |
| debris cloud | Considered a rotating cloud of debris or dust that is on the ground or near the ground |
| hydrologic benchmark | A hydrologic unit, such as a basin or a ground-water body, that because of its expected freedom from the effects of man, has been designated as a benchmark |
| oceanaut | A person trained to live in underwater installations and conduct, assist in, or be a subject of scientific research |
| arrastra | A crude drag-stone mill for pulverizing ores, especially those containing free gold or silver; frequently powered by falling water. |
| coniferous | Of or relating to the conifers. |
| inclined staff gage | A gage which is placed on the slope of a stream bank and graduated so that the scale reads directly in a vertical depth. |
| soil structure | The physical properties of different soils |
| streamlet | A small stream. |
| quartz | (Geology) The most common rock-forming mineral |
| spoil heaps | Localised deposits of waste rock material left close to a mine site. |
| detritus | Fresh to partly decomposed organic matter. |
| recycling | the collection, reprocessing, marketing and use of materials that were diverted or recovered from the solid waste stream. |
| place of use | The specific location, typically documented in a water right permit, where water is applied or used |
| paralytic shellfish poisoning | A pathological condition in humans caused by the consumption of certain marine mussels or clams that have fed on planktonic dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Gonyaulax |
| kw | kilowatt |
| pelt | The hide or skin of an animal. |
| moderator | (Physics) A substance, such as water or graphite, that is used in a nuclear reactor to regulate the speed of fast neutrons and alter the likelihood of fission. |
| subtidal | Areas in shallow coastal areas which are below the low tide mark. |
| minewater | water that is pumped or flows out of any under ground working or open pit Mitigation |
| organic | containing carbon, but possibly also containing hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine, nitrogen, and other elements. |
| hummock | (1) A small but steep, irregular hill rising above the general level of the surrounding land; a low mound or ridge of earth, a knoll |
| race | Subspecies. |
| urban runoff | Storm water from city streets and gutters that usually contains a great deal of litter and organic and bacterial wastes into the sewer systems and receiving waters. |
| outfall | The mouth or outlet of a river, stream, lake, drain, or sewer. |
| conveyance loss | water loss in pipes, channels, conduits, and ditches by leakage or evaporation. |
| genotype | an organism's genetic composition |
| land cover | the physical state of the land surface, including vegetation, soil, rock and human made structures, but specifically used in relation to vegetational changes, to describe the proportion of land covered by vegetation |
| water recycling | the treatment of wastewater making it suitable for reuse. |
| rain | Water falling to earth in drops that have been condensed from moisture in the atmosphere |
| easterly wave | An inverted, migratory wave-like disturbance or trough in the tropical region that moves from east to west, generally creating only a shift in winds and rain |
| xerophyte | Any plant growing in a habitat in which an appreciable portion of the rooting medium dries to the wilting coefficient at frequent intervals |
| rootwad | The mass of roots associated with a tree adjacent or in a stream that provides refuge and nutrients for fish and other aquatic life. |
| no-disturbance zone | an area that is preserved during construction. |
| weather | How hot or cold, wet or dry, stormy or calm it is in an area over a short period of time |
| vivarium | An enclosure for raising animals that replicate their natural environment. |
| dryland cropping | cropping without irrigation, usually in areas of relatively low rainfall |
| cut off | A channel cut across the neck of a bend. |
| pv | Present Value |
| cirrus clouds | A principal cloud type found at high altitudes and composed of ice crystals collected into delicate wisps or patches |
| neritic | Of the shallow regions of a lake or ocean that border the land |
| precipitation | Any form of water particles, such as frozen water in snow or ice crystals, or liquid water in raindrops or drizzle. |
| saturated thickness | The thickness of the portion of the aquifer in which all pores, or voids, are filled with water |
| land reclamation | Making land capable of more intensive use by changing its general character, as by drainage of excessively wet land, irrigation of arid or semiarid land, or recovery of submerged land from seas, lakes, and rivers. |
| hot rock reservoir | A potential source of geothermal power |
| microfauna | Animals invisible to the naked eye, such as copepods and mites. |
| ecologically sustainable development | development that improves the total quality of life, both now and in the future, in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which life depends (for the ESD core objectives and guiding principles, see Council of Australian Governments 1992b) |
| inundation map | A map delineating the area that would be inundated in the event of a dam failure. |
| centrifugal pump | A device that converts mechanical energy to pressure or kinetic energy in a fluid by imparting centrifugal force on the fluid through a rapidly rotating impeller. |
| respiration | (Biology) The oxidative process occurring within living cells by which the chemical energy of organic molecules (i.e., substances containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen) is released in a series of metabolic steps involving the consumption of oxygen (O2) and the liberation of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). |
| non-degradation | An environmental policy which disallows any lowering of naturally occurring quality regardless of preestablished health standards. |
| evaporation ponds | Areas where sewage sludge is dumped and dried. |
| clayballs | Both small and fairly large chunks of clay rounded by wave action |
| anticline | a fold in the Earth's crust, convex upward, whose core contains stratigraphically older rocks. |
| epidermis | The surface layer of the skin of a vertebrate. |
| live fascine | Bound, elongated, cylindrical bundles (6 to 8 inches in diameter) of live branch cuttings used to stabilize stream banks that are placed in shallow trenches, partly covered with soil, and staked in place, also referred to as wattle. |
| slickensides | a smooth striated polished surface produced on rock by movement along a fault. |
| duration curve | A graph representing the percentage of time during which the value of a given parameter (e.g., water level, discharge, etc.) is equaled or exceeded. |
| limestone | rock that consists mainly of calcium carbonate and is chiefly formed by accumulation of organic remains. |
| isohyetal | Indicating equal rainfall, generally expressed as lines of equal rainfall. |
| maximum contaminant level | The enforceable standard, or number against which your system's water samples are judged for compliance with U.S |
| biota | the animals, plants, and microorganisms that live in a specific area Buffering Capacity |
| mineralization | The process whereby concentrations of minerals, such as salts, increase in water, often a natural process resulting from water dissolving minerals found in rocks and soils through which it flows. |
| viviparous | Bearing live young; having offspring that develop within the body and are born alive, rather than producing an egg that develops outside the body. |
| outwash | a deposit of sand and gravel formed by streams of meltwater flowing from a glacier. |
| fringe marsh | A saturated, poorly drained area, intermittently or permanently water covered, close to and along the edge of a land mass. |
| service connector | The pipe that carries tap water from a public water main to a building. |
| detectable leak rate | The smallest leak (from a storage tank), expressed in terms of gallons or liters per hour, that a test can reliably discern with a certain probability of detection or false alarm. |
| moraine | the leftover matter - usually rock and debris from a glacier |
| coniferous | Pertaining to Conifers, which bear woody cones containing naked seeds. |
| hepatitis | Inflammation of the liver |
| thermal plume | The hot water discharged from a power generating facility or other industrial plant |
| elevated ditch | Earth-filled, constructed to specifications similar to those for earthfill dams, to provide normal grade as a substitute for flumes or siphons |
| chute | portion of the channel with homogeneous depths and velocity. |
| chronic | Showing effects only over a long period of time, as in chronic toxicity. |
| flux density | The rate of flow of any quantity, usually a form of energy, through a unit area of specified surface. |
| forest | The Australian definition (National Forest Inventory) is 'an area dominated by trees having usually a single stem and a mature stand height exceeding two metres with an existing or potential crown cover equal to or greater than 20%' |
| soakage | (1) The process of soaking; the condition of being soaked |
| depth-area-duration analysis | Determination of the maximum amounts of precipitation within various durations over areas of various sizes; used to predict flood events. |
| absorption | the uptake of water, other fluids, or dissolved chemicals by a cell or an organism (as tree roots absorb dissolved nutrients in soil). |
| static water depth | the vertical distance from the centerline of the pump discharge down to the surface level of the free pool while no water is being drawn from the pool or water table. |
| littoral transport | The movement of material along the shore by waves and currents. |
| thermal gradient | temperature difference between two areas. |
| wellfield | area containing one or more wells that produce usable amounts of water or oil. |
| exotic | from another part of the world; foreign |
| biochemical process | a process characterized by, produced by, or involving chemical reactions in living organisms. |
| gangue minerals | The unwanted, or waste minerals or rock with which the economically important minerals occur |
| slug | An infertile egg. |
| natural resource | any form of matter or energy obtained from the environment that meets human needs. |
| extracted | removed from |
| blowing houses | A building in which tin was smelted with charcoal in a stone built furnace served by bellows operated by a water wheel. |
| stoma | (Botany) One of the minute pores in the epidermis of a leaf or stem of plants through which gases and water vapor pass |
| ice bridge | ice bridges is a method used for temporary winter access in remote areas |
| precipitate | a solid which has come out of an aqueous solution |
| porosity | a measure of the ratio of open space within a rock or soil to its total volume POTWs (Public Owned Treatment Works) - sewage treatment plants precipitation - water falling toward the Earth's surface in the form of rain, drizzle, hail, sleet, or snow pumping lift - distance water must be lifted in a well from the pumping level to the ground surface pumping plant - facility that lifts water up and over hills |
| site | the individual building lot where a home is to be built |
| freshet | A rapid temporary increase in stream flow due to heavy rains or snow melt. |
| alluvium | Sediment or loose material such as clay, silt, sand, gravel, and larger rocks deposited by moving water. |
| parotoid gland | Large, swollen, glandular area lying behind the eye on the head, and extending in some species well onto the neck, in some species of anurans. Prominently developed in bufonid (toad) species, in many of which the glandular secretions are potent poisons. |
| climate | the average weather for a particular region and time period Coarse Rejects |
| wet sclerophyll | a type of eucalypt forest found in high rainfall (more than 1000 mm per year) areas; sometimes called 'tall-open forests' (see dry sclerophyll) |
| pustule | a bump or raised knob on the outside surface of the shell |
| biocide | A chemical substance that kills living organisms |
| amebic dysentery | A disorder of the gastrointestinal tract caused by a protozoan parasite belonging to the genus Entamoeba histolytica |
| precipitate | A solid which forms from a liquid suspension as a result of a chemical reaction |
| diversion channel | (1) An artificial channel constructed around a town or other point of high potential flood damages to divert floodwater from the main channel to minimize flood damages |
| allelopathy | Production of substances by one organism that inhibit the growth, activity or reproduction of another. |
| apogee | The point farthest from the earth on the moon's orbit |
| surface water | An open body of water such as a lake, river, or stream. |
| eutrophication | an excess of plant nutrients from natural erosion and runoff from the land in an aquatic ecosystem supporting a large amount of aquatic life that can deplete the oxygen supply. |
| abiotic | Pertaining to any non- biological factor or influence, such as geological or meteorological characteristics. |
| soluble reactive phosphate | That phosphate which is detected by analysis of a sample which has been filtered through a 0.45 µm (10-6 meter) membrane filter. |
| deposition | the laying down of material by erosion or transport by water or air. |
| snow management | The management of snow in such a way as to increase moisture for crop production |
| header | (1) A pipe that serves as a central connection for two or more smaller pipes |
| sour | Of or relating to excessively acid soil that is damaging to crops. |
| free flow | (Hydraulics) Flow through or over a structure not affected by submergence or backwater. |
| canopy | The overhead branches and leaves of riparian vegetation. |
| physical weathering | The breaking down of parent rock into bits and pieces by exposure to temperature changes and the physical action of moving ice and water, growing roots, and human activities such as farming and construction |
| morphological | Pertaining to the overall body structure of an organism, excluding body functions. |
| groundwater infiltration | Water entering sewers and manholes via defective joints and connections, broken pipes, fractured manholes, etc., due to the effects of a high ground water table. |
| prevailing wind | A wind that blows from one direction more frequently than any other during a given period, such as a day, month, season, or year. |
| dusting | A light sprinkling as of snow. |
| resorbtion | Some female animals can resorb fully developed eggs |
| disinfection by-products | Chemicals which are formed when a disinfectant such as Chlorine is added to water that contains organic matter, usually from decaying plant or animal material |
| red snow | Snow on which red-pigmented algae has grown, commonly found in Arctic and alpine regions. |
| willow carr | a pool, or wetland dominated by willow trees or shrubs. |
| colluvium | A general term used to describe loose and incoherent deposits of rock moved downslope by gravitational force in the form of soil Creep, slides, and local wash |
| spoils | Dirt or rock that has been removed from its original location, destroying the composition of the soil in the process, as with strip-mining or dredging. |
| ultraviolet | Electromagnetic radiation that has a wavelength shorter than visible light and longer than x-rays |
| flocculate | To aggregate or clump together individual, tiny particles into small clumps or clusters. |
| china clay | A soft white, plastic clay composed of the mineral kaolinite |
| diverted waste | debris from construction or demolition that is not sent to a landfill or incinerator |
| scouring sluice | An opening in a dam controlled by a gate through which the accumulated silt, sand, and gravel may be ejected. |
| hypothermia | Subnormal temperature of the body. |
| average annual runoff | For a specified area, it is the average value of annual runoff amounts calculated for a whole hydrologic cycle of record that represents average hydrologic conditions. |
| arid | A term describing a climate or region in which precipitation is so deficient in quantity or occurs so infrequently that intensive agricultural production is not possible without irrigation. |
| data | In its strictest sense, data may be defined only as the raw numbers (or descriptions, in the case of qualitative data), either in Time-Series format (data covering observations over specific periods of time), Cross-Sectional format (data consisting of a number of observations taken at a specific point in time or about a specific event or phenomenon), or a combination of these two |
| rift | A shallow or rocky place in a stream, forming either a ford or a rapid. |
| soda ash | (Water Quality) Also known as Sodium Carbonate, typically of chemical symbol Na2CO3, a salt of strong alkaline taste used in making glass, soap, paper, chemical reagents and to remove non-carbonate hardness from water. |
| damages prevented | The difference between the amount of damages without a particular water project and the damages with the project in place. |
| anticorrosive paint | a coating formulated and recommended for use in preventing the corrosion of ferrous metal substrates. |
| oligotrophic lake | Deep, clear lakes with low nutrient supplies |
| storm drain | Any underground pipe or conduit designed to carry only stormwater to a known outfall |
| habitat | the place where an animal or a plant normally lives and reproduces |
| menziesia | A type of shrub |
| estuary | thin zone along a coastline where freshwater system(s) and river(s) meet and mix with a salty ocean (such as a bay, mouth of a river, salt marsh, lagoon). |
| particle size | The diameter (usually the intermediate diameter), in millimeters, of suspended sediment or bed material determined by either sieve or other sedimentation methods. |
| runoff | water that melts and runs off of a mountain |
| point-of-use treatment device | (Water Quality) An approach to the management of the quality of drinking water that locates a water treatment device at the faucet in an individual household |
| run-by | Run-by occurs when a high magnitude storm occurs and the flow in the street is going too fast to enter the storm drain inlet, usually a catch basin, and ‘runs by’. |
| water garden | (1) A garden in which aquatic plants predominate |
| average yearly supply | The average annual supply of a water development system over a whole hydrologic system. |
| mire | (1) An area of wet, soggy, muddy ground; a bog |
| lake | A lake is a large body of water surrounded by land on all sides |
| vena contracta | The minimum cross section of a jet of fluid discharging from an orifice or over a weir. |
| blinds | water samples containing a chemical of known concentration given a fictitious company name and slipped into the sample flow of the lab to test the impartiality of the lab staff. |
| hazardous waste | See Hazardous Substance. |
| carbon adsorption | a treatment system that removes contaminants from ground water or surface water by forcing it through tanks containing activated carbon treated to attract the contaminants. |
| coupe | an area of forest harvested in a single operation; usually 10 to 300 hectares harvested over a single season |
| discharge | The volume of fluid passing a point per unit of time, commonly expressed in cubic feet per second, million gallons per day, gallons per minute, or seconds per minute per day. |
| drainage flooding | Ponding of water at or near the point where it fell due to improper or limited drainage. |
| meander | A circuitous winding or bend in the river. |
| water column | an imaginary column extending through a water body from its floor to its surface. |
| trend | a general direction or tendency; an indication of change (or its absence) in a property or condition |
| thermosphere | A thermal classification, it is the layer of the atmosphere located between the mesosphere and outer space |
| discharge probability relationship | A graph of annual instantaneous peak discharge (or other hydrologic quantity) on the vertical axis, versus probability and/or recurrence interval on the horizontal axis |
| mpw | Minneapolis Public Works |
| well rig | Any power-driven percussion, rotary, boring, digging, jetting or auguring machine used in the construction of a well. |
| nutrient cycle | the cyclic conversions of nutrients from one form to another within biological communities |
| nephelometer | A device which measures the intensity of light scattered at right angles to its path through a sample |
| indicator parameters | measurable physical or chemical characteristics or attributes of water or soil-pore moisture used to indicate the possible presence of waste constituents, or the effects of waste constituents on waters. |
| bed forms | three-dimensional configurations of bed material, which are formed in streambeds by the action of flowing water. |
| debris | rock, soil or other material not considered useful |
| erosion | The wearing away of the land surface by wind, water, ice or other geological agents |
| initial storage | That portion of precipitation required to satisfy interception by vegetation, the wetting of the soil surface, and Depression Storage. |
| footprint | the impact of an organization (organism to community) in environmental terms (resource use, waste generation, physical environmental changes etc). |
| total alkalinity | A measure of the titratable bases, primarily carbonate, bicarbonate, and hydroxide |
| vent | An air release valve or stand used to release air trapped at high points in a pipeline. |
| macrophyte | macroscopic plants in the aquatic environment |
| euryhaline | Capable of tolerating a wide range of salt water concentrations |
| preservative | a chemical added to a water sample to keep it stable and prevent compounds in it from changing to other forms or to prevent microorganism densities from changing prior to analysis. |
| riffle | A reach of stream that is characterized by shallow, fast-moving water broken by the presence of rocks and boulders. |
| weathering | The response of materials that were once in equilibrium within the earth's crust to new conditions at or near contact with water, air, or living matter |
| woodland | an area with scattered trees where the portion of the land surface covered by the crowns is more than 30% (open woodland) but less than 60% (forest) |
| rock flour | Finely ground rock particles produced by glacial abrasion |
| ssa | See Sole Source Aquifer (SSA). |
| meromictic lake | A lake in which some water remains partly or wholly unmixed with the main water mass at circulation periods |
| pre-bmp implementation | The period prior to the use of a BMP. |
| kelvin | The SI Unit of temperature |
| down log | Portion of a tree that has fallen or been cut and left in the woods. |
| quantitative analysis | (Data Analysis) The examination of phenomena using actual observed data with an intention to explain historical behavior and/or predict the future behavior of some phenomenon |
| centripetal force | The force required to keep an object moving in a curved or circular path |
| meander bend | a windings or sinuous section of a stream channel |
| eminent domain | (Legal) The right of a government to appropriate private property for public use, usually with compensation to the owner. |
| weather vane | Originally used as a wind vane, it is an instrument that indicates the wind direction |
| region operational statement | Operational Statements that apply to the province of British Columbia and Yukon Territory freshwater systems only. |
| natal | Relating to or occurring at birth. |
| sedentary | Relating to or characterized by a sitting posture. |
| loreal | pertains to the regions immediately adjacent to the eyes and between the eyes and nostrils. |
| import | Water piped or channeled into an area. |
| dermal | Of or relating to the dermis of the skin. |
| isthmus | A narrow strip of land connecting two larger masses of land. |
| freshet | (1) A sudden overflow of a stream resulting from a heavy rain or a thaw |
| young | (Geology) Being of an early stage in a geologic cycle |
| evolution | all mammals and other living organisms change through time |
| ecosystem structure | Attributes related to instantaneous physical state of an ecosystem; examples include species population density, species richness or evenness, and standing crop Biomass. |
| wetland restoration | Rehabilitation of previously existing wetland functions, from a more impaired to a less impaired or unimpaired state of overall function. |
| gaging station number | A U.S |
| wet pack | A therapeutic pack moistened in hot or cold water. |
| comptroller | a person employed by the government or a government corporation and designated in writing by the Minister as the Comptroller of Water Rights and includes any persons designated in writing by the Minister as acting, deputy or assistant comptrollers. |
| lag | (Statistics) The difference in time units of a series value and a previous series value |
| spray field | Refers to the release of reclaimed water or treated effluent on the surface of the ground through a variety of sprinkler heads or nozzles (including overhead systems, center pivot systems, periodic moving systems, and portable or traveling gun systems) |
| water molecule | The smallest unit of water (chemical symbol H2O); consists of two atoms of Hydrogen (chemical symbol H) and one atom of Oxygen (chemical symbol O). |
| poe-treatment | Point-Of-Entry treatment |
| overflow rate | one of the guidelines for design of the settling tanks and clarifiers in a treatment plant. |
| beach recovery | process whereby accretion takes place at a beach, usually after a major storm or hurricane. |
| nocturnal | A term used to describe animals that are active during the night. |
| ion | (1) An atom or molecule that carries a net charge (either positive or negative) because of an imbalance between the number of protons and the number of electrons present |
| breaker | (1) A small water cask |
| runoff | Water that is not absorbed by soil and drains off the land into bodies of water, either in surface or subsurface flows. |
| pour point | The lowest temperature at which a liquid will pour under given conditions. |
| technology-based treatment requirements | NPDES permit requirements based on the application of pollution treatment or control technologies including BTP (best practicable technology), BCT (best conventional technology), BAT (best available technology economically achievable), and NSPS (new source performance standards). |
| toe wall | The downstream wall of a structure. |
| daily mean | The average temperature for a day computed by averaging either the hourly readings or, more commonly, the maximum and minimum temperatures. |
| infrastructure | The massive foundation or basic framework of pipes, wells, storage tanks, treatment facilities, and pump stations that are mostly below ground. |
| dead stout stakes | Stakes made from 2- by 4-inch lumber used to hold erosion control fabric, fascines, and brush mattresses, and so on, in place. |
| forebay | the water behind a dam. |
| diptera | The true flies, an order of insects with sucking mouth parts; nearly all posses a hind pair of wings modified to serve as stabilizers during flight. |
| tds | Total Dissolved Solids |
| crater lake | A lake formed in a crater |
| aerial | Occurring above water or land. |
| hypsometer | An instrument using the atmospheric pressure as measured by the change in the boiling point of water to determine land elevations. |
| streams | rivers, lakes and reservoirs, a land feature that can be identified by tracing a line along the highest elevations between two areas on a map, often a ridge, large drainage basins contain many smaller drainage sub-basins, (see watershed). |
| hydroxylate | The introduction of a hydroxyl (OH group with a positive or negative charge) into another chemical compound. |
| area of shallow flooding | Designated Flood Zones AO and AH on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) with a one percent or greater annual chance of flooding to an average depth of one to three feet where a clearly defined channel does not exist, where the path of flooding is unpredictable and where velocity flow may be evident |
| invasive species | plants, animals, and micro-organisms that colonize and take over the habitats of native species |
| prescribed fire | a fire deliberately lit and controlled by humans, usually as part of a land management program (e.g |
| thaw | A warm spell of weather when ice and snow melt |
| erosion hazard | A predictive rating of the erosion potential for a specific soil or location. |
| field permeability | Permeability corresponding to the temperature which occurs under field conditions. |
| moving average process | (Statistics) As a simple mathematical process, the moving average process is merely a moving, fixed-interval average of a Time Series of data used to smooth fluctuations and distortions in the data and provide a more meaningful representation of underlying trends and cycles |
| frequency distribution | An arrangement of quantities pertaining to a single event, in order of magnitude and frequency of occurrence. |
| wilderness values | Values established in the Wilderness Act, such as solitude and naturalness. |
| desertification | the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, and other areas with a dry season; caused primarily by over-exploitation and inappropriate land use interacting with climatic variations |
| ecosystem | (1) Recognizable, relatively homogeneous units, including the organisms they contain, their environment, and all the interactions among them |
| stream reach | A continuous part of a stream between two specified points. |
| baseline | The condition that would prevail if no action were taken. |
| lithotripter | A device that pulverizes kidney stones by passing shock waves through a water-filled tub in which the patient sits |
| national park | An area of unusual scenic or historic interest owned by the federal government and administered by the National Park Service, U.S |
| cfm | cubic feet per minute |
| fair | This is a subjective description |
| biochemical oxygen demand | The amount of oxygen (measured in mg/L) that is required for the decomposition of organic matter by single-cell organisms, under test conditions |
| neotenic | Reaching sexual maturity while still in larval form; some salamanders. |
| rainfall | (1) A shower or fall of rain |
| affluent | A stream or river that flows into a larger one; a tributary. |
| saturation deficit | The difference between the actual vapor pressure and the saturation vapor pressure as the existing temperature |
| coefficient term | (Statistics) The weight applied to one of the Independent (or Exogenous) Variables in the best prediction of the Dependent (or Endogenous) Variable |
| frost line | The depth to which frost penetrates the earth. |
| wetland enhancement | Modification of a natural or created wetland to increase the level of one or more functions, typically to the detriment of other functions. |
| yearling | An animal that is between one and two years. |
| woody plant | A seed plant (Gymnosperm or Angiosperm) that develops persistent, hard, fibrous tissues, basically xylem; e.g., trees and shrubs. |
| photosynthesis | the synthesis of compounds with the aid of light. |
| siltstone | an indurated silt having the texture and composition of shale but lacking its fine lamination. |
| calcine | Heated to temperature of dissociation; for example, heat gypsum to the temperature where the water of crystallization is driven off. |
| retirement of road | Preparing a road for a long period of non-use |
| toe | The break in slope at the foot of a stream bank where the bank meets the bed. |
| oxygenate | To treat, combine, or infuse with oxygen. |
| elutriation | Freeing sludge of its mother liquor by washing it with water. |
| intrusive bedrock | (Geology) Denoting igneous rocks in a molten state which have evaded other, older rock formations and cooled below the surface of the earth |
| periodic chart | Arrangement of elements in order of increasing atomic numbers, created by a scientist called Mendelejef. |
| well or water well | a bored, drilled or driven shaft or a dug hole for the purpose of withdrawing water from an underground aquifer. Ground water is then retrieved by windlass and bucket, hand pump or motorized pump into a pipe system. |
| arch | A bridge of bone in the skull, such as zygomatic arch. |
| assessment | a written decision about the importance, size or value of something; for example, an environmental assessment may describe the value of arctic char after a study of the char, the fishermen, the method of fishing and the effect on the environment Assimilative Capacity |
| drinking water standards | Drinking water standards established by state agencies, the U.S |
| water table aquifer | an aquifer confined only by atmospheric pressure (water levels will not rise in the well above the confining bed). |
| grade | the slope of road, channel, or natural ground. |
| glaciolacustrine | (Geology) Pertaining to, or characterized by, glacial and lacustrine processes or conditions applied especially to deposits made in lakes. |
| separation | The isolation of the various compounds in a mixture. |
| metamorphic rocks | rocks derived from preexisting rocks by mineralogical, chemical, or structural changes (essentially in a solid state) in response to marked changes in temperature, pressure, shearing stress, and chemical environment at depth in the Earth's crust. |
| cercla | See Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. |
| ceqa | See California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). |
| "worst drought of record" | The series of (water) years when water supply and hydrologic conditions represented the least ever recorded. |
| sloughing | The downward slipping of a mass of soil, moving as a unit usually with backward rotation, down a bank |
| ec | Environment Canada |
| inflow | Water that flows into a stream, lake, reservoir, or forebay during a specified period. |
| endangered | a species designated by COSEWIC as facing imminent extirpation or extinction if limiting factors are not reversed. |
| rapture of the deep | A state of euphoria and exhilaration that occurs when nitrogen in normal air enters the bloodstream at approximately seven times atmospheric pressure (as in deep-water diving) |
| inverted siphon | A closed pipeline with its end sections above the middle section, used for crossing under drainage channels, roadways, depressions, or other structures |
| tephra | (Geology) Volcanic material; ash-fall. |
| spawning habitat | fish habitat associated with the breeding of fish |
| categorical variable | (Statistics) A qualitative variable created by classifying observations into categories |
| spectroscopic hygrometer | An instrument used to measure the selective absorption by water vapor of light in certain bands of the spectrum. |
| usgs | See United State Geological Survey. |
| baroclinity | The state of stratification in a fluid in which surfaces of constant pressure intersect surfaces of constant density |
| discharge | In the simplest form, discharge means outflow of water |
| gigawatt hour | One billion Watt-hours (Wh). |
| dog days | The name given to the very hot summer weather that may persists for four to six weeks between mid-July through early September in the United States |
| completion | sealing off access of undesireable water to the well bore by proper casing and/or cementing procedures. |
| tilting gate | (Hydraulics) A hinged gate counterbalanced by weights, that automatically opens and closes with a change in head. |
| wave celerity | The velocity of propagation of a wave through a liquid, relative to the rate of movement of the liquid through which the disturbance is propagated. |
| stool sample | A stool sample is a piece of fecal matter that you bring to the vet to have checked for parasites etc |
| displacement ton | (Nautical) A unit for measuring the displacement of a ship afloat, equivalent to one long ton or about one cubic meter of salt water. |
| mean low tide | the average altitude of all low tides recorded at a given place over a 19-year period. |
| recycled water | Urban wastewater that becomes suitable, as a result of treatment, for a specific direct beneficial use (see also Water Recycling). |
| computer programs | Code used by the computer to accomplish a task. |
| metabolism | (Biology) The sum of the processes concerned in the building up of protoplasm and its destruction incidental to life; the chemical changes in living cells, by which the energy is provided for the vital processes and activities, and new material is assimilated to repair the waste |
| cribbing | a construction of timbers usually laid at right angles to each other, in log-cabin style; sometimes filled with earth or rock, as a roof support or as a support for machinery |
| percolation path | The course followed by water moving or percolating through any permeable material or under a dam which rests on a permeable foundation. |
| environmental assessment | A systematic analysis of site-specific activities used to determine whether such activities have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment and whether a formal environmental impact statement is required; and to aid an agency's compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act when no environmental impact statement is necessary. |
| utility water use | Water supplied from a Public Water Supply System and used for such purposes as firefighting, street washing, and municipal parks and swimming pools |
| teratogen | A substance capable of causing birth defects. |
| angler-day | The time spent fishing by one person for any part of a day. |
| osmotic lysis | The rupture of a cell placed in a dilute solution |
| blear | To dim with water or tears. |
| swamp | A swamp is a type of freshwater wetland that has spongy, muddly land and a lot of water |
| conductivity | A measure of the ability of an aqueous solution to transmit electrical current. |
| peat bog | See Bog and Peatland. |
| exude | (1) To ooze forth |
| reconnaissance report | An initial planning document to determine whether further investigation is warranted. |
| deciduous | shedding foliage at the end of the growing season. |
| intermittent stream | A stream that flows only when it receives water from rainfall runoff or springs, or from some surface source such as melting snow. |
| mean annual flood | The average of all the annual flood stages or discharges of record |
| land pan | An evaporation pan located on land |
| weir | a wall or plate placed in an open channel to measure the flow of water; a wall or obstruction used to control flow from settling tanks and clarifiers to ensure a uniform flow rate and avoid short-circuiting. |
| taxa richness | See Species richness. |
| tropics/tropical | The region of the earth located between the Tropic of Cancer, at 23.5 degrees North latitude, and the Tropic of Capricorn, at 23.5 degrees South latitude |
| geomorphic | Pertaining to the form or general configuration of the Earth or of its surface features. |
| deionisation | Process that serves to remove all ionised substances from a solution |
| acidic | the condition of water or soil that contains a sufficient amount of acid substances to lower the pH below 7.0. |
| deliquesce | (1) To melt away; to disappear as if by melting |
| recruitment | survival of young plants and animals from birth to a life stage less vulnerable to environmental change. |
| core sample | a sample of rock, soil, or other material obtained by driving a hollow tube into the undisturbed medium and withdrawing it with its contained sample. |
| backwater pool | A pool that formed from an eddy along a channel margin as a result of an upstream obstruction like a large tree, rootwad, or boulder. |
| thirst | sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat; the need/desire to drink. |
| ampoules | A sealed, liquid-filled tube which is broken to release or be filled with another fluid. |
| estrous cycle | the recurring periods of heat, or estrus, in the adult female of most mammals and the correlated changes in the reproductive tract from one period to the next. |
| point source pollution | Water pollution that is discharged from a discrete location such as a pipe, tank, pit, or ditch. |
| contour ditch | An irrigation ditch laid out approximately on the contour, or elevation of the land. |
| effluent | (1) Something that flows out or forth, especially a stream flowing out of a body of water |
| tailwater | (1) The area immediately downstream of a spillway |
| impound | To accumulate and store water as in a reservoir. |
| whitening | A phenomenon which occurs in moderately productive lakes when photosynthetic uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) causes the precipitation of small particles of calcite (mostly calcium carbonate, CaCO3) |
| loess | An extremely fertile, fine-grained loam composed of quartz, feldspar, hornblende, mica, and clay; deposited by the wind during the Pleistocene Age |
| walk-off mat | an interior pad designed to trap dust and debris. |
| spermatophore | small sperm-bearing structure produced in the male's cloaca and attached to some object or surface outside the body during courtship; used to make sperm available to the female |
| dissolved organic compounds | Carbon substances dissolved in water. |
| perfected water right | A water right which indicates that the uses anticipated by an applicant, and made under permit, were made for Beneficial Use |
| emulsifier | A chemical that helps suspending one liquid in another. |
| discharge | volume of water passing by a given location within a given time period. Usually expressed in either cubic feet per second (cfs) or gallons per minute (gpm). |
| prescribed burning | The practice of using controlled fires to reduce or eliminate the unincorporated organic matter of the forest floor, or low, undesirable vegetation. |
| stratigraphy | The branch of geology which treats the formation, composition, sequence and correlation of the layered rocks as parts of the earth's crust. |
| flood | (Biblical) The universal deluge recorded in the Old Testament as having occurred during the life of Noah. |
| accretion | a gradual increase in land area adjacent to a river. |
| surface detention | That part of the rain which remains on the ground surface during rain and either runs off or infiltrates after the rain ends; surface detention does not include Depression Storage. |
| unconfined aquifer | an aquifer containing water that is not under pressure; the water level in a well is the same as the water table outside the well |
| dollop | A small quantity or splash of a liquid. |
| kleptoparasitised | An animal that obtained its food mainly by scavenging the food supplies of another species, especially one with which it habitually lives in close proximity. |
| ll | Location & Linkages section |
| npdes | National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System |
| diversity index | A numerical expression of the evenness of distribution of aquatic organisms |
| solar eclipse | An eclipse of the sun occurs when the moon is in a direct line between the sun and the earth, casting some of the earth's surface in its shadow |
| diablo winds | Dry winds in the Diablo mountain range in central California that can exceed 60 miles per hour |
| flood-related erosion prone area | A land area adjoining the shore of a lake or other body of water, which due to the composition of the shoreline or bank and high water levels or wind-driven currents, is likely to suffer flood-related erosion damage. |
| basin | A segment or portion of a larger watershed area, based on the natural water drainage pattern. |
| detect | To determine the presence of a compound. |
| ground | (1) The solid surface of the earth |
| wastewater | The spent or used water from a home, community, farm, or industry that contains dissolved or suspended matter. |
| shigella dysenteriae | A waterborne microorganism which is the causative agent of bacillary dysentery, a disease characterized by severe diarrhea with bold and pus in the feces |
| mariculture | The cultivation of marine organisms for use as a food resource |
| cstr | Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor. |
| trash rack | A barrier placed at the upstream end of a culvert to trap debris but allow water to flow through. |
| meander amplitude | The distance between points of maximum curvature of successive meanders of opposite phase in a direction normal to the general course of the meander belt, measured between centerlines of channels. |
| clarifier | A device or tank in which wastewater is held to allow the settling of particulate matter. |
| mollusk | soft-bodied animal with a muscular head and foot and a mantle, which usually secretes a protective shell |
| dendrochronology | Dating an object by means of tree rings. |
| sewer inspection | Viewing the sewer primarily with the aid of sewer CCTV equipment, and or manually, to assess overall condition |
| fresh water | Water found rivers, lakes, and rain, that is distinguished from salt water by its appreciable lack of salinity. |
| exposure assessment | Identifying the pathways by which toxicants may reach individuals, estimating how much of a chemical an individual is likely to be exposed to, and estimating the number likely to be exposed. |
| deterministic process | (Statistics) An analytical and forecasting technique which assumes that the future can be predicted exactly from its past |
| lithosphere | That part of the earth which is composed predominantly of rocks (either coherent or incoherent, and including the disintegrated rock materials known as soils and subsoils), together with everything contained in this rocky crust. |
| continent | A large land mass rising abruptly from the deep ocean floor, including marginal regions that are shallowly submerged |
| landscape impoundment | body of reclaimed water which is used for aesthetic enjoyment or which otherwise serves a function not intended to include contact recreation. |
| glacier meal | Finely ground rock particles produced by glacial abrasion |
| s-curve | The mass curve corresponding to a Unit Hydrograph or a distribution graph. |
| cattail | A tall, reedy marsh plant with brown furry fruiting spikes; an Emergent Plant. |
| fracture | A general term for any break in rock, which includes cracks, joints, and faults. |
| titration | An analytical technique to determine how much of a substance is present in a water sample by adding another substance and measuring how much of that substance must be added to produce a reaction. |
| acute | Designates an exposure to a dangerous substance or chemical in sufficient dosage to precipitate a severe reaction |
| stenobathic | Limited to or able to live only within a narrow range of water depths |
| sustainable management | A method of exploiting a resource that can be carried on indefinitely |
| hyetograph | A chart showing the distribution of rainfall over a particular period of time or a particular geographic area. |
| man entry sewers | Those sewers considered to be large enough for safe manual (physical) inspection, survey and work activities (e.g., manual renovation and repair) |
| sinuosity | A measure of the amount of a river's meandering; the ratio of the river channel length to the valley length |
| cistern | a tank used to collect rainwater runoff from the roof of a house or building. |
| alkalinity | the measurement of constituents in a water supply which determine alkaline conditions |
| prevailing visibility | It is considered representative of visibility conditions at the observation station |
| breakdown product | A compound derived by chemical, biological, or physical action upon a pesticide |
| hailstorm | A storm with Hail. |
| typhoid fever | An acute, highly infectious disease caused by a bacillus (Salmonella typhi) transmitted chiefly by contaminated food or water and characterized by high fever, headache, coughing, intestinal hemorrhaging, and rose-colored spots on the skin |
| california water commission | See Department of Water Resources (DWR) [California]. |
| fisheries act | a federal government Act designated to protect fish and fish habitat |
| jökulhlaup | Destructive flood that occurs as the result of the rapid ablation of ice by volcanic activity beneath the ice of a large glacier. |
| energy star home | a U.S Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency program that certifies energy-efficient dwellings (at least 15% more efficient than the International Energy Conservation Code). |
| sewage disposal | the area and structures designed to contain Facilities and treat sewage Silt |
| fly ash | the fine ash residue from coal combustion |
| quickwater | the part of a stream that has a strong current; an artificial current or bubbling patch of water just astern of a moving boat. |
| hspf | heating season performance factor |
| bridge superstructure | the part of the bridge sitting on the piers and abutments. |
| photosynthesis | The process in green plants and certain other organisms by which carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water using light as an energy source |
| turbine | A propeller or wheel device driven by the pressure of liquid or gas. |
| flow boundaries | Anything which inhibits ground water flow, such as a ground water divide or an impermeable geologic unit. |
| marsh gas | Gas produced during the decomposition of organic material buried in wetland soils |
| halophytes | A group of salt-tolerant plants ranging from cacti to sea grass that can absorb salt and heavy metals such as cadmium and arsenic from the wastewater of power plants, particularly coal-fired generating plants which is typically laden with heavy-metal byproducts of coal combustion. |
| gas chromatography | A method of separating chemical components of a mixture which involves the passage of a gaseous sample through a column having a fixed adsorbent phase |
| metamorphosis | a marked change in the form or structure of an animal occurring after birth or hatching (verb |
| animal waste management system | A BMP designed to minimize pollution originating from livestock and poultry operations by providing facilities for the storage and handling of animal wastes. |
| chain of lakes | A number of lakes tied together by live connecting streams or natural channels. |
| sympatric | Describing different species or populations that live in the same geographical area. |
| waft | (1) To cause to go gently and smoothly through the air or over water |
| colonization | (Biology) As applied to vegetation, the invasion of a disturbed area; annual plants are often colonizing species. |
| turbulent flow | (1) (Physics) The motion of a fluid having local velocities and pressures that fluctuate randomly |
| veligers | term for the planktonic larvae of the zebra mussel |
| digester gas | The gas produced as a result of the microbial decomposition of particulate organic matter under Anaerobic conditions |
| temperature | Measure of how hot or cold it is in an area. |
| waste rock | all rock materials, except ore and tailings, that are produced as a result of mining operations Water Quality |
| service pipe | The pipeline extending from the water main to the building served or to the consumer's system. |
| temperate climate | Climates with distinct winter and summer seasons, typical of regions found between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles |
| effluent | Outflow from a particular source, such as a stream that flows from a lake or liquid waste that flows from a factory or sewage-treatment plant. |
| water polo | A goal game similar to soccer that is played in water by teams of swimmers using a ball resembling a soccer ball. |
| computer modelling | Representing a system using mathematical equations and measured values. |
| thaw | (1) To change from a frozen solid to a liquid by gradual warming |
| weather modification | The intentional or inadvertent alteration of clouds for the benefit of man |
| thunder | The sound emitted by rapidly expanding gases along the channel of a lightning discharge |
| fauna | the entire animal life of a region (see also flora) |
| geosphere | Considered the solid portions of the earth, including the hydrosphere and the lithosphere, as opposed to the atmosphere, which lies above it |
| condensate | A product of Condensation. |
| taxonomy | The science of classifying plants and animals. |
| spermatophore | In salamanders, males will deposit a ball of sperm, or male reproductive cells, on the ground after courtship with the female |
| log | An apparatus for measuring the rate of a ship's motion through the water that consists of a block fastened to a line and run out from a reel. |
| isohyet | line that connects points of equal rainfall. |
| iceberg | A massive piece of ice that breaks off and floats away from a Glacier |
| scour | the erosive action of running water in streams, which excavates and carries away material from the bed and banks |
| macroinvertebrate | Invertebrates visible to the naked eye, such as insect larvae and crayfish. |
| benchmark | Data used as a base for comparative purposes with comparable data. |
| silver iodide seeding | A method of Cloud Seeding in which Silver Iodide crystals are introduced into the supercooled portions of clouds to induce the Nucleation of ice crystals and, thus, precipitation. |
| subsidence | the gradual downward settling or sinking of the Earth's surface with little or no horizontal motion. |
| divergent plate boundary | In the theory of Plate Tectonics, a boundary between two plates that make up the crust of the earth |
| histosols | Organic soils. |
| cycle | (Statistics) A periodic, repetitive fluctuation in time series data from either a constant mean or trend line |
| gabion | A wire basket or cage that is filled with gravel and generally used to stabilize stream banks and improve degraded aquatic habitat. |
| air hole | An opening in the frozen surface of a body of water. |
| hepatitis a | A form of hepatitis caused by an RNA virus that does not persist in the blood serum and is transmitted by ingestion of infected food and water |
| devonian | Part of the Palaeozoic geological time scale ranging from 410 to 355 million years ago. |
| geopressured reservoir | a geothermal reservoir consisting of porous sands containing water or brine at high temperature or pressure. |
| aqueduct | (1) A pipe, conduit, or channel designed to transport water from a remote source, usually by gravity |
| organic matter | substances from plants and animals (living organisms); based on carbon compounds. |
| orbital wave | (Hydraulics) A wave, such as an ocean wave, where the water particles move in a closed transverse and do not translate. |
| stoss | Facing the direction from which a glacier moves |
| ice-out | The thawing of ice on the surface of a body of water, such as a lake. |
| perennial plants | plants that live for more than one year |
| snow banner | A plume of snow blown off a mountain crest, resembling smoke blowing from a volcano. |
| pascal | The unit of pressure produced when one newton acts on about one square meter. |
| critical reach | The point in the receiving stream below a discharge point at which the lowest dissolved oxygen level is reached and recovery begins |
| homogenous aquifer | an aquifer that has similar forms or characteristics throughout, such as a uniform gravel aquifer |
| labial scale | One of a row of scales along the lips of a reptile |
| mr | Materials & Resources section |
| pluvious | Characterized by heavy rainfall; rainy. |
| lateral line | A series of sensory pores along the head and sides of fish and some amphibians by which water currents, vibrations, and pressure changes are detected. |
| fathom | (1) A unit of length equal to 6 feet (1.83 meters), used principally in the measurement and specification of marine depths |
| thorax | A division of an animal's body that lies between the head and the abdomen, like the breastplate. |
| disposal | Methods by which unwanted materials are relocated, contained, treated, or processed |
| phreato-magmatic | A magma being in contact with ground water which is converted to the vapor phase. |
| galena | The major ore mineral for lead (PbS). |
| cumulus mediocris | Cumulus clouds characterized by moderate vertical development with upper protuberances not very marked in appearance |
| circulation loop | a system that returns cold water to the water heater (instead of down the drain) until hot water reaches the faucet |
| iridescent | exhibiting rainbow colors |
| plasma | (Physics) An electrically neutral, highly ionized gas composed of ions, electrons, neutral particles |
| authorization | if proposed works have the potential to result in the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction (HADD) of fish habitat, DFO must be contacted to determine if an authorization under subsection 35(2) of the Fisheries Act is necessary. |
| frontolysis | The destruction or dying of a front where the transition zone is losing its contrasting properties |
| thermal plant | A power generating plant which uses heat to produce energy |
| sinuous stream | Characterized by many curves or turns; winding. |
| flow | The discharge rate of a resource, expressed in volume during a certain period of time. |
| mudslide prone area | An area with land surfaces and slopes of unconsolidated material where the history, geology, and climate indicate a potential for mudflows. |
| grade control structure | A weir, dam, sill, drop structure, or other structure used to control erosion in stream channels with steep grades or where the slope has been destabilized. |
| frost | (1) Thin ice crystals in the shape of scales, needles, feathers or fans which are deposited by Sublimation at temperatures of 32°F (0°C) or lower |
| tropopause | The boundary in the Atmosphere between the layer next to the surface of the earth (Troposphere) and the next highest layer (Stratosphere). |
| current | A horizontal movement of water, such as the Gulf Stream off the east coast of North America, or air, such as the jet stream. |
| xeric | 1 |
| fluid ounce | (Abbreviated fl oz, fl |
| biogeographic region | an extensive region distinguished from adjacent regions by its broad physical and biological characteristics |
| weathering | The decay and breakup of rocks on the earth's surface by natural chemical and mechanical processes |
| efflorescence | (1) (Chemistry) The deposit that results from the process of Efflorescing, called bloom |
| overburden | The earth, rock, and other materials that lie above a desired ore or mineral deposit. |
| hydrology | the science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water. |
| quench | (1) To slake one's thirst |
| volcanic rock aquifer | An aquifer composed of rock that originated from a volcano, such as basalt |
| dimorphism | Any of the various differences between individuals of the same species; like color and size |
| intertidal zone | That area of coastal land that is covered by water at high tide and uncovered at low tide. |
| a posteriori classification | A classification made based upon the results of experimentation. |
| median | (Statistics) In a set of observations, the middle-most value with an equal number of observations lying above and below the median value |
| ooze | (1) To flow or leak out slowly, as through small openings |
| dye testing | A testing process using non-toxic dye to assist in the location and quantifying of specific defects in a sewer line |
| nnl | No-Net-Loss |
| disking | A mechanical method of scarifying the soil to reduce competing vegetation and to prepare a site to be seeded or planted. |
| chinook | A downslope wind in which the air is warmed by adiabatic (gradual) heating |
| lake whitening | A phenomenon which occurs in moderately productive lakes when photosynthetic uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) causes the precipitation of small particles of calcite (mostly calcium carbonate, CaCO3) |
| cumuliform | Clouds composed of water droplets that exhibit vertical development |
| channel | An area that contains continuously or periodically flowing water that is confined by banks and a stream bed. |
| weep-holes | (Engineering) Openings left in retaining walls, aprons, linings, or foundations to permit drainage and reduce pressure |
| unconsolidated formation | Natural earth formations that have not been turned to stone, such as alluvium, soil, gravel, clay, sand and overburden. |
| cooling tower | large tower used to transfer the heat in cooling water from a power or industrial plant to the atmosphere either by direct evaporation or by convection and conduction. |
| semi-confined aquifer | an aquifer partially confined by soil layers of low permeability in which recharge and discharge can still occur. |
| milligrams per liter | A unit expressing the concentration of chemical constituents in solution as weight (milligrams) of solute per unit volume (liter) of water; equivalent to one part per million in most streamwater and ground water. |
| dental fluorosis | disorder caused by excessive absorption of fluorine and characterized by brown staining of teeth. |
| a-horizon | The uppermost zone in the Soil Profile, from which soluble Salts and Colloids are leached, and in which organic matter has accumulated |
| snow stake | A graduated fixed pole or staff used to measure snow depth. |
| tropical storm | A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface winds are from 39 miles per hour (34 knots) to 73 miles per hour (63 knots) |
| concentration process | The process of increasing the number of particles per unit volume of a solution, usually by evaporating the liquid. |
| enhanced oil recovery | Techniques for the removal of the remaining thick, heavy oil from reservoirs after primary recovery and secondary recovery techniques have been used |
| entrain | to trap bubbles in water either mechanically through turbulence or chemically through a reaction. |
| domestic wastewater facility | Refers to those facilities that receive or dispose of wastewater derived principally from residential dwellings, business or commercial buildings, institutions, and the like |
| perched ground water | unconfined ground water separated from an underlying main body of ground water by an unsaturated zone. |
| ars | Agricultural Restructuring Scenario. |
| apothecaries' measure | A system of liquid volume measure used in pharmacy. |
| sustained yield | Achievement and maintenance, in perpetuity, of a high-level annual or regular periodic output or harvest of the various renewable land and water resources. |
| gait | A manner of walking, stepping, or running. |
| erosion control | Anything that will keep soil on site and out of streets and storm drains |
| degradation | (1) A progressive lowering of the channel bed due to scour |
| septic system | an on-site system designed to treat and dispose of domestic sewage |
| z-list | OSHA's Toxic and Hazardous Substances Tables (Z-1, Z-2, and Z-3) of air contaminants; any material found on these tables is considered hazardous. |
| coagulate | to gather together or form into a mass or group. |
| disinfection | the killing of the larger portion of the harmful and objectionable bacteria in the sewage |
| cyclogenesis | The process that creates a new low pressure system or cyclone, or intensifies a pre-existing one |
| water ballet | A synchronized sequence of movements performed by a group of swimmers. |
| catalysis | The action of a Catalyst, especially an increase in the rate of a chemical reaction. |
| hydraulic roughness | an estimate of the resistance to flow due to energy loss caused by friction between the channel and the water |
| v-shaped valleys | Valleys typically eroded by stream action |
| hydric | Wet. |
| microtopography | Topography on a smaller scale |
| physical landscape | Natural land forms and associated natural phenomena of a region. |
| upflow | an upward flow. |
| vocs | See Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs). |
| buoyancy | the tendency of a body to float or rise when immersed in a fluid; the power of a fluid to exert an upward force on a body placed in it. |
| circumneutral | pH of water between 5.5 and 7.4; pH modifier used in the U.S |
| precipitation | rain, snow, dew, frost, hail and sleet. |
| ground water barrier | Rock, clay, or other natural or artificial materials with a relatively low permeability that occurs (or is placed) below ground surface, where it impedes the movement of ground water and thus causes a pronounced difference in the heads on opposite sides of the barrier. |
| rearing pond | An artificial impoundment in which juvenile salmon and steelhead are raised prior to release into the natural habitat. |
| icebound | Locked in or covered over by ice. |
| water | water which is applied to assist crops in areas or during times where rainfall is inadequate. |
| histological | Pertaining to the microscopic structure of plant and animal tissues. |
| micron | A unit of length equivalent to a micro-meter (µm), or one-millionth of a meter (10-6 meter) |
| seepage | The gradual movement of a fluid into, through, or from a porous medium. |
| cranberry bog | A bog dominated by this mat-forming evergreen shrub; common in eastern North America |
| climate change | The slow variations of climatic characteristics over time at a given place. |
| anaerobic decomposition | The degradation of materials by Anaerobic microorganisms living beneath the ground or in oxygen-depleted water to form reduced compounds such as methane or hydrogen sulfide |
| phosphates | General term used to describe phosphorus-containing derivatives of phosphoric acid (H3PO4) |
| anions | An atom or group of atoms that has a net negative charge. |
| watermaster | An employee of a water department who distributes available water supply at the request of water right holders and collects hydrographic data. |
| axillary | The area on the sides and belly, behind or below the front legs |
| design capacity | The average daily flow that a treatment plant or other facility is designed to accommodate. |
| wimple | A ripple, as on the surface of water. |
| thermocline | fairly thin zone in a lake that separates an upper warmer zone (epilimnion) from a lower colder zone (hypolimnion). |
| aerosol | Very small liquid or solid particles dispersed in air. |
| hyades | (Astronomy) A cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus, the five brightest of which form a V, supposed by ancient astronomers to indicate rain when they rose with the sun. |
| intolerant organisms | Organisms that are not adaptable to human alterations to the environment and thus decline in numbers where alterations occur. |
| survey | Sampling of a representative number of sites during a given hydrologic condition. |
| lava flow | (Geology) A solidified mass of rock formed when a stream of viscous, molten lave from a volcano or fissure has cooled and congealed. |
| cp | Cultural Practices. |
| chemical oxygen demand | The amount of oxygen (measured in mg/L) that is consumed in the oxidation of organic and oxidasable inorganic matter, under test conditions |
| chrysophyte | Golden or yellow-green algae, algae of the division Chrysophyta. |
| montane freshwater lakes | Circumneutral lakes found in cool, upland habitats below the timer line. |
| pesticides | Chemical materials that are used for the control of undesirable insects, diseases, vegetation, animals or other forms of life. |
| spiderling | A baby spider. |
| extinction | the processes that cause all members of a species to die |
| desiccation | Any process of moisture removal. |
| chemical effluents | Non-natural liquids or emulsions discharged to a stream or lake. |
| savanna | a vegetation type with scattered trees over a grassland, usually found in subtropical areas |
| infauna | Aquatic animals that live in the substrate of a body of water, especially in a soft sea bottom. |
| extinction | complete disappearance of a species because of failure to adapt to environmental change. |
| emergent plants | erect, rooted, herbaceous plants that may be temporarily to permanently flooded at the base but do not tolerate prolonged inundation of the entire plant. |
| hazardous materials | Anything that poses a substantive present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed. |
| cbod | Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand. A BOD test in which a nitrification inhibitor is added, so that only the carbonaceous oxygen demanding compounds are measured. |
| mndot | Minnesota Department of Transportation |
| steppe | Refers to arid lands having vegetation that is adapted to dry conditions, and having extreme temperature variations between the hot of the summer season and the cold of the winter season |
| water-repellent | Resistant to penetration by water but not entirely Waterproof |
| tornado alley | A geographic corridor in the United States which stretches north from Texas to Nebraska and Iowa |
| are | A metric unit of land measure equal to 100 square meters or 1/100 Hectare (119.6 square yards) |
| minim | A unit of fluid measure, in the United States equal to 1/60 of a fluid dram (0.0616 milliliters, or 0.00208 fluid ounces), and in Great Britain equal to 1/20 of a scruple (0.0592 milliliters or 0.00200 fluid ounces). |
| volumetric flow rate | For a liquid or a gas, the volume moving past a point per unit time |
| plain | Level or gently rolling land, usually below 2,000 feet (610 meters) in elevation. |
| submerged plants | Aquatic vegetation that has roots, stems, and leaves |
| demonstration project | A project designed to install or implement pollution control practices primarily for educational or promotional purposes. |
| noncontact water recreation | recreational activities, such as fishing or boating, that do not include direct contact with the water. |
| montane | of, pertaining to, or inhabiting cool upland slopes below the timber line; characterized by the dominance of evergreen trees. |
| part per million | Unit of concentration equal to one milligram per kilogram or one milligram per liter. |
| hydrology | The study of the waters of the earth, especially with relation to the effects of precipitation and evaporation upon the occurrence and character of water in streams, lakes, and on or below the land surface. |
| bedrock | a general term used for solid rock that underlies soils or other unconsolidated material. |
| thermodynamics | Study of the processes that involve the transformation of heat into mechanical work, of mechanical work into heat, or the flow of heat from a hotter body to a colder body. |
| agricultural runoff | The runoff into surface waters of herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and the nitrate and phosphate components of fertilizers and animal wastes from agricultural land and operations |
| moisture | Refers to the water vapor content in the atmosphere, or the total water, liquid, solid or vapor, in a given volume of air. |
| snow | Frozen precipitation in the form of white or translucent ice crystals in complex branched hexagonal form |
| amictic lake | A lake that does not experience mixing or turnover on a seasonal basis |
| normal annual precipitation | Average annual precipitation during a base period. |
| fahrenheit | (1) A unit of temperature |
| npu | The Neighborhood Planning Unit System was established to provide an opportunity for citizens to participate actively in the Comprehensive Development Plan: the City's vision for the next 5, 10, and 15 years |
| thalweg | A line following the deepest part of the bed or channel of a stream. |
| cuspate foreland | Formation consisting of a V-bar and a foreland created from the joining of two spits in a lake |
| perigee | The point nearest the earth on the moon's orbit |
| marsh | A marsh is a type of freshwater, brackish water or saltwater wetland that is found along rivers, pond, lakes and coasts |
| suspended-sediment concentration | The ratio of the mass of dry sediment in a water-sediment mixture to the mass of the water-sediment mixture |
| hydrothermal | A mineral deposit where the economically important minerals have precipitated from a hydrothermal (hot water) solution. |
| thermal low | Also known as heat low, it is an area of low pressure due to the high temperatures caused by intensive heating at the surface |
| stable/stability | Occurs when a rising air parcel becomes denser than the surrounding air |
| variable | (Statistics) A series of comparable observations or characteristics of a phenomenon taken as a single set of data; a listing of specific characteristics of a population or a number of observations taken over a specific period of time which may reasonably be expected to vary from observation to observation. |
| fault | A fracture or fracture zone along which there has been displacement of rock parallel to the fracture. |
| population | a group of individuals of the same species, forming a breeding unit and sharing a habitat |
| macrophytes | Aquatic plants that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. |
| snowmold | (1) A disease of grasses appearing as grayish-white or pinkish patches after heavy snow has melted and caused by fungi that thrive at low temperatures |
| ebb tide | That period of tide between a high water and the succeeding low water; falling tide |
| thalweg | (1) The lowest thread along the axial part of a valley or stream channel |
| blowing snow | Snow that is raised by the wind to heights of six feet or greater |
| fe hydroxides | Hydroxides are metallic compounds containing oxygen and hydrogen either in the form of the hydroxide ion (OH-) or the hydroxyl group (-OH), such as the iron mineral goethite. |
| right bank | The right-hand side of a stream, river, or channel when facing in the direction of the flow. |
| gis | See Geographical Information System (GIS). |
| evaporation | The physical process by which a liquid, such as water is transformed into a gaseous state, such as water vapor |
| irrigation releases | Refers to those waters released from storage primarily for irrigation |
| water imports | The artificial transfer (pipes, canals, aqueducts, etc.) of water into one region or subregion from another region |
| zircon | A common minor mineral present in igneous rocks (ZrSi04). |
| quantitative precipitation forecast | A forecast of the amount of precipitation which will fall during a specific time period |
| external cost | The cost of production or consumption that must be borne by society and not specifically by the producer or consumer. |
| wastewater operations and maintenance | Actions taken after the construction of a Wastewater Treatment Plant to assure that the facilities will be operated, maintained, and managed to reach prescribed effluent levels in an optimum manner. |
| jacobsons organ | An organ for detecting odor located in the roof of the mouth |
| diatom | The common name for the Bacillariophyceae, a class of unicellular microscopic algae with a symmetrical siliceous exoskeleton. |
| selva | A dense tropical rain forest usually having a cloud cover, especially one in the Amazon Basin. |
| aquaculture | the science of farming organisms that live in water, such as fish, shellfish, and algae. |
| reconstitute | To bring (a liquid in concentrate or powder form) to normal strength by adding water. |
| bioconcentration factor | Used to describe the accumulation of chemicals in aquatic organisms that live in contaminated environments |
| clear air turbulence | Name given to turbulence that may occur in perfectly clear air without any visual in warning in the form of clouds |
| dredging | Digging up and removing material from wetlands or waterways, usually to make them deeper or wider. |
| old | (1) (Geology) Having become slower in flow and less vigorous in action |
| hardpan | A layer of nearly impermeable soil beneath a more permeable soil, formed by natural chemical cementing of the soil particles. |
| gabion | A wire basket or cage that is filled with gravel or cobble and generally used to stabilize streambanks. |
| chelonian | A category of reptiles that includes turtles, tortoises and terrapins. |
| nesting density | The amount of bird nesting in the area. |
| organochlorine compound | Synthetic organic compounds containing chlorine |
| ecotone | A relatively narrow overlap zone between two ecological communities. |
| sparging | Injection of air below the water table to strip dissolved volatile organic compounds and to facilitate aerobic biodegradation of organic compounds. |
| toxic | poisonous, or otherwise directly harmful to life Turbidity |
| cranial | Often referring to the top of the head (cranial crest). |
| coordinated resource plan | A conservation plan including privately-owned land and public land. |
| waterman | (1) A man who makes his living from the water (as by fishing) |
| abandoned well | a well which is no longer used |
| percolation | The downward movement of water through the soil or alluvium to a groundwater table. |
| wastewater infrastructure | The plan or network for the collection, treatment, and disposal of sewage in a community. |
| dry deposition | The introduction of acidic material to the ground or to surface waters by the settling of particles containing sulfate or nitrate salts |
| sublimation | The process of a solid (ice) changing directly into a gas (water vapor), or water vapor changing directly into ice, at the same temperature, without ever going through the liquid state (water) |
| chlorophyll | (1) The green pigments of plants |
| chenopod shrubland | areas dominated by shrubs of the Chenopodiaceae family (commonly known as saltbushes and bluebushes) |
| nautical | Of, relating to, or characteristic of ships, shipping, sailors, or navigation on a body of water. |
| ecological risk assessment | The application of a formal framework, analytical process, or model to estimate the effects of human actions on a natural resource and to interpret the significance of those effects in light of the uncertainties identified in each component of the assessment process |
| natural attenuation | The process of Microbiological Anaerobic Degradation in which hazardous wastes and toxic compounds are treated while not involving the addition of foreign microbes to the site but rather using naturally-occurring microbes already present |
| costal grooves | vertical creases on the outside body wall that correspond in location and number to the ribs |
| population density | (1) The number per unit area of individuals of any given species at a given time |
| pressure gradient | The amount of pressure change that occurs over a fixed distance at a fixed altitude. |
| diversity | the total number of species that occupy an area |
| teratogen | A substance or agent that increases the chance of birth defects. |
| large woody debris | Pieces of wood larger than 10 ft long and 6 inches in diameter in a stream channel. |
| colorado low | A low pressure disturbance that forms in the lee of the Rocky Mountains, usually in southeastern Colorado. |
| degradation products | Compounds resulting from transformation of an organic substance through chemical, photochemical, and/or biochemical reactions. |
| recyclable | Refers to such products as paper, glass, plastic, used oil, and metals that can be reprocessed instead of being disposed of as waste. |
| dependable supply | That water which can be expected to be available at a time and place with the quality demanded; sometimes the amount of water available is at a stated percentage of time. |
| troposphere | The lowest layer of the atmosphere located between the earth's surface to approximately 11 miles (17 kilometers) into the atmosphere |
| environmental impact | the positive or negative effect of any action upon a given area or source. |
| biota | the plant (flora) and animal life (fauna) of a region or ecosystem. |
| snow advisory | A statement or advisory issued when snow is expected to create hazardous travel conditions |
| titration | (Chemistry) (1) A method, or the process, of determining the strength of a solution, or the concentration of a substance in solution, in terms of the smallest amount of it required to bring about a given effect in reaction with another known solution or substance, as in the neutralization of an acid by a base |
| dorsal | referring to the top part of the shell where the hinge is located |
| aquifer | a geologic formation, group of formations, or part of a formation that contains sufficient saturated permeable material to yield significant quantities of water to springs and wells. |
| transpiration | the process by which water passes through living organisms, primarily plants, into the atmosphere. |
| irrigation district | (1) Quasi-political districts created under special laws to provide for water services to property owners in the district |
| channel | An area that contains continuously or periodically flowing water that is confined by banks and a streambed. |
| heavy water | Water in which all the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by deuterium. |
| tadpole | The larval stage of frogs |
| lagoon | A shallow pond where sunlight, bacterial action, and oxygen work to purify wastewater. |
| terrigenous | Derived from or originating on the land (usually referring to sediments) as opposed to material or sediments produced in the ocean (marine) or as a result of biologic activity (biogenous). |
| high flow pulses | the component of an instream flow regime that represents short-duration, in-channel, high flow events following storm events |
| pumping head | Energy given to a fluid by a pump; usually expressed in feet of fluid (foot-pounds per pound). |
| dereliction | (Legal) (1) A gaining of land by the permanent recession of the water line |
| organic matter | Substances of (dead) plant or animal matter, with a carbon-hydrogen structure. |
| carcinogen | Any dissolved pollutant that can induce cancer. |
| quaternary period | (Geology) A period consisting of approximately the last 2 million years of earth history, encompassing both the Pleistocene and the Holocene epochs. |
| psychrometer | A Hygrometer used to determine relative humidity of the atmosphere |
| sulcus | a shallow depression or furrow on the outside surface of the shell |
| sinking | controlling oil spills by using an agent to trap the oil and sink it to the bottom of the body of water where the agent and the oil are biodegraded. |
| kilogram | The base unit of mass in the International System of Units that is equal to the mass of a prototype agreed upon by international convention and that is nearly equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters of water at the temperature of its maximum density |
| immiscible | Applied to liquids which are insoluble in each other |
| rain gage | any instrument used for recording and measuring time, distribution, and the amount of rainfall. |
| equinoctial | A violent storm of wind and rain occurring at or near the time of the equinox. |
| water purveyor | Anyone who sells drinking water to the public, usually the owner of a Public Water Supply System (PWSS); a public utility, mutual water company, county water district, or municipality that delivers drinking water to customers. |
| algal growth potential | The maximum algal dry weight biomass produced in a natural water sample under laboratory conditions |
| rossby waves | The movement of ridges and troughs in the upper wind patterns, primarily the jet stream, circling the earth |
| phosphorus | An element essential to the growth and development of plants, but which, in excess, can cause unhealthy conditions that threaten aquatic animals in surface waters. |
| discharge | the volume of water that passes a given point within a given period of time |
| soil texture | A classification of soils based on the size distribution of mineral grains comprising the soil |
| wetlands | Areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions |
| caving | The collapse of a stream bank by undercutting due to wearing away of the toe or an erodible soil layer above the toe. |
| filterable | Of particles that are sufficiently small to allow their passage through filters capable of retaining most particles |
| abandoned water right | a water right which was not put to beneficial use for a number of years, generally five to seven years. |
| snowfall | The amount of snow, hail, sleet, or other precipitation in solid form which reaches the earth's surface |
| pocosin | a local term along the Atlantic coastal plain, from Virginia south, for a shrub-scrub wetland located on a relatively flat terrain, often between streams. |
| ventral | referring to the bottom edge of the shell |
| organic soil | soil that contains more than 20 percent organic matter in the upper 16 inches. |
| oxidation | occurs when a substance is exposed to air Particulate Matter |
| periostracum | the outside layer or covering of the shell |
| ice point | The temperature, equal to 1.0°C (33.8°F), at which pure water and ice are in equilibrium in a mixture at 1 atmosphere of pressure. |
| photosynthesis | the biochemical process in plants and certain other organisms by which energy from the sun, captured by chlorophyll, powers the production of organic matter from carbon dioxide and water, releasing oxygen (see chlorophyll) |
| calcar | 1 |
| specific yield | the amount of water a unit volume of saturated permeable rock will yield when drained by gravity. |
| hailstone | A hard pellet of snow and ice. |
| blanket | A portion of the physical structure of a dam designed to affect the dams hydrologic characteristics, particularly its seepage and strength characteristics |
| direct discharger | A municipal or industrial facility which introduces pollution through a defined conveyance or system such as outlet pipes; a point source. |
| acclimatization | The physiological adjustment or adaptation by an organism to new physical and/or environmental conditions |
| iap | ENERGY STAR Indoor airPLUS |
| ion exchange | The substitution of one Ion for another in certain substances |
| flood-related erosion | The collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water as a result of undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels or suddenly caused by an unusually high water level in a natural body of water, accompanied by a severe storm, or by an unanticipated force of nature, such as a flash flood or an abnormal tidal surge, or by some similarly unusual and unforeseeable event which results in flooding. |
| oxidation | (1) A chemical reaction that involves combination with oxygen or the loss of electrons |
| hygrometer | Any of several instruments used to measure atmospheric humidity. |
| pedology | The scientific study of soils, their origins, characteristics, and uses. |
| absolute temperature | A temperature expressed on the thermodynamic scale, measured from Absolute Zero, or 0 Kelvin (K), also equivalent to -273.15C or -459.67F. |
| follicle | 1 |
| cfc | chlorofluorocarbon |
| nasolabial grooves | in lungless salamanders, tiny grooves that extend from the nostrils to the lower edge of the upper lip, and onto the cirri if they are present |
| liquid | A state of matter in which the molecules are closer and held more tightly by one another than in the gaseous state |
| drown | (1) To kill by submerging and suffocating in water or another liquid |
| led | light-emitting diode |
| carbonic acid | A weak, unstable acid, H2CO3, present in solutions of carbon dioxide and water |
| nutrient management | A BMP designed to minimize the contamination of surface and ground water by limiting the amount of nutrients (usually nitrogen) applied to the soil to no more than the crop is expected to use |
| immerse | To plunge, drop, or dip into or as if into a liquid, especially so as to cover completely. |
| herbaceous | With the characteristics of an herb; having the texture and color of a foliage leaf; a plant with no persistent woody stem above ground. |
| cirque | A smallish, rounded depression with steeply sloping sides carved into the rock at the top of a ridge where a glacier has its head |
| exoskeleton | an external covering or integument, esp |
| ossified skull | Bony skull. |
| inuit-owned land | lands owned by a Designated Inuit Organization in accordance with section 19.3.1 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Kimberlite |
| indicator species | (Environmental) Any organism that by its presence or absence, its frequency, or its vigor indicates a particular property of its surrounding environment |
| arctic air mass | An air mass that develops around the Arctic, it is characterized by being cold from surface to great heights |
| aquacade | (1) A water spectacle originated at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1937; (2) A water spectacle that consists usually of exhibitions of swimming and diving with musical accompaniment. |
| molecule | the smallest division of a compound that still retains or exhibits all the properties of the substance. |
| blizzard | A severe weather condition characterized by low temperatures, winds 35 mph or greater, and sufficient falling and/or blowing snow in the air to frequently reduce visibility to 1/4 mile or less for a duration of at least 3 hours |
| waste pipe | A pipe that carries off liquid waste. |
| bac | see Biological Activated Carbon (BAC) Process. |
| coagulant | (1) An agent that causes a liquid or sol to coagulate |
| specific conductance | a measure of the ability of a substance to conduct an electrical current. |
| haul road | See Access road. |
| contour | A line on a map that indicates a line of equal elevation on the land or water in feet over mean sea level |
| targets | are specified levels or ranges of measurable parameters that decision-makers have agreed they will try to achieve |
| berg | A mass of floating or stationary ice; and Iceberg. |
| sastruga | (Russian) A long wavelike ridge of snow, formed by the wind and found on the polar plains. |
| endangered | An endangered species is a population of animals which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters. |
| ntu | nephlometric turbidity units. |
| mental gland | cluster of glands on the chin of a male salamander, most noticeable during the breeding season |
| critical flow | (1) The flow conditions at which the discharge is a maximum for a given specific energy, or at which the specific energy is a minimum for a given discharge |
| mineral soil | soil composed predominantly of mineral rather than organic materials; less than 20 percent organic material. |
| live cribwall | A rectangular framework of logs or timber constructed with layers of live plant cuttings that are capable of rooting. |
| sewer cleanout | A vertical section of pipe leading from the surface to a service line or mainline |
| hydrogen bond | A type of chemical bond caused by electromagnetic forces, occurring when the positive pole of one molecule (e.g., water) is attracted to and forms a bond with the negative pole of another molecule (e.g., another water molecule). |
| nonpoint source pollution | Pollution originating from runoff from diffuse areas (land surface or atmosphere) having no well-defined source. |
| biogeoclimatic zone | a geographical area (large ecosystem) with a relatively uniform macroclimate, characterized by a mosaic of vegetation, soils and, to a lesser extent, animal life reflecting that climate. |
| silt | Substrate particles smaller than sand and larger than clay (3 to 60 um). |
| pectines | Comb like sensory structures visible on the ventral surface of scorpions. |
| environmental indicator | A measurement, statistic or value that provides a proximate gauge or evidence of the effects of environmental management programs or of the state or condition of the environment. |
| linear programming | (Mathematics) A mathematical method used to determine the most effective allocation of limited resources between competing uses when both the objective (e.g., profit, cost, or output) and the restrictions (constraints) on its attainment can be quantified as a system of linear equations representing equalities or inequalities. |
| adsorption | the adhesion of a substance to the surface of a solid or liquid |
| residual | amount of a pollutant remaining in the environment after a natural or technological process has occurred. |
| crib wall | a type of retaining wall made from stacked wood or concrete members that form vertical box columns and are filled with solid earth materials. |
| united states weather bureau | The official name of the National Weather Service prior to 1970. |
| alpine snow glade | a marshy clearing between slopes above the timberline in mountains. |
| embankment | An artificial deposit of material that is raised above the natural surface of the land and used to contain, divert, or store water, support roads and railways, or for other similar purposes. |
| canopy | the overhanging cover formed by branches and foliage. |
| nonpotable | not suitable for drinking |
| equal transit rate | A method used in measuring Suspended Sediment in a stream wherein the sample volume taken is proportional to the streamflow at each of several equally spaced verticals |
| herps | ‘Slang' term for reptiles and amphibians. |
| peclet number | Relationship between the advective and diffusive components of solute transport; expressed as the ratio of the product of the average interstitial velocity and the characteristic length, divided by the Coefficient of Molecular Diffusion |
| stream bed | (1) The unvegetated portion of a channel boundary below the baseflow level.(2) The channel through which a natural stream of water runs or used to run, as a dry stream bed. |
| whirlwind | A small-scale, rapidly rotating column of wind, formed thermally and most likely to develop on clear, dry, hot afternoons |
| bathythermograph | A device used to obtain a record of temperature against depth (pressure) in the ocean |
| surfactant | A detergent compound that promotes lathering. |
| devensian glaciation | The last major glacial climatic interval to have affected the Northern Hemisphere, from about 122,000 before present through to 10,000 years before present |
| concentration | The amount of material dissolved in a unit of solution, expressed in mg/L. |
| capital improvements | Expenditures for improvements to land or existing buildings, that will increase their value, extend their life or make it adaptable for a different use. |
| sparkling water | Water charged with carbon dioxide (CO2). |
| open system | system in which energy and matter are exchanged between the system and its environment, for example, a living organism. |
| cso | Designed discharge from a combined sewer system into a stream |
| aquatic | growing in, living in, or frequenting water. |
| detritivore | Animals that are detritus feeders, eating dead and decaying leaves and other decomposing plant and animal parts, as well as organic fecal matter. |
| fema | U.S |
| drainage well | a well drilled to carry excess water off agricultural fields |
| point of diversion | Broadly, the point(s) specified in a water right permit from which water is diverted from a source |
| os3 | A narrow ridge of gravelly or sandy glacial outwash material deposited by a stream in an ice tunnel within a glacier |
| grab sample | Typically, a single water or air sample drawn over a short time period |
| waterwall incinerator | An energy recovery system used in some municipal waste incinerators |
| riverwash | Barren alluvial land, usually coarse-textured, exposed along streams at low water, and subject to shifting during normal high water. |
| epiphyte | A plant that grows on another plant and depends on that plant for mechanical support but not for nutrients. |
| chemical | A substance made by chemistry |
| crack | Defective line visible on the sewer wall, with the pieces of the wall still in place |
| community | Any assemblage of populations of plants and/or animals in a common special arrangement. |
| groundwater storage capacity | The space or voids contained in a given volume of soil and rock deposits. |
| alluvium | A general term for detrital deposits made by stream processes on riverbeds, floodplains, and alluvial fans; esp |
| juvenile | individual that has not attained sexual maturity |
| key habitats | flow-sensitive habitats as well as habitats that support key species. |
| secretion | a non-waste substance that is derived and released from tissue cells for a specific purpose |
| finished water | Water that has passed through all the processes in a water treatment plant and is ready to be delivered to consumers. |
| wind scale | A systematic arrangement of words and/or numbers used for expressing and recording the velocity or force of the wind |
| substrate sampling | Sampling of streambeds to determine the percent of fine particled material and the percent of gravel. |
| vested water right | the right granted by a state water agency to use either surface or ground water. |
| flow augmentation | the addition of water to meet flow needs. |
| leed | Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design |
| species | a group of biologically distinct organisms that are self-perpetuating |
| grazer | Refers to a mammal that predominantly feeds on non-woody vegetation such as grasses and forbs (non-woody leafy plants) |
| dune pond | A lake occupying a basin formed as a result of the blocking of the mouth of a stream by sand dunes migrating along the shore. |
| pathogens | often used instead of fecal coliform bacteria as an indicator of water contamination. |
| freezing point | (1) The temperature at which a liquid of specified composition solidifies under a specified pressure |
| total kjeldahl phosphorus | An oxidative procedure that converts organic phosphorus forms to phosphate by digestion with an acid, catalyst, and heat. |
| glaciated valley | A U-Shaped Valley formerly occupied by a Glacier. |
| gravel | A mixture composed primarily of rock fragments 2 mm (0.08 inch) to 7.6 cm (3 inches) in diameter |
| sea level pressure | The atmospheric pressure at mean sea level, usually determined from the observed station pressure. |
| extirpated | a species that has been eliminated from a particular area, but still exists somewhere else |
| leaf area index | A measure of the total area of leaves, twigs, stems, etc., relative to the area of the canopy in a forest. |
| spiracle | The small opening to the outside from the gill chamber in anuran tadpoles. |
| icescape | A wide view or vista of a region of ice and snow. |
| hers | Home Energy Rating Standards |
| bioaccumulation | uptake and retention of substances by an organism from its surrounding medium (usually water) and from food. |
| extinction | the process of becoming extinct; dying out or coming to an end. |
| gc-ms | An analytical technique involving the use of both Gas Chromatography (GC) and Mass Spectrometry (MS), the former to separate a complex mixture into its components and the latter to deduce the atomic weights of those components |
| hydraulic earthfill dam | An embankment built up from waterborne clay, sand, and gravel carried through a pipe or flume. |
| interstitial pressure | (Hydraulics) The upward pressure of water in the pores or Interstices of a material. |
| interglacial | Occurring between Glacial Epochs |
| demand | The numerical expression of the desire for goods and services associated with an economic standard for acquiring them. |
| liquefaction | (1) (General) The act or process of making or becoming liquid; especially the conversion of a solid into a liquid by heat, or of a gas into a liquid by cold or pressure |
| evaporation | The physical process by which a liquid (or a solid) is transformed to the gaseous state |
| parts per thousands | An expression of concentration which indicates one unit is contained in a total of a thousands units |
| breakpoint chlorination | The addition of chlorine to water or wastewater until the chlorine demand has been satisfied and further additions result in a residual that is directly proportional to the amount added beyond the breakpoint. |
| adhesive | any substance used to bond one surface to another by attachment |
| special district | A political subdivision of a state established to provide a single public service (as water supply or sanitation) within a specific geographical area |
| hydrology | The science that deals with water as it occurs in the atmosphere, on the surface of the ground, and underground. |
| decomposition | The break down of organic matter by bacteria and fungi, to change the chemical structure and physical appearance of matter. |
| filter feeder | An aquatic animal, such as a clam, barnacle, or sponge, that feeds by filtering particulate organic material from water. |
| bacteriostatic | A substance that inhibits bacterial growth but is not necessarily lethal. |
| drainage district | A special purpose district created under state law to finance, construct, operate, and maintain a drainage system involving a group of land holdings. |
| cappilary membranes | Membranes about the thickness of a human hair, used for Reverse Osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration and microfiltrtion. |
| foreshore | zone between the high water and low water marks. |
| lavatory | (1) A room equipped with washing and often toilet facilities; a bathroom |
| wilderness | 'a large tract of land remote at its core from mechanised access or settlement, substantially unmodified by modern technological society or capable of being restored to that state, and of a sufficient size to make practicable its long-term protection of its natural systems' |
| appurtenant water right | A water right that is incident to the ownership or possession of land. |
| substrate | The surface beneath a wetland, lake, or stream in which organisms grow or to which organisms are attached. |
| riprap | A layer, facing, or protective mound of rubble or stones randomly placed to prevent erosion, scour, or sloughing of a structure or embankment; also, the stone used for this purpose. |
| edaphic | Soil characteristics, such as water content, pH, texture, and nutrient availability, that influence the type and quantity of vegetation in an area. |
| gallon [imperial] | A unit of capacity in Great Britain containing four quarts, is used for both liquid and dry commodities, and is defined as the volume occupied by ten imperial pounds weight of distilled water, as weighed in air against brass weights with both water and air at 62° Fahrenheit, and the barometer at 30 inches (atmospheric pressure) |
| crown | The upper part of a tree or other woody plant that carries the main system of branches and the foliage. |
| hygroscopic nuclei | piece of dust or other particle around which water condenses in the atmophere |
| treatment | any method, technique, or process designed to remove solids and/or pollutants from solid waste, waste-streams, and effluents. |
| key watershed | As defined by National Forest and Bureau of Land Management District fish biologists, a watershed containing (1) habitat for potentially threatened species or stocks of anadromous salmonids or other potentially threatened fish, or (2) greater than 6 square miles with high-quality water and fish habitat. |
| mulch-till | Disturbance of the soil prior to planting |
| sewer cleaning | Techniques used to clean sewer lines either hydraulically or mechanically |
| aquifer compaction | Term used to describe the effects of emptying or overdrawing an aquifer; overdrafts tend to collapse the structure of the aquifer such that the original volume cannot be restored |
| ventral | Referring to the underside of an animal, the "tummy" side |
| ph | A measure of the acidity (less than 7) or alkalinity (greater than 7) of a solution; a pH of 7 is considered neutral. |
| convective precipitation | Precipitation resulting from vertical movement of moisture-laden air, which upon rising, cools and precipitates its moisture. |
| alternative stable states | Potential existence of markedly different biological communities under the same external environmental conditions. |
| skim | (1) To remove floating matter from the surface of a liquid |
| organic matter | Plant and animal residues, or substances made by living organisms |
| polychaetes | Aquatic annelid worms belonging to the Class Polychaeta, including for example lugworms and ragworms. |
| meta- or met- | Derived from by loss of water, as meta phosphoric acid. |
| dissolved solids | minerals and organic matter dissolved in water. |
| shoot | (1) A rush of water down a steep or rapid |
| stability | (Ecological) The tendency of systems, especially ecosystems, to persist, relatively unchanged, through time. |
| permeable | Having pores or openings that permit liquids or gasses to pass through. |
| aerated lagoon | A holding and/or treatment pond that speeds up the natural process of biological decomposition of organic waste by stimulating the growth and activity of bacteria that degrade organic waste. |
| holothurian | A group of marine, bottom-dwelling animals related to the sea stars and sand dollars (echinoderms) |
| bay | A bay is a body of water that is partly enclosed by land (and is usually smaller than a gulf). |
| rain | water drops which fall to the earth from the air. |
| oblong | having the shape of or resembling a rectangle or ellipse |
| upstream | Toward the source or upper part of a stream; against the current |
| fsc | Forest Stewardship Council |
| secondary association | (Statistics) A situation in which there exists an apparent link between two Variables that is actually the result of a Confounding Variable |
| storm drain outfall | A storm drain outfall is the point where a storm system discharges into a body of water |
| spray tower | (Air Quality) An air pollution control device in which contaminated air is passed through a tower containing substances (packing) possessing large surface area |
| socioeconomics | The study of the economic, demographic, and social interactions of humans. |
| acidification | Raising the acidity (lowering the pH) of a fluid by adding an acid. |
| reuse | the return of salvaged materials to use in the same or a related capacity. |
| lod | large organic debris |
| total factor productivity | see productivity (economic) |
| adiabatic | Applies to a thermodynamic process during which no heat is added to or withdrawn from the body or system concerned |
| bolson | an extensive, flat, saucer-shaped, alluvium-floored basin or depression, almost or completely surrounded by mountains and from which drainage has no surface outlet; a term used in the desert regions of the Southwestern United States. |
| scales | Protective plates that cover a reptiles body. |
| ecliptic | The sun's apparent path across the sky that tracks a circle through the celestial sphere. |
| chimney | A tall column of rock on the ocean floor that is formed by the precipitation of minerals from superheated water issuing from a vent in the earth's crust and rising through the column of rock |
| aquanaut | A person trained to live in underwater installations and conduct, assist in, or be a subject of scientific research |
| absolute humidity | The actual weight of water vapor contained in a unit volume of the atmosphere, usually expressed in grams of water per kilogram of air |
| dissolved oxygen | The amount of oxygen dissolved in water at a certain time, expressed in ppm mg/L. |
| ice nucleus | Any particle that serves as a nucleus in the formation of ice crystals in the atmosphere. |
| inorganic | containing no carbon; matter other than plant or animal. |
| cost sharing | The practice of allocating project funds to pay part of the cost of constructing or implementing a BMP |
| air mass | An extensive body of air throughout which the horizontal temperature and moisture characteristics are similar. |
| effluent | The sewage or industrial liquid waste that is released into natural water by sewage treatment plants, industry, or septic tanks. |
| perennial stream | A watercourse that flows throughout the year or most of the year (90%), in a well defined channel |
| land retirement | (Agriculture) Taking land out of agriculture production by leaving it fallow or letting it return to a natural state. |
| operational statements | outline measures and conditions for avoiding the harmful alteration, disruption and destruction (HADD) to fish habitat for "low risk" activities in compliance with subsection 35(1) of the Fisheries Act |
| wetland | See Wetlands. |
| native species | A species that is a part of an area's original fauna or flora. |
| belt of soil moisture | Subdivision of the Zone of Aeration |
| critical depth | The depth of water flowing in an open channel or conduit under conditions of critical flow at which specific energy is a minimum for a given discharge. |
| facultative bacteria | Bacteria that can live under Aerobic or Anaerobic conditions. |
| striated | marked with lines or grooves |
| surface impoundment | an indented area in the land's surface, such a pit, pond, or lagoon. |
| storm | (1) An atmospheric disturbance manifested in strong winds accompanied by rain, snow, hail, or other precipitation and often by thunder and lightning |
| organochlorine | a hydrocarbon compound containing chlorine |
| berm | a ridge or small dyke that breaks the continuity of a slope. |
| smelting | The extraction of metal from an ore mineral by melting. |
| native plant | a plant that has evolved within a particular habitat and is not invasive within its natural range |
| protozoans | Single-celled, free-living, animal-like microorganisms that occur in aquatic environments. |
| vent | The cloaca of an animal; in reptiles this opening may also serve the reproductive organs |
| bpt | Best Practicable Control Technology. |
| probability | (1) The likelihood that a given event will occur |
| ford | A shallow place in a body of water, such as a river, where one can cross by walking or riding on an animal or in a vehicle. |
| senescence | Describing plants or specific ecosystems that are nearing the end of their normal life span |
| intergrade | Animals that seem to blend characteristics of subspecies. |
| soil conditioner | a chemical that improves the physical or chemical behaviour of soil by stabilising soil aggregates (or crumbs), changing the pH, or both |
| extirpated species | A species rendered extinct in a given area. |
| biologically activated carbon | Activated carbon that supports active microbial growth, in order to aid in the degradation of organics that have been absorbed on its surface and in its pores. |
| liter | The basic unit of measurement for volume in the Metric System equivalent to 0.001 cubic meters (10-3 m3); also equal to 61.025 cubic inches or 1.0567 liquid quarts. |
| debris | Any material, organic or inorganic, floating or submerged, moved by a flowing stream. |
| national priorities list | A list of the hazardous waste disposal sites most in need of cleanup |
| cellular | Made up of small compartments. |
| mudflats | Mudflats are large area of mud that the tide washes over twice each day |
| high-efficiency toilet | a toilet that uses no more than 1.3 gallons per flush. |
| confining unit | A hydrogeologic unit of relatively impermeable material, bounding one or more aquifers |
| boundary conditions | definition or statement of conditions or phenomena at the boundaries of a model; water levels, flows, and concentrations that are specified at the boundaries of the area being modeled. |
| brood | The offspring of animals, usually a number of young that are produced or hatched at one time. |
| comply | A term used to indicate compliance or adherence with Clean Water Standards, specifically with respect to a schedule or plan ordered or approved by a court of competent jurisdiction, the U.S |
| dystrophic lakes | Acidic bodies of water that contain many plants but few fish, due to the presence of great amounts of organic matter. |
| mussel bed | a dense, natural aggregation of mussels which can support a diverse variety of benthic fauna |
| escarpment | the topographic expression of a fault. |
| metalimnion | Zone of rapid temperature change in a stratified water body; marks the transition zone between the epilimnion and the hypolimnion. |
| active storage capacity | The total usable storage capacity available for seasonal or cyclic water storage |
| threshold pollutant | substance that is harmful to a particular organism only above a certain concentration, or threshold level. |
| herbaceous | 1 |
| mine wash | Water-deposited accumulation of sandy, silty, or clayey material recently eroded in mining operations. |
| impervious | Impermeable |
| onshore | Coming or moving from the water toward or onto the shore, as a breeze or prevailing wind. |
| pump | A device which moves, compresses, or alters the pressure of a fluid, such as water or air, being conveyed through a natural or artificial channel. |
| readily water-soluble substances | In water pollution, chemicals that are soluble in water at a concentration equal to or greater than one milligram per liter (mg/l). |
| atmosphere | the blanket of air which covers the earth |
| roost | 1 |
| sip | structural insulated panels |
| pond | a body of water usually smaller than a lake and larger than a pool either naturally or artificially confined. |
| adhesion | Molecular attraction that holds the surfaces of two substances in contact, such as water and rock particles |
| xanthic | having more yellow color than wild-type. |
| oligotrophic | Usually refers to a nutrient-poor body of water with low productivity. |
| biodiversity | the variety of all life-forms: the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain and the ecosystems they form |
| nutrients | nitrates and phosphates, usually resulting in an increase in biomass and productivity, (see oligotrophic). |
| wetlands | (Regulatory) The U.S |
| geyser | a periodic thermal spring that results from the expansive force of super heated steam. |
| horns | Consist of an inner, boney core covered by an outer sheath that is much like our fingernails |
| deionization | The removal of all charged atoms or molecules from some material such as water |
| awt | Advanced Wastewater Treatment |
| plain | A broad and flat area that usually has low elevation. |
| domestic use | The quantity of water used for household purposes such as washing, food preparation, and bathing. |
| frugivorous | Feeding mainly or exclusively on fruits. |
| high tide | (1) The tide at its fullest extent, when the water reaches its highest level |
| organochlorine insecticide | A class of organic insecticides containing a high percentage of chlorine |
| geographic information system | a package of computer programs specifically designed to deal with data that are spatially related; a set of tools for collecting, storing, retrieving, manipulating, analysing and displaying mapped data from the real world |
| zone of aeration | a region in the Earth above the water table |
| anadromous | Pertaining to fish that spend a part of their life cycle in the sea and return to freshwater streams to spawn. |
| absorption tower | (Air Quality) An air pollution control device in which contaminated air is passed through a tower containing substances (packing) possessing large surface area |
| inclinometer | An instrument, usually consisting of a metal or plastic tube, inserted in a drill hole and a sensitized monitor either lowered into the tube or fixed within the tube |
| statistics | The mathematics of the collection, organization, and interpretation of numerical data by inference from sampling. |
| constant pressure chart | A chart of a constant pressure surface in which atmospheric pressure is uniform everywhere at any given moment |
| municipality | an urban district having corporate status and powers of self-government, which may include a regional district. |
| appropriative rights | "first in time, first in right” principle of allocating water rights based |
| suitability | (Environmental) The appropriateness of applying certain resource management practices to a particular area of land, as determined by an analysis of the economic and environmental consequences. |
| kinetic energy | Energy possessed by moving water. |
| seepage | percolation of water through the soil from unlined canals, ditches, laterals, watercourses, or water storage facilities. |
| overdraft | That quantity of water pumped in excess of the safe yield; the act of overdrawing a water supply or aquifer in amounts greater than replenishment |
| bentonite | an absorbent aluminum phyllosilicate, generally impure clay, consisting mostly of montmorillonite. |
| objective | An objective is set, through consultation with key parties, to encourage the resolution of the issue or range of issues |
| maritime air mass | An air mass influenced by the sea |
| temperature gradient | The rate of change of temperature with increase in height or decrease in depth. |
| popple | To move in a tossing, bubbling, or rippling manner, as choppy water. |
| "right of free capture" | The idea or concept that the water under a person's land belongs to that person and they are free to capture and use as much as they want |
| tonnage | The number of tons of water that a ship displaces when afloat. |
| valve | one of the two halves of the shell of a bivalve mollusk |
| land use | The way land is developed and used in terms of the types of activities allowed (agriculture, residences, industries, etc.) and the size of buildings and structures permitted |
| leaching | The process by which soluble constituents are dissolved and filtered through the soil by a percolating fluid. |
| rebar | Steel reinforcement bar used primarily for reinforcing concrete |
| bimodal foraging | having two modes of foraging. |
| flood attenuation | a weakening or reduction in the force or intensity of a flood. |
| isopiestic | Having, or denoting, equal pressure; Isobaric. |
| macrointervebrate | an animal without a backbone, large enough to be seen without magnification and unable to pass through a 0.595 mm mesh. |
| head | the pressure of a fluid owing to its elevation, usually expressed in feet of head or in pounds per square inch, since a measure of fluid pressure is the height of a fluid column above a given or known point. |
| rime | (1) A coating of ice, as on grass and trees, formed when extremely cold water droplets freeze almost instantly on a cold surface |
| slack tide | See Slack Water. |
| regeneration | Putting the desired counter-ion back on the ion exchanger, by displacing an ion of higher affinity with one of lower affinity. |
| pastoral areas | those areas used predominantly for grazing livestock with little or no cultivation or improved pastures |
| mass curve | A graph of the cumulative values of a hydrologic quantity (such as precipitation or runoff), generally as the Ordinate (y-axis), plotted against time or date as the Abscissa (x-axis) |
| detention time | the time required for a volume of water to pass through a tank at a given rate of flow; in storage reservoirs, the length of time water will be held before being used. |
| station elevation | The vertical distance above mean sea level that is the reference level for all current measurements of atmospheric pressure at that station. |
| methyl orange alkalinity | A measure of the total alkalinity in a water sample in which the color of methyl orange reflects the change in level. |
| flood plain | Any lowland that borders a stream and is inundated periodically by its waters. |
| left valve | the left half of the shell when the dorsal edge or hinge is facing up and the anterior end is directed forward (away from the collector) |
| evaporation | the process by which water is changed to gas or vapor; occurs directly from water surfaces and from the soil. |
| impact zone | The spot on a wave where the water is just about to collapse and explode, the spot of greatest danger to and opportunity for a surfer. |
| precipitant | An agent added to a liquid mixture to encourage the formation of solid materials that will settle from the mixture |
| specific energy | The sum of the piezometric head and the velocity head; total energy, with respect to the bottom of a conduit or channel as a datum. |
| cliff | A cliff is a steep face of rock and soil. |
| desertification | The transformation of arable or habitable land to desert, as by a change in climate or destructive land use |
| green flash | A brilliant green coloration of the upper edge of the sun, occasionally seen as the sun's apparent disk is about to set below a clear horizon. |
| toxicity test | the means to determine the toxicity of a chemical or an effluent using living organisms |
| water softener | An apparatus designed to remove divalent metal ions (the most important of these being calcium, magnesium, and iron) from water, often replacing the divalent or trivalent ions with the monovalent sodium ion |
| pump lift | The distance between the ground water table and the overlying land surface. |
| air padding | Pumping dry air into a container to assist with the withdrawal of liquid or to force a liquefied gas such as chlorine out of the container. |
| water pollution | Generally, the presence in water of enough harmful or objectionable material to damage the water's quality. |
| sublimation | the transition of water directly from the solid state to the gaseous state, without passing through the liquid state; or vice versa |
| barrier beach | a narrow, elongate sandy ridge rising slightly above the high-tide level and extending generally parallel with the mainland shore, but separated from it by a lagoon. |
| endotherm | An animal that maintains its body temperature at a relatively constant level by physiological means regardless of the temperature of the environment (also called warm-blooded) |
| pesticide | Any substance that is intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate any pest. |
| heat lightning | Lightning that appears as a glowing flash on the horizon |
| css | Combined Sewer System. |
| isohyet | A line drawn on a map connecting points that receive equal amounts of rainfall. |
| wind wave | An ocean or lake wave resulting from the action of wind on the water's surface |
| arctic jet | The jet stream that is situated high in the stratosphere in and around the Arctic or Antarctic Circles |
| nucleus | the center around which things are formed. Beads made from the shell of freshwater mussels are used as the center around which oysters lay nacre to form a cultured pearl |
| perennial yield | The maximum quantity of water that can be annually withdrawn from a groundwater basin over a long period of time (during which water supply conditions approximate average conditions) without developing an overdraft condition |
| loam | A rich soil. |
| empedocles | Fifth century B.C |
| lacustrine wetlands | According to criteria of the U.S |
| drywall clip | a device that supports drywall at a corner with minimal contact with the studs |
| climatology | The study of climate |
| river miles | Generally, miles from the mouth of a river to a specific destination or, for upstream tributaries, from the confluence with the main river to a specific destination. |
| iaq | indoor air quality |
| fog | Condensed water vapor in cloud-like masses lying close to the ground. |
| snow pellet | A small white ice particle that falls as precipitation and breaks apart easily when it lands on a surface |
| allocthonous | Materials (e.g |
| elevation | The variation in the height of the earth's surface as measured by the vertical distance from a known datum plane, typically Mean Sea Level (MSL). |
| polychlorinated biphenyls | A group of chemicals found in industrial wastes. |
| tubercle | a small mineralized lump or nodule that protrudes on the outer surface of the shell |
| ground water discharge | (1) The flow of water from the Zone of Saturation |
| hcfc | hydrochlorofluorocarbon |
| sublimation | The change of a solid to a vapor (or the reverse) without the appearance of a liquid state, as in the changing of snow directly into water vapor without melting. |
| algae | Microscopic plants that grow in sunlit water containing phosphates, nitrates, and other nutrients |
| parietal eye | A light-sensing organ on the top of the head, found in some lizards. |
| radius of influence | the radial distance from the center of a wellbore to the point where there is no lowering of the water table or potentiometric surface; the edge of the cone of depression. |
| mortality | death |
| algae wash | Shoreline drift composed mainly of filamentous algae |
| river | but some comes from public sources. |
| silviculture | the cultivation of forest trees. |
| sedimentation | a large scale water treatment process where heavy solids settle out to the bottom of the treatment tank after flocculation. |
| biodegradable pollutants | Pollutants that are capable of decomposing under natural conditions. |
| argillic alteration | A form of Hydrothermal alteration in which certain minerals of rock are converted to clay minerals. |
| pressure jump | A sudden increase in the observed atmospheric pressure or station pressure. |
| septic tank | An underground storage tank for wastes from homes not connected to a sewer line |
| unconsolidated formations | naturally occurring earth formations that have not been lithified |
| carnivore | An organism that feeds primarily on other animals. |
| wetland | area that is regularly wet or flooded and has a water table that stands at or above the land surface for at least part of the year, such as a bog, pond, fen, estuary, or marsh. |
| monimolimnion | The lower region in a Meromictic Lake. |
| diversion structure | A structure specifically designed to divert wastewater from one sewer to another sewer, containment structure, or facility. |
| deep seepage | That portion of applied irrigation water that, in excess of the leaching requirement, passes through the rooting zone and is subsequently unavailable for crop use. |
| duplicates | (Water Quality) Two separate samples with separate containers taken at the same time at the same location. |
| floodplain | Any normally dry land area that is susceptible to being inundated by water from any natural source |
| meander length | The lineal distance downvalley between two corresponding points of successive meanders of the same phase. |
| tidal energy | The mechanical energy associated with the rising and falling of water level during the movement of the tides |
| convection | (1) (Physics) Heat transfer in a gas or liquid by the circulation of currents from one region to another; also fluid motion caused by an external force such as gravity |
| parallel | Another word for latitude lines. |
| anatomy | the structure of a plant or animal |
| estuary | A drowned river valley in a coastal lowland area |
| residual saturation | saturation level below which fluid drainage will not occur. |
| lacustrine | Pertaining to, produced by, or inhabiting a lake. |
| fluoridated | chlorinated or brominated, (see adsorption, halides). |
| discharge | the volume of fluid passing a point per unit of time, commonly expressed in cubic feet per second, million gallons per day, gallons per minute, or seconds per minute per day. |
| driblet | A tiny falling drop of liquid. |
| food chain | A succession of organisms in an ecological community that constitutes a continuation of food energy from one organism to another as each consumes a lower member and in turn is preyed upon by a higher member. |
| well monitoring | Measurement by on-site instruments or laboratory methods of well water quality. |
| decomposer | Any of various organisms (as many bacteria and fungi) that feed on and break down organic substances (such as dead plants and animals). |
| piping | The progressive development of erosion of a dam structure by seepage, appearing downstream of the dam as a hole or seam discharging water that contains soil particles |
| clam | common name frequently used to refer to certain freshwater bivalves (i.e., fingernail clams and the Asiatic clam) |
| hydrostatic head | a measure of pressure at a given point in a liquid in terms of the vertical height of a column of the same liquid which would produce the same pressure. |
| weathering | process whereby earthy or rocky materials are changed in color, texture, composition, or form (with little or no transportation) by exposure to atmospheric agents. |
| vector | the carrier of an infectious agent, which acts to transfer an infection from one host to another. |
| proof of appropriation | Part of the water right application and permitting process which attests to the fact that water has been withdrawn for the use specified in the original permit request. |
| low flow | low flow conditions below which some standards do not apply |
| pelage | The fur or other soft surface covering of a mammal. |
| drought | There is no universally accepted quantitative definition of drought |
| spreading grounds | The same as a Spreading Basin. |
| parts per billion | Expressed as ppb; a unit of concentration equivalent to the µg/l. |
| headland | (1) A point of land, usually high and with a sheer drop, extending out into a body of water; a promontory |
| silt | Sedimentary particles smaller than sand particles, but larger than clay particles. |
| liner | a relatively impermeable barrier designed to keep leachate inside a landfill; an insert or sleeve for sewer pipes to prevent leakage or infiltration. |
| stoke's law | A method to calculate the rate of fall of particles through a fluid, based on density, viscosity and particle size. |
| runoff | surface water entering rivers, freshwater lakes, or reservoirs. |
| wastewater treatment | Any of the mechanical or chemical processes used to modify the quality of waste water in order to make it more compatible or acceptable to man and his environment. |
| hinge | the joint of the shell of a bivalve mollusk |
| basalt | (Geology) A dark volcanic rock composed of microscopic grains of augite, feldspar, and olivine |
| nick point | The point where the stream is actively eroding the stream bed to a new base level |
| oxidation pond | A man-made body of water in which waste is consumed by bacteria. |
| firn line | The highest level to which the fresh snow on a glacier's surface retreats during the melting season; the line separating the accumulation area from the ablation area. |
| biochemical-oxygen demand | the amount of oxygen, in milligrams per liter, that is removed from aquatic environments by the life processes of micro-organisms. |
| point velocity | velocity measured at a single point in the water column of flowing water |
| rough fish | Those species of fish considered to be of either poor fighting quality when taken on tackle or of poor eating quality, such as carp, gar, suckers, etc |
| inorganic matter | Chemical substances of mineral origin, or more correctly, not of basically carbon compounds. |
| substrate | The composition of a streambed, including either mineral or organic materials. |
| sigmoid growth | (Data Analysis) A growth rate trend characterized by an elongated S-shaped, or sigmoid curve |
| primary data | (Data Analysis) Typically, data acquired by direct interaction, such as direct observation through measurements, tabulation, or surveys |
| inversion | A departure from the usual increase or decrease of an atmospheric property with altitude |
| abscissa | (Mathematics) The coordinate representing the position of a point along a line perpendicular to the y-axis (Ordinate) in a Plane Cartesian Coordinate System. |
| interstate waters | According to law, interstate waters are defined as: (1) rivers, lakes and other waters that flow across or form a part of state or international boundaries; (2) waters of the Great Lakes; and (3) coastal waters whose scope has been defined to include ocean waters seaward to the territorial limits and waters along the coastline (including inland steams) influenced by the tide. |
| unbiased sample | (Statistics) A sample is said to be unbiased if its behavior and characteristics are representative of the total Population. |
| humidity | the amount of moisture in the air as measured by a percentage. |
| suspended solids | Solid organic or inorganic particles that are held in suspension in a solution. |
| unsaturated zone | a subsurface zone above the water table where the pore spaces may contain a combination of air and water. |
| construction | The process of building. |
| hanging valleys | Hanging valleys can be created when smaller tributary glaciers join the main ice sheet |
| conservation practice | A technique or measure used to meet a specific need in planning and carrying out soil and water conservation programs for which standards and specifications have been developed. |
| buffering capacity | the ability of a substance to resist an increase or decrease in pH Chlorination |
| aldosterone | A steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex that regulates the salt and water balance in the human body. |
| ecosystem | Organization of the biological community and the physical environment in a specific geographical area. |
| bioerosion | process by which animals, through drilling, grazing and burrowing, erode hard substances, for example rocks and coral reefs. |
| nfip | National Flood Insurance Program |
| bed stability | occurs when the average elevation of the streambed does not change significantly over time |
| ambient conditions | Refers to environmental conditions experienced prior to disturbance. |
| toxemia | A pathological condition in a person or animal caused by the presence of a toxic substance in the body. |
| storm sewer | Any underground pipe or conduit designed to carry only stormwater to a known outfall |
| colon bacillus | (Microbiology) A rod-shaped bacterium, especially Escherichia coli (E |
| avigational trespass | Persons using a float plane to gain access to a private lake without permission, trespass first on the air or avigational rights of the lake owners, then by landing on the surface of the lake, they commit simple trespass. |
| pesticide | A substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest |
| resource management plan | The basic document used by the U.S |
| jet stream | a long narrow meandering current of high-speed winds near the tropopause blowing from a generally westerly direction and often exceeding a speed of 250 miles per hour. |
| anaerobic | Characterizing organisms able to live and grow only where there is no air or free oxygen, and conditions that exist only in the absence of air or free oxygen. |
| secondary benefits | The values over and above the immediate products or services of a water resource development project. |
| nonpoint source controls | General phrase used to refer to all methods employed to control or reduce nonpoint source pollution. |
| cost | the outlay or expenditure (as of money, effort or sacrifice) made to achieve an object or advantage cost-effective - able at least to pay for itself or make a profit county water authority - a public water district serving a county-wide area cubic foot of water - the amount of water needed to fill a cube that is one foot on all sides; about 7.5 gallons |
| beak | the raised part of the dorsal margin of the shell; also called the umbo |
| composite sample | A series of water samples taken over a given period of time and weighted by flow rate. |
| watershed restoration | Improving current conditions of watersheds to restore degraded habitat and provide long-term protection to aquatic and riparian resources. |
| flood frequency | how often, on average, a discharge of a given magnitude occurs at a particular location on a stream |
| fish-bearing waters | a stream having a fish population present at some time during the year. |
| endemic | native to a particular area and found nowhere else; having originated in the region where it is now found |
| copulation | The act of sexual coupling by male and female. |
| autochthonous | Pertaining to substances (organic matter from plankton), materials, or organisms originating within a particular waterway or lake and remaining in that waterway. |
| chlorofluorocarbon | a compound of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine and fluorine, once commonly used in refrigeration, that depletes the stratospheric ozone layer. |
| delta | a collection of rocks and soil at the mouth of a river |
| hydromancy | Divination by the observation of water. |
| blanket mires | See Peatland. |
| fixation | The conversion of gaseous nitrogen to ammonia or nitrate. |
| insecticide | A substance or mixture of substances intended to destroy or repel insects. |
| foodweb | a model structure used to represent the links between organisms within an environment, based upon the order in which various organisms consume one another. |
| cladocera | Water fleas |
| bed roughness | A measure of the irregularity of the streambed as it contributes to flow resistance |
| gular fold | A transverse fold of skin across the throat. |
| vertebrate | an animal with a backbone composed of vertebrae, examples include mammals, fishes, frogs, amphibians, reptiles and birds (see invertebrate) |
| mere | (Middle English, from Old English) A small lake, pond, or marsh |
| well monitoring | measurement by on-site instruments or laboratory methods of well water quality. |
| granular activated carbon | The heating of carbon to encourage active sites to absorb pollutants. |
| top of bank | The break in slope between the stream bank and the surrounding upland terrain. |
| first amended consent decree | A second Consent Decree agreement, signed in 1999, that addresses Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) and operation of the City's wastewater treatment plants. |
| jar test | a laboratory procedure that simulates a water treatment plant's coagulation/flocculation units with differing chemical doses, mix speeds, and settling times to estimate the minimum or ideal coagulant dose required to achieve certain water quality goals. |
| nutrient sink | See Natural Sink. |
| stream morphology | The form and structure of streams. |
| sludge disposal | The removal and discarding of thick watery suspensions of particulate waste matter |
| deciduous stand | A plant community where Deciduous trees or shrubs represent more than 50 percent of the total areal coverage of trees or shrubs. |
| metabolise | Conversion of food, for instance soluble organic matter, to cellular matter and gaseous by-products through a biological process. |
| late seral condition | Synonymous with good ecological conditions. |
| indurated | cemented, hardened, or a rocklike condition. |
| texture | Refers to relative proportions of clay, silt, and sand in soil. |
| hermaphrodite | an animal or plant having both male and female reproductive organs |
| cobble | Substrate particles that are smaller than boulders and larger than gravels, and are generally 64-256 mm in diameter |
| analysis | a close look at something to find out more about it; can involve looking closely at the individual parts of something and describing them Anthropogenic |
| anaerobic | Any process that can occur without molecular oxygen; also applicable to organisms that can survive without free oxygen. |
| access | The way for a person to enter a lake usually with a boat |
| dispersal | (Dispersion) the movement of organisms or their spores or gametes throughout the ecological niche of that particular organism. |
| consumptive use | the quantity of water not available for reuse |
| river basin | A term used to designate the area drained by a river and its tributaries. |
| substrate size | The diameter of streambed particles such as clay, silt, sand, gravel, cobble and boulders. |
| pluvial | pertaining to precipitation. |
| pumping station /lift station | A mechanical device in a sewer or water system that moves liquids to a higher level via a pump and a forcemain. |
| sole-source aquifer | an aquifer that supplies 50 percent or more of the drinking water of an area. |
| drains | A vertical well or borehole, usually downstream of impervious cores, grout curtains, or cutoffs, designed to collect and direct seepage through or under a dam to reduce uplift pressure under or within the dam |
| benthic invertebrates | Aquatic animals without backbones that dwell on or in the bottom sediments of fresh or salt water |
| asos | Automated Surface Observing System (NWS/NOAA) |
| carnivore | Animals that eat meat or protein for their diets. |
| coir | coconut fibre used in a variety of ways (e.g., matting) to protect stream banks from erosion. |
| opaque | A condition where a material, such as a cloud, blocks the passage of radiant energy, especially light |
| biotic | Pertaining (1) to life or living things, or caused by living organisms |
| nitrification | A biological process, during which nitrifying bacteria convert toxic ammonia to less harmful nitrate |
| intertidal mudflat | Areas of accumulated sediment, dominantly of a clay or silt grain size exposed at low tide. |
| shallow well | A well with a pumping head of 20 feet or less, permitting use of a suction pump. |
| slope stability | The resistance of a natural or artificial slope or other inclined surface to failure by mass movement. |
| color | (1) Measured in units that relate to a standard |
| harem | The mating and association of several adult females with one male. |
| snowburn | A burn of the skin, like a sunburn, but caused by the sun's rays reflected off the snow surface. |
| tyrosinase-positive | an albino not able to synthesize melanin, but capable of synthesizing tyrosinase, which results in lavender-brown skin color |
| diffluence | A rate at which wind flow spreads apart along an axis oriented normal to the flow in question |
| copepodites | The penultimate five, out of a total of twelve, life history stages of copepods. |
| scwmc | Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission |
| water level | (1) An instrument to show the level by means of the surface of water in a trough or in a U-shaped tube |
| canal prism | The cross-sectional shape of a typical canal. |
| minimum thermometer | An instrument with an index which remains at the lowest temperature occurring since its last setting. |
| plankton | Mostly microscopic (some are barely visible to the naked eye) aquatic organisms found in the lighted upper layers of the water column |
| load | Material that is moved or carried by streams, reported as weight of material transported during a specified time period, such as tons per year. |
| microbarograph | A instrument designed to continuously record a barometer's reading of very small changes in atmospheric pressure. |
| saltmarsh | Vegetated areas in the upper part of the intertidal zone of estuaries where salt tolerant plants grow between the high spring tide and the mid tide level |
| background | Value for a parameter that represents the conditions in a system prior to a given influence in space or time. |
| imbibition | (Chemistry) Absorption of fluid by a solid or colloid that results in swelling. |
| slosh | (1) To spill or splash (a liquid) copiously or clumsily |
| decreed rights | Water rights determined by court decree. |
| metamorphism | A change in the constitution of rock; specifically a pronounced change effected by pressure, heat, and water that results in a more compact and more highly crystalline condition. |
| confined ground water | A body of ground water covered by material so impervious as to sever the hydraulic connection with overlying ground water except at the intake or recharge area |
| downgradient | the direction that groundwater flows; similar to "downstream" for surface water. |
| partial pressure | That pressure of a gas in a liquid, which is in equilibrium with the solution |
| available chlorine | A measure of the amount of chlorine available in chlorinated lime, hypochlorite compounds, and other materials. |
| aboveground sewer | An unburied sewer (generally a sanitary sewer), supported on piers, pedestals or bents to provide a suitable grade line. |
| ppm | or as a percentage of saturation. |
| cap | A layer of clay, or other impermeable material installed over the top of a closed landfill to prevent entry of rainwater and minimize Leachate. |
| secondary succession | The orderly and predictable changes that occur over time in the plant and animal communities of an area that has been subjected to the removal of naturally occurring plant cover |
| bod | Biochemical Oxygen Demand |
| ectoparasites | types of parasites that live externally on their host; fleas and lice are obligate ectoparasites of man and animals. |
| median streamflow | the rate of discharge of a stream for which there are equal numbers of greater and lesser flow occurrences during a specified period. |
| hypothermal | (1) Moderately warm; tepid |
| climate variability | the natural year-to-year and season-to-season variation of the climate system |
| abscission | The dropping of leaves from a plant |
| indicator tests | tests for a specific contaminant, group of contaminants, or constituent which signals the presence of something else (ex., coliforms indicate the presence of pathogenic bacteria). |
| rain sensor | A simple, relatively inexpensive device that measures rainfall and prevents unnecessary irrigation with an automatic controller. |
| prime agricultural lands | Lands that are in one of the following categories:[1] Lands rated as either Class I or Class II in the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Land Capability Classification system;[2] Lands that support livestock used for the production of food and fiber and which have an annual carrying capacity equivalent to at least one animal unit per acre as defined by the U.S |
| porosity | the water-bearing capacity of subsurface soil or rock. |
| ammonium sulfate | A brownish-grey to white crystalline salt, (NH4)2SO4, used in fertilizers and water purification. |
| sewage lagoon | A shallow pond where natural processes are employed to treat sanitary waste from households or public rest rooms |
| winter kill | The complete or partial kill of fish and other animals in a body of water, usually occurring during prolonged periods of ice and snow cover |
| positive association | (Statistics) The direct relationship between two Variables, the values of which fluctuate together, in the same direction. |
| skerry | (Scandinavian) A rocky isle; a reef. |
| fauna | (1) A term used to describe the animal species of a specific region or time |
| foam | (1) A mass of bubbles of air or gas in a matrix of liquid film, especially an accumulation of fine, frothy bubbles formed in or on the surface of a liquid, as from agitation or fermentation |
| lifting condensation level | The height at which a parcel of moist air becomes saturated when it is lifted dry adiabatically. |
| drift organisms | Benthic organisms temporarily suspended in the water and carried downstream by the current. |
| we | Water Efficiency section |
| gravity dam | A dam constructed of concrete and/or masonry that relies on its weight for stability |
| chezy's equation | the empirical equation used to estimate the hydraulic conditions of flow within a channel cross section |
| conductor casing | The temporary or permanent steel casing used in the upper portion of the borehole to prevent collapse of the formation during the construction of the well or to conduct the gravel pack to the perforated or screened areas of the casing. |
| eutrophic | Usually refers to a nutrient-enriched, highly productive body of water. |
| acid | donate an unshared pair of electrons to an acid or react with an acid to form a salt, a substance that has fewer free hydrogen ions, H+, than hydroxyl ions, OH-, (see alkaline). |
| hydrolysis | The decomposition of organic compounds by interaction with water. |
| incised channel | A stream that through degradation has cut its channel into the bed of the valley. |
| middorsal | Pertaining to the middle of the back. |
| evaporation ponds | (Water Quality) Shallow ponds in which sewage sludge is placed to dry and then be removed for further treatment and/or disposal |
| fossorial | Adapted for digging or burrowing |
| hard rock mining | Underground mining operation, usually for metal. |
| suspensoids | Colloidal particles which remain in suspension under all conditions and will combine or react only to a limited extent with the liquid in which they exist. |
| soluble minerals | Naturally occurring substances capable of being dissolved. |
| ground water divide | A line on a water table on either side of which the water table slopes downward |
| mean monthly temperature | The average of the mean monthly maximum and minimum temperatures. |
| density | the quantity of structures on a site, measured for residential buildings as dwelling units per acre of buildable land available for residential uses, and for nonresidential build ings as floor area ratio per net acre of buildable land available for nonresidential uses. |
| chlorine | One of a group of elements classified as the halogens |
| commission | A group of persons choosen to do or oversee certain work. |
| spawning | The depositing and fertilizing of eggs (or roe) by fish and other aquatic life. |
| cheyenne fog | An upslope fog formed by the westward flow of air from the Missouri River Valley, producing fog on the eastern slopes of the Rockies. |
| aesthetics | Aesthetics are given consideration in the complete evaluation of lakes as a natural resource |
| precision | (Statistics) The repeatability of a series of test results; whether the testing method gives the same answer under the same set of circumstances or sampling criteria. |
| cove | A cove is small, horseshoe-shaped body of water along the coast; the water is surrounded by land formed of soft rock. |
| tide | Periodic rising and falling of large bodies of water resulting from the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun acting on the rotating earth. |
| frost | a covering of minute ice crystals on a cold surface. |
| substrate | What lines the bottom of an aquarium or enclosure use to hold herps |
| greywater | wastewater from clothes washing machines, showers, bathtubs, handwashing, lavatories and sinks that are not used for disposal of chemical or chemical-biological ingredients. |
| hydrogeologic unit | Any soil or rock unit or zone that because of its hydraulic properties has a distinct influence on the storage or movement of ground water. |
| atterberg limits | The transition points between various states of soil consistency |
| profile | A graph showing variation of elevation with distance along a traverse or profile cross section. |
| saturation | The condition of a liquid when it has taken into solution the maximum possible quantity of a given substance at a given temperature and pressure. |
| catalyses | Chemical that increases the rate of a reaction but does not take a direct part in the reaction, so that it is still intact after the reaction has taken place. |
| runoff rate | The volume of water running off in a unit of time from a surface, expressed as inches of rainfall per hour, cubic feet per second, or other units. |
| synthetic seawater | An artificial product of the approximate ionic composition of seawater. |
| ice apron | A wedge-shaped structure for protecting a bridge pier from floating ice. |
| trade winds | Two belts of prevailing winds that blow easterly from the subtropical high pressure centers towards the equatorial trough |
| fishway | A passageway designed to enable fish to ascend a dam, cataract, or velocity barrier |
| geogrid | a deformed or non-deformed regular grid structure of polymeric material formed by joined intersecting ribs used for reinforcement with foundations, soil, rock, earth, or other geotechnical engineering related material |
| ice storm | A storm in which snow or rain freezes on contact, forming a coat of ice on the surfaces it touches. |
| chlorination | A water purification process in which chlorine is added to water for disinfection, for the control of present microrganisms |
| significant | A term applied to differences, correlations, cause-and-effect relationships, etc., to indicate that they are probably not due to chance alone |
| random variable | (Statistics) A variable characterized by random behavior in assuming its different possible values |
| bedding | A site preparation technique whereby a small ridge of surface soil is formed to provide an elevated planting or seed bed |
| heat of condensation | The heat released when a vapor changes state to a liquid |
| bioclimatic zones | Also referred to as Biomes, these constitute the earth's ten zones differentiated by climate, soil, water, and plant and animal life |
| built environment | the manmade alterations to a specific area, including its natural resources |
| dorsum | The upper surface. |
| ddt | A colorless odorless water-insoluble crystalline insecticide C14H9Cl5 that tends to accumulate in ecosystems and has toxic effects on many vertebrates |
| reduction | A chemical reaction in which ions gain electrons to reduce their positive valence. |
| rearing pond | An artificial impoundment in which juvenile fish are raised prior to release into the natural habitat. |
| postconsumer recycled content | material used and then recycled by consumers, as distinguished from the recycled by-products of manufacturing, called preconsumer (postindustrial) recycled content. |
| veterinarian | A Vet |
| pier | (1) A structure or platform which extends from the shore out into a body of water, supported by piles or pillars, and serves primarily for mooring and landing ships or boats |
| glochidia | term for freshwater mussel larvae that possess little or no automotive abilities that are ready to be released from the female mussel and usually attach to a vertebrate host for continued life cycle development |
| unsaturated zone | the area above the water table where soil pores are not fully saturated, although some water may be present. |
| graywater | Waste water from a household or small commercial establishment which specifically excludes water from a toilet, kitchen sink, dishwasher, or water used for washing diapers |
| bioindicators | organisms that are used to detect changes in environmental pollutant levels, such organisms are usually sensitive to changes in their surroundings Biomagnification |
| ss | Sustainable Sites section |
| land reconstruction | (Mining) (1) Restoring land and water areas adversely affected by past mining practices and increasing the productivity of the areas for a beneficial use |
| anti-seepage collar | A projecting collar, usually of concrete, built around the outside of a pipe, tunnel, or conduit, or conduit under or through an Embankment Dam to lengthen the seepage path along the outer surface of the conduit. |
| pirate stream | One of two streams in adjacent valleys that has been able to deepen its valley more rapidly than the other, has extended its valley headward until it has breached the divide between them, and has captured the upper portion of the neighboring stream. |
| oxbow lake | a U-shaped water body formed when a meander bend is cut off from the mainstem of a river or stream to create a lake. |
| vernal equinox | Taking place in the Northern Hemispheric spring, it is the point at which the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator |
| zooplankton | Tiny aquatic animals eaten by fish. |
| nonreimbursable costs | Water project costs allocated to general statewide or national beneficial purposes and funded from general fund revenues. |
| secondary salinity | human induced, largely believed to be related to irrigation, results from rise in naturally saline watertable to less than one metre from the root zone, causing salinisation (see salinisation) |
| secondarily improved pastures | Livestock pasture areas that have not been intensively land leveled or serviced by modern conveyance structures |
| decant | To draw off the upper layer of liquid after the heaviest material (a solid or another liquid) has settled. |
| finite element | a method of solving the governing equations of a numerical model by dividing the spatial domain into elements in each of which the solution of the governing equations is approximated by a continuous function. |
| daily temperature range | The difference between the highest and lowest temperatures recorded on a particular day. |
| dredge | To clean, deepen, or widen with a mechanical scoop |
| mediterranean | Surrounded nearly or completely by dry land |
| usgbc | U.S |
| tornado | A violently rotating column of air in contact with and extending between a convective cloud and the surface of the earth |
| miner's inch [nevada] | Defined as a rate of flow or discharge equivalent to 1/40 of 1 (0.025) cubic foot per second (cfs). |
| buffer strips | Strips of grass or other erosion-resisting vegetation between or below cultivated strips or fields |
| coagulate | To cause the transformation of a liquid or sol, for example, into or as if into a soft, semisolid, or solid mass. |
| snow grains | Frozen precipitation in the form of very small, white, opaque grains of ice |
| morphology | The form, shape, or structure of a stream or organism. |
| environmental impact statement | a document that analyzes the effects of major federal projects on the environment |
| bed material | sediment composing the streambed. |
| liquid | A state of matter, neither gas nor solid, that flows and takes the shape of its container. |
| detergent | Synthetic washing agent that helps to remove dirt and oil |
| geyser | a thermal spring that erupts intermittently and to different heights above the surface of the Earth; eruptions occur when water deep in the spring is heated enough to turn into steam, which forces the liquid water above it out into the air glacial striations - lines carved into rock by overriding ice, showing the direction of glacial movement glacier - a large mass of ice formed on land by the compacting and recrystallization of snow; glaciers survive from year to year, and creep downslope or outward due to the stress of their own weight groundwater - water under ground, such as in wells, springs and aquifiers gullying - small-scale stream erosion |
| toxicant | a substance or a mixture of substances. |
| floodplain management | Comprehensive flood damage prevention programs which require the integration of all alternative measures (structural and nonstructural) in investigation of flood problems and planning for wise use of the floodplain |
| filtration | A treatment process, under the control of qualified operators, for removing solid (particulate) matter from water by means of porous media such as sand or a man-made filter; often used to remove particles that contain pathogens. |
| sump | an excavation for the purpose of catching or storing liquids such as greywater; the water drains into the soil Suspended Solids |
| coefficient of storage | The volume of water an aquifer releases from or takes into storage per unit surface area of the aquifer per unit change in head. |
| ecological studies | Studies of biological communities and habitat characteristics in NAWQA Study Units to evaluate the effects of physical and chemical characteristics of water and hydrologic conditions on aquatic biota and to determine how biological and habitat characteristics differ among environmental settings. |
| anchor ice | Frazil ice that has collected on rocks on the stream bed |
| bioremediation | a process to reduce contaminant levels in soil or water by using microorganisms or vegetation Biota |
| standard of performance | An emission limitation imposed on a particular category of pollution sources, either by U.S |
| awash | Washed by the sea as level with or washed by waves |
| tillage | Plowing, seedbed preparation, and cultivation practices. |
| gas chromatograph | an instrument that identifies the molecular composition and concentrations of various chemicals in water and soil samples. |
| coc | chain of custody |
| flood peak | The highest magnitude of the stage of discharge attained by a flood |
| half-life | The time required for a pollutant to lose one-half of its original concentraton. |
| volatility | A measure of the tendency of a Solvent or other material to evaporate at normal temperatures. |
| costal grooves | The deep, vertical groove on the side of a salamander's body, indicating the position of a rib. |
| wildlife danger tree assessor | a qualified professional arborist who determines the presence and nature of hazard posed by trees. |
| c-celsius | Centigrade Temperature Scale |
| silt | individual mineral particles of sand and clay that can be picked up by the air or water and deposited as sediment Siltation |
| index of wetness | The precipitation for a given year expressed as a ratio to the mean annual precipitation. |
| antidegradation policy | Rules or guidelines that are required of each state by federal regulations implementing the Clean Water Act (CWA), stating that existing water quality be maintained even if the current water quality in an area is higher than the minimum permitted as defined by federal ambient water quality standards |
| pollutant | A contaminant at a concentration high enough to endanger the life of organisms. |
| armour | Structural protection (rock or concrete) for the shoreline. |
| geohydrology | a term which denotes the branch of hydrology relating to subsurface or subterranean waters; that is, to all waters below the surface. |
| eddy | A circular current of water, usually resulting from an obstruction. |
| weather | day to day variation in atmospheric conditions |
| roche moutonnàe | An elongated mound of bedrock worn smooth and rounded by glacial abrasion. |
| hydraulic control | a feature in a stream (such as a constriction or a weir) that controls the upstream water surface elevation. |
| guild | a group of species or organisms that use the same environmental resources (habitat, food source, etc.) or life history strategy (such as reproduction) in the same way. |
| gis | A computer system designed for storing, manipulating, analyzing, and displaying data in a geographic context |
| matrix interference | The adverse influence of the environmental sample Matrix on the ability to detect the presence or amount of a chemical substance in the sample. |
| pterygoid bones | In the skull of most lower vertebrates, four large, medially situated bones of the palatal complex that is located on the lower surface of the palatal cartilage. |
| indirect water uses | Uses of water that are not immediately apparent to the consumer |
| soil erodibility | An indicator of a soil's susceptibility to raindrop impact, runoff, and other eroding processes. |
| hydraulic permeability | The flow of water through a unit cross-sectional area of soil normal to the direction of flow when the Hydraulic Gradient is unity. |
| ccf | Hundreds of cubic feet - the measure of water consumption used in computing water bills. |
| snow course | A line laid out and permanently marked on a drainage area along which the snow is sampled at definite distances or stations |
| exhaust trail | A condensation trail that is visible when water vapor in aircraft exhaust mixes with the air in the vehicle's wake and saturates it |
| point waste load allocation | The amount of a particular pollutant a Point Source, e.g., a wastewater treatment facility, can discharge over a specified period of time into a receiving body of water |
| parietal | 1 |
| row | Right of Way |
| frontal passage | It is the passage of a front over a specific point on the surface |
| alachlor | Herbicide (trade name Lasso) used to control most annual grasses and certain broadleaf weeds and yellow nutsedge in corn, soybeans, peanuts, cotton, woody fruits, and certain ornamentals. |
| jetty | A structure extending into a sea, lake, or river to influence the current or tide, in order to protect harbors, shores, and banks. |
| idr | innovative design request |
| hygroscope | An instrument showing changes in humidity. |
| deice | To make or keep free of ice; melt ice from. |
| critical habitat | The area of land, water, and airspace required for normal needs and survival (e.g., forage, reproduction, or cover) of a plant or animal species. |
| critical slope | That slope that will sustain a given discharge at uniform, Critical Depth in a given channel. |
| trophogenic region | The area of a body of water where organic production from mineral substances takes place on the basis of light energy and photosynthetic activity. |
| fault creep | A very slow movement along a fault which is unaccompanied by perceptible earthquakes. |
| national municipal plan | a U.S |
| denizen | (Ecology) An animal or a plant naturalized in a region. |
| significant municipal facilities | Those publicly owned sewage treatment plants that discharge a million gallons per day or more and are therefore considered by states to have the potential to substantially effect the quality of receiving waters. |
| detection monitoring program | Groundwater monitoring at the boundary of a treatment, storage, or disposal facility (the point of compliance) to detect any contamination caused by leaks from the hazardous waste at the facility |
| fresh water | Water that generally contains less than 1000 milligrams per litre of dissolved solids such as salts, metals, nutrients, etc. |
| impoundment | a body of water such as a pond, confined by a dam, dike, floodgate or other barrier |
| metabolic waste | Waste products formed as a result of metabolic processes. |
| aerodynamic | Refers to forces acting upon the soil or crop surface by moving air. |
| spate | (1) A sudden flood, rush, or outpouring |
| groundwater discharge | Ground water entering coastal waters, which has been contaminated by land-fill leachates, deep well injection of hazardous wastes and septic tanks. |
| permit | (1) (Water Right) A written document which grants authority to take unused water and put it to Beneficial Use |
| armoring | A natural or artificial process where an erosion-resistant layer of relatively large particles is established on the surface of the streambed through the removal of finer particles by stream flow |
| efficiency | (Irrigation) A measure of a distribution system's ability to transport and apply water to a desired effect with a minimum of effort, expense, or waste |
| transform | metamorphosis in which a parasitic glochidia matures physiologically and releases itself from the host fish to live independently as a juvenile mussel |
| orographic cloud | A cloud whose form and extent is determined by the disturbing effects of orography and mountains upon the passing flow of air |
| aerobic | Characterizing organisms able to live only in the presence of air or free oxygen and conditions that exist only in the presence of air or free oxygen |
| assimilative capacity | the amount of pollutants that a water body may absorb while continuing to meet water quality standards Attenuate |
| felling | The process of cutting down standing trees. |
| cold blooded | An animal that cannot regulate its own body temperature, rather it's regulated by the environment, so they often bask for heat, burrow, and hibernate. (also called ectothermic ) |
| snow squall | A heavy snow shower accompanied by sudden strong winds, or a squall. |
| suspended sediment | See Suspended Load |
| mesocyclone | A area of rotation of storm size that may often be found on the southwest part of a supercell |
| water wings | A device consisting of a pair of joined inflatable waterproof bags that fit under the arms of a person, especially a child learning to swim, and provides buoyancy. |
| conservation | to protect from loss and waste |
| gpf | gallons per flush |
| volatile | Any substance which evaporates quickly. |
| sop | (1) To dip, soak, or drench in a liquid; saturate |
| spray | (1) A cloud or mist of fine liquid particles, as of water from breaking waves |
| stank | (1) (British) Pond, pool |
| stone | Rock fragments larger than 25.4 cm (10 inches) but less than 60.4 cm (24 inches). |
| chemical weathering | The gradual decomposition of rock by exposure to rainwater, surface water, atmospheric oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere, as well as compounds secreted by organisms |
| macroburst | A large downburst with an outflow diameter of 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) or larger and damaging winds. |
| critical shear stress | The minimum amount of shear stress exerted by stream currents required to initiate soil particle motion |
| revetment | Shore protection structure made with stones/ rock laid on a sloping face. |
| courtship | Behaviors animals go through to find a mate. |
| ph | a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution; the pH scale ranges from 0-14, with 7 representing neutral solutions; a solution with a pH greater than seven is described as alkaline, and one with a pH below seven is called acidic; vinegar is an example of an acid, while household bleach is an alkaline solution Pollutant |
| promontory | A high ridge of land or rock jutting out into a body of water; a headland. |
| infiltration capacity curve | A graph showing the time variation of infiltration capacity |
| pressure altimeter | An aneroid barometer calibrated to indicate altitude in feet instead of units of pressure |
| total dissolved solids | A quantitative measure of the residual minerals dissolved in water that remain after evaporation of a solution |
| troy weight | A system of units of weight in which the grain is the same as in the Avoirdupois Weight system and the pound contains 12 ounces, 240 penny weights, or 5,760 grains. |
| lenticular clouds | Lenticular clouds are characteristic of all mountain ranges and form in response to wind |
| eutrophic | having a large or excessive supply of plant nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) |
| quicksilver water | a solution of mercury nitrate used in gilding. |
| water quality-based toxics control | an integrated strategy used in NPDES permitting to assess and control the discharge of toxic pollutants to surface waters |
| agricultural economics | The application of economic principles to the Agribusiness sector of the economy. |
| marl | A mixture of clays, carbonates of calcium and magnesium, and remnants of shells, forming a loam useful as a fertilizer. |
| leasehold land | land owned by governments on behalf of the people they represent but leased to specified people or organisations for a specific purpose; about 50% of Australia, mostly in the drier regions, comes under some form of leasehold; governments retain a variety of controls over how leasehold land is used |
| inhibitor | chemical that interferes with a chemical reaction, such as precipitation. |
| tropopause | The boundary zone or transition layer between the troposphere and the stratosphere |
| aum | Animal Unit Month. |
| trophic structure | the feeding relationships among species within a food web. |
| calm | Atmospheric conditions devoid of wind or any other air motion |
| glacial lake | a lake that derives its water, or much of its water, from the melting of glacial ice; also a lake that occupies a basin produced by glacial erosion. |
| ambient monitoring | Monitoring that is done to determine existing environmental conditions, contaminant levels, rates, or species in the environment, against which future conditions can be compared. |
| headcut | A break in the slope at the top of a gully or section of a gully that forms a "waterfall" which in turn causes the underlying soil to erode and the gully to expand uphill. |
| trend | (1) A statistical term referring to the direction or rate of increase or decrease in magnitude of the individual members of a time series of data when random fluctuations of individual members are disregarded |
| soil monolith | A vertical section of a soil profile removed and mounted for display or study. |
| snow | Precipitation in the form of branched, hexagonal crystals, often mixed with simple ice crystals, which fall more or less continuously from a solid cloud sheet |
| floc | Generally, a very fine, fluffy mass formed by the aggregation of fine suspended particles, as in a precipitate |
| stream segment | refers to the surface waters of an approved planning area exhibiting common biological, chemical, hydrological, natural, and physical characteristics and processes |
| salt meadow | a meadow subject to overflow by salt water. |
| irrigation leaching requirement | The amount of water required to move residual salts out of the root zone and maintain an adequate soil-salt balance for crop production |
| transport | Conveyance of solutes and particles in flow systems. |
| erosion control fabric | Woven or spun material made from natural or synthetic fibers and placed to prevent surface erosion. |
| environmental monitoring | The process of checking, observing, or keeping track of something for a specified period of time or at specified intervals. |
| magnetic poles | Either of the two points on the earth's surface where the magnetic meridians converge |
| herpetology | Scientific Study of reptiles and amphibians |
| municipal discharge | The discharge of effluent from waste water treatment plants which receive waste water from households, commercial establishment, and industries |
| horizon | One of several lines or planes used as reference for observation and measurement relative to a given location on the surface of the earth |
| clutch | A group of eggs that is laid in the same place at the same time (or nearly the same time), and will hatch at the same time. |
| renewable energy | A source of energy that is replaced by natural phenomena, such as firewood or the water held by a dam and used for hydroelectric purposes |
| wettability | the degree to which a fluid will spread into or coat a solid surface in the presence of other fluids into which it will not dissolve. |
| austral | Southern as in southern pine forest |
| snow sampler | An instrument used in obtaining snow samples, which consists of a set of light, jointed metal tubes for taking samples and a spring scale graduated to read directly the corresponding depth of water contained in the sample. |
| billion | One thousand times one million, 1,000,000,000 |
| nival | Of, relating to, or growing in or under snow. |
| aeolian soil | Soil transported from one area to another by the wind. |
| life zone | major area of plant and animal life; region characterized by particular plants and animals and distinguished by temperature differences. |
| median | The middle or central value in a distribution of data ranked in order of magnitude |
| dissolve | A condition where solid particles mix, molecule by molecule, with a liquid and appear to become part of the liquid. |
| coliform bacteria | See Fecal coliform bacteria. |
| arithmetic mean | (Statistics) The sum of a set of observations divided by the number of observations |
| water availability model | a numerical surface water flow model used to determine the availability of surface water for water right permitting. |
| vortex rocks | Rocks placed in a streambed to help direct flows for the formation of meanders and creation of riffles and pools |
| contributing area | That portion of a watershed which contributes to measured runoff under normal conditions. |
| hydrodynamic loads | Forces imposed on structures by floodwaters due other impacts of moving water on the upstream side of the structure, drag along its sides, and eddies or negative pressures on its downstream side. |
| flood proofing | Any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes, or adjustments to structures and properties subject to flooding primarily for the reduction or elimination of flood damage to real estate or improved property, water and sanitary facilities, structures and their contents. |
| hydrophyte | any plant growing in water or on a substrate that is at least periodically deficient in oxygen as a result of excessive water content. |
| completed test | (Water Quality) The third, and last, part of the examination of water for the presence of bacteria of fecal origin |
| tide pool | Habitat in the rocky intertidal zone that retains some water at low tide. |
| emergent | Rising above a surrounding medium, especially a fluid |
| lc50 | The amount of a toxin that is sufficient to kill 50% of a population within a specified time. |
| limnology | scientific study of physical, chemical, and biological conditions in lakes, ponds, and streams. |
| chara | Muskgrasses or stoneworts - An unusual type of algae that has a grown form resembling a higher plant, but a close look reveals each joint of the stem is a single cell with no connective tissue. |
| nitrogen fixation | The conversion of elemental nitrogen in the atmosphere (N2) to a reduced form (e.g., ammonia and amino groups of amino acids) that can be used as a nitrogen source by organisms |
| runoff | that part of precipitation or snowmelt that appears in streams or surface-water bodies. |
| oxidant | An oxidizing agent. |
| monomictic | lakes and reservoirs that are relatively deep, do not freeze over during winter, and undergo a single stratification and mixing cycle during the year (usually in the fall). |
| annual turnover | (1) Spring/fall turnover, mixing of the water in a lake, due to wind, annual cycle of air temperature, and heating from the sun. |
| storage ratio | The net available storage divided by the mean flow for one year. |
| mitochondria | (see prokaryotic). |
| log deck | Also called log landing, log yard, brow or bunching area |
| discharge period | The period of time during which effluent is discharged. |
| arid | A term applied to a climate or region where precipitation is so deficient in quantity, or occurs so infrequently, that crop production is impractical without irrigation. |
| dissolved solids concentration | For water this concentration is determined either analytically by the "residue-on-evaporation" method, or mathematically by totaling the concentrations of individual constituents reported in a comprehensive chemical analysis. |
| backset | An eddy or countercurrent in water. |
| bernoulli effect | The phenomenon of internal pressure reduction with increased stream velocity in a fluid |
| congener | An organism that is a member of the same genus as another animal. |
| improved irrigated acreage | Refers to farm acreage which has been leveled, planed and serviced by improved conveyance and control structures. |
| biochemical oxidation | The process by which bacteria and other microorganisms feed on complex organic materials and decompose them |
| electromagnetic radiation | Also called radiation, it is waves of energy propagated though space or through a material media. |
| valley | A valley is a low place between mountains. |
| mangrove | Tropical evergreen trees and shrubs that have stilt like roots and stems, and often form dense thickets along tidal shores |
| hazardous substance | (1) Any material that poses a threat to human health and/or the environment |
| gene | the basic unit of heredity |
| basin lag | (1) The time from the centroid (centermost point in time based on total period rainfall) of rainfall to the hydrograph peak |
| conifer | A tree belonging to the order Coniferae with cones and leaves of needle shape or "scalelike." |
| eye | The center of a tropical storm or hurricane, characterized by a roughly circular area of light winds and rain-free skies |
| phytoplankton | free-floating, mostly microscopic aquatic plants. |
| agrichemicals | manufactured chemicals produced to perform specific plant and animal protection actions in agricultural activities |
| aneroid | Not using liquid. |
| point-source pollution | pollution from an easily discernible, single source such as a factory (see ) |
| ecosystem function | (1) The process through which the constituent living and nonliving elements of ecosystems change and interact, including biogeochemical processes and succession |
| wet milling | The mechanical size reduction of solid wastes that have been wetted to soften the paper and cardboard constituents. |
| high-efficiency particulate absorbing | filter an air filter that removes nearly all particulates. |
| mesotrophic | reservoirs and lakes that contain moderate quantities of nutrients and are moderately productive in terms of aquatic animal and plant life. |
| retrofitting | installing modern pollution control devices at facilities without making major changes to the facility's design. |
| gravity | The force of attraction of the earth on an object |
| richness | (Biological) The total number of species in an area, usually expressed as the number of species divided by the total number of individuals, or the number of species per unit area. |
| sanitary landfill | (Water Quality) A disposal site employing methods of disposing of solid wastes in a manner that minimizes environmental hazards by spreading, compacting to the smallest practical volume and applying cover material over all exposed wastes at the end of each operating day. |
| national wilderness preservation system | All lands covered by the Wilderness Act of 1964 and subsequent wilderness designations, irrespective of the department or agency having jurisdiction. |
| boulder | A large substrate particle that is larger than cobble, 256 mm in diameter. |
| noaa | See National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). |
| stakeholder | A person or organisation with an interest in the preparation of a shoreline management plan or affected by the policies produced |
| pseudocardinal teeth | the triangular, often serrated, teeth located on the anterior-dorsal part of the shell |
| vicariance | (Biology) The separation or division of a group of organisms by a geographic barrier, such as a mountain or a body of water, resulting in differentiation of the original group into new varieties or species. |
| pilot balloon | A small balloon whose ascent is used to determine the direction and speed of low level atmospheric winds |
| brackish | Having a somewhat salty taste, especially from containing a mixture of seawater and fresh water. |
| peat | a highly organic soil, composed of partially decomposed vegetable matter. |
| impurities | Particles or other objects that cause water to be unclear. |
| flood duration curve | A cumulative frequency curve that shows the percentage of time that specified discharges are equaled or exceeded. |
| tuffs | (Geology) A volcanic rock composed of ash particles. |
| fda action level | A regulatory level recommended by the U.S |
| heterozygous | Pieter meaning having two different alleles at a particular gene. |
| watershed | the geographic area that drains into a particular river. |
| atmosphere | The gaseous or air portion of the physical environment that encircles a planet |
| standard | a regulatory requirement that must be followed in the design and implementation of works |
| nape | The back of the neck. |
| leaky aquifer | An artesian or water table aquifer that loses or gains water through adjacent semipermeable Confining Units. |
| culvert | A buried pipe that allows flows to pass under a road. |
| lysimeter | A field-situated tank or container filled with soil and planted to a crop |
| load allocation | (Water Quality) The portion of the pollution Load of a stream attributable to human Nonpoint Sources (NPS) of pollution |
| black ice | A thin, nearly invisible coating of ice, as on the surface of a road or sidewalk, that is usually caused by freezing mist and is extremely hazardous. |
| growing season | (1) The period and/or number of days between the last freeze in the spring and the first frost in the fall for the freeze threshold temperature of the crop or other designated temperature threshold |
| borate | a wood preservative that is nontoxic to humans but highly toxic to wood-boring insects, such as termites. |
| floodplain | The flood plain is the flat land of the river valley close to the river banks |
| hatch box | A device used to incubate relatively small numbers of fish eggs |
| conduction | The transfer of heat through a substance by molecular action or from one substance by being in contact with another. |
| hardwood | timber from sources other than pines and cypresses; includes timbers from eucalypts, wattles and most rainforest species ( see softwood) |
| trellis pattern | A roughly rectilinear arrangement of stream courses in a pattern reminiscent of a garden trellis, developed in a region where rocks of differing resistance to erosion have been folded, beveled, and uplifted. |
| abyssal zone | The bottom of a deep ocean |
| groundwater | The supply of fresh water found beneath the earth's surface (usually in aquifers) that is often used for supplying wells and springs. |
| slope | The side of a hill or mountain, the inclined face of a cutting, canal or embankment or an inclination from the horizontal |
| kelvin scale | An absolute scale of temperature in which each degree equals one kelvin |
| stormwater | Rainwater that runs off the land, usually paved or compacted surfaces in urban or suburban areas, and is often routed into drain systems in order to prevent flooding. |
| het. | An abbreviation for heterozygous. |
| organic chemicals | chemicals containing carbon. |
| polar substance | A substance that carries a positive or negative charge, for instance water. |
| duckweed | Any of various small, free-floating, stemless aquatic flowering plants of the genus Lemna |
| friction head | Energy required to overcome friction due to fluid movement with respect to the walls of the conduit or containing medium. |
| wet suit | A tight-fitting permeable suit worn in cold water, as by skin divers, to retain body heat. |
| kame | a short ridge, hill, or mound of stratified drift deposited by glacial meltwater. |
| delivery concept | The mode of making deliveries with respect to time; types are rotation, scheduled, or demand deliver concepts. |
| water service agency | An agency organized, founded, or established to produce and distribute water directly or indirectly to customers |
| streamflow | The discharge of water in a natural channel. |
| black smoker | A vent in a geologically active region of the sea floor from which issues superheated water laden with minerals (as sulfide precipitates). |
| seer | seasonal energy efficiency rating |
| swale | a slight depression, sometimes filled with water, in the midst of generally level land. |
| contour flooding | Irrigation method resulting in flooding fields from Contour Ditches. |
| groundwater runoff | the portion of runoff which has passed into the ground, has become ground water, and has been discharged into a stream channel as spring or seepage water. |
| saturation | the condition of a liquid when it has taken into solution the maximum possible quantity of a given substance at a given temperature and pressure. |
| enforceable requirements | Conditions or limitations in permits issued under the Clean Water Act (CWA), Section 202 or 404, that, if violated, could result in the issuance of a compliance order or initiation of a civil or criminal action under federal or applicable state laws. |
| mammatocumulus | An obsolete term for cumulonimbus mammatus, it is a portion of a cumulonimbus cloud that appears as a pouch or udder on the under surface of the cloud |
| regelation | (1) The fusion of two blocks of ice by pressure |
| nitrogen fixation | the conversion of gaseous nitrogen into more complex molecules that can be used by plants and other organisms; often carried out by micro-organisms in the soil or closely associated with some plant species (e.g |
| benthos | All the plant and animals living on or closely associated with the bottom of a body of water. |
| validation | comparison of computer model results with a set of data that were not used for calibration. |
| saturated flow | Underground water flow where void spaces in the soil or rock are filled completely with water. |
| cold high | A high pressure system that has its coldest temperatures at or near the center of circulation, and horizontally, is thermally barotropic |
| marina | A water-based facility used for storage, service, launching, operation, or maintenance of watercraft. |
| unit period | The time duration of a unit storm |
| algal bloom | a phenomenon whereby excessive nutrients within a river, stream or lake cause an explosion of plant life which results in the depletion of the oxygen in the water needed by fish and other aquatic life |
| bind | to exert a strong chemical attraction. |
| lined waterway or outlet | A waterway or outlet with an erosion-resistant lining of concrete, stone, or other permanent material |
| latent heat of condensation | The amount of heat released by a unit mass of substance, without change in temperature, while passing from the vapor to the liquid state. |
| antediluvian | (1) Extremely old and antiquated |
| off-channel pond | a pond, not part of the active channel, but connected to the main stream by a short channel |
| interstadial | (Geology) Long intervals of Desiccation occurring between Pluvial episodes. |
| periphyton | An assemblage of microorganisms (plants and animals) firmly attached to and growing upon solid surfaces, such as the bottom of a stream, rocks, logs, pilings, and other structures. |
| conglutinate | a number of glochidia bound together with mucus |
| synoptic chart | Any map or chart that depicts meteorological or atmospheric conditions over a large area at any given time. |
| heat | A form of energy transferred between two systems by virtue of a difference in temperature |
| littoral | the shallow-water zone (less than 2 meters deep); a subsystem of the Lacustrine System of the U.S |
| water gap | a deep, narrow pass in a mountain ridge, through which a stream flows. |
| titrator | An instrument, usually a calibrated cylinder (tube-form), used in Titration to measure the amount of Titrant being added to the sample. |
| potentiometric surface | the surface to which water in an aquifer can rise by hydrostatic pressure |
| feeder bands | In tropical parlance, the lines or bands of thunderstorms that spiral into and around the center of a tropical system |
| digestive tract | the series of animal tissues that physically and chemically transform food for assimilation |
| bmp system | A combination of individual BMPs into a "system" that functions to reduce the same pollutant. |
| shell margin | the circumference of a valve outline when laid flat; also known as the edge |
| meander amplitude | The distance between points of maximum curvature of successive meanders of opposite phase in a direction normal to the general course of the Meander Belt, measured between centerlines of channels. |
| holding tank | An enclosed container used as part of a sewage disposal system on a boat |
| flat-water | Of or on a level or slow-moving watercourse. |
| fungus | often associated with pulpmill effluent and wood preservatives. |
| drift | To be carried along by currents of air or water. |
| advanced water treatment | The level of water treatment that requires an 85-percent reduction in pollutant concentration, also known as tertiary treatment. |
| icf | insulated concrete form |
| illuvial | Describing soil material, usually minerals and colloidal particles, that is removed from the upper soil horizon to a lower soil horizon |
| area of review | The area around an underground injection well that may be influenced adversely by fluid injection |
| flood plain | a strip of relatively flat land bordering a stream channel that is overflowed at times of high water. |
| bioassay | a test to determine the relative strength of a substance by comparing its effect on a test organism with that of a standard preparation. |
| latitude | Latitude is the angular distance north or south from the equator to a particular location |
| venturi flume | A calibrated measuring flume having a contracted throat section which produces a differential head that can be related to discharge. |
| centrifugal force | The apparent force in a rotating system that deflects masses radially outward from the axis of rotation |
| hydric soil | soil that is wet long enough to periodically produce anaerobic conditions, thereby influencing the growth of plants. |
| polar cap | (1) Either of the regions around the poles of the earth that are permanently covered with ice |
| geological survey | A systematic examination of an area to determine the character, relations, distribution and origin or mode of formation, of its rock masses and other natural resources. |
| invertebrate | An animal having no backbone or spinal column |
| wet adiabatic lapse rate | The rate of temperature decrease as a parcel of air saturated with water rises and the pressure decreases, given by:à°s = -dT/dzwhere:dT is the temperature change;dz is the change in altitude; andà°s is the saturated (wet) Adiabatic Lapse Rate |
| riverine habitat | The aquatic habitat within streams and rivers. |
| human environment | Natural and physical environment and the relationship of people with that environment including physical, biological, cultural, social, and economic factors in a given area. |
| tidal wave | (1) An unusual rise or incursion of water along the seashore, as from a storm or a combination of wind and spring tide |
| bmp | See best management practices. |
| calcareous | formed of calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate by biological deposition or inorganic precipitation in sufficient quantities to effervesce when treated with cold hydrochloric acid. |
| coefficient of linear extensibility | The ratio of the difference between the moist and dry lengths of a Clod to its dry length |
| snow ablation | The removal of snow by the force of the wind. |
| baptism | (1) A Christian sacrament marked by ritual use of water and admitting the recipient to the Christian community; (2) A non-Christian rite using water for ritual purification. |
| ground water hydrology | The branch of Hydrology that deals with ground water; its occurrence and movements, its replenishment and depletion, the properties of rocks that control ground water movement and storage, and the methods of investigation and utilization of ground water |
| kettle lake | a body of water occupying a kettle, as in a pitted outwash plain or in a kettle moraine. |
| precipitation | A general term for all forms of water particles rain, snow, sleet, dew, hail etc. |
| mixed precipitation | Any of the following combinations of freezing and frozen precipitation: snow and sleet, snow and freezing rain, or sleet alone |
| sound | (1) A long, relatively wide body of water, larger than a strait or a channel, connecting larger bodies of water and between the mainland and one or more islands |
| infiltration | The movement of water through the soil surface into the soil. |
| maximum depth | The greatest depth of the body of water measured in feet and 10ths of feet. |
| stream | A general term for a body of flowing water; natural water course containing water at least part of the year |
| watershed area | The watershed area at a point in the stream refers to the area of the earth from which the water concentrates toward that point, through the drainage system. |
| salinization | The accumulation of salts in soil to the extent that plant growth is inhibited |
| thiokol | A trademark used for any of various polysulfide polymers in the form of liquids, water dispersions, and rubbers used in seals and sealants. |
| inorganic | Containing no carbon; matter other than plant or animal. |
| barrage | any artificial obstruction placed in water to increase water level or divert it |
| intermittent stream | Any nonpermanent flowing drainage feature having a definable channel and evidence of scour or deposition |
| water | clear, colorless, odorless, tasteless liquid comprised of atoms of hydrogen (one atom) and oxygen (two atoms) = H20; essential for plant and animal life on Earth. The "universal solvent". |
| funnel cloud | A violent, rotating column of air visibly extending from the base of a towering cumulus or cumulonimbus toward the ground, but not in contact with it |
| dugout | a pit dug into the ground or on a hillside |
| physiography | a description of the surface features of the Earth, with an emphasis on the mode or origin. |
| lapse rate | The rate of change of temperature with height in the free atmosphere. |
| community | In ecology, the species that interact in a common area. |
| duplicates | two separate samples with separate containers taken at the same time at the same place. |
| ecotype | A locally adopted population of a species which has a distinctive limit of tolerance to environmental factors. |
| organelles | these species manufacture photosynthetic pigments but lack chloroplasts, the specialized photosynthetic organelles in higher plants, in some situations an increase in blue-green algae can indicate an environmental stress such as pollution. |
| milligrams per liter | the weight in milligrams of any substance dissolved in one liter of liquid; nearly the same as parts per million by weight. |
| flood insurance study | A document containing the results of an examination, evaluation, and determination of flood hazards and, if appropriate, corresponding water surface elevations, mudslides and erosion hazards. |
| mast | The fruit of forest trees such as oak and beech used as fodder for hogs and other animals. |
| artesian water | Ground water that is under pressure when tapped by a well and is able to rise above the level at which it is first encountered |
| adit | a horizontal entrance, or passage, in a mine |
| equator | The line at 0 degrees latitude |
| innovative design request | in LEED for Homes, a project team's request for receiving LEED points for installing a measure that meets the intent of a credit but of which details are not currently listed the Rating System |
| environment | the sum of all conditions and influences affecting the life of organisms. |
| water monitoring | The process of constant control of a body of water by means of sampling and analyses. |
| acec | Area of Critical Environmental Concern. |
| boreal | a climatic zone having a definite winter with snow and a short summer that is generally hot, and which is characterized by a large annual range of temperature. |
| adventive | Non native plant |
| balancing damper | an adjustable plate that regulates air flow within ducts. |
| indicator tests | Tests for a specific contaminant, group of contaminants, or constituent which signals the presence of something else. |
| flood capacity | The flow carried by a stream or floodway at bankfull water level |
| agricultural suitability | Determines how suitable a given area of land is, in it's present state, for agricultural purposes. |
| organism | Any living thing |
| species | (Biology and Botany) A group of individuals having a common origin and a continuous breeding system |
| aerated lagoon | A water treatment pond that speeds up biological decomposition of organic waste by stimulating the growth and activity of bacteria, which are responsible for the degradation. |
| mean high water | The average height of the high water over 19 years. |
| windfall | Trees or parts of trees felled by high winds. |
| mesolow | A small scale low pressure center, ranging from the size of an individual thunderstorm to many tens of miles. |
| nucleation | Any process by which the phase change of a substance to a more condensed state (condensation, sublimation, freezing) is initiated at certain loci, nuclei, within the less condensed state. |
| herbicide | a chemical used to kill nuisance plants |
| canoe | A light narrow boat made of bark, aluminum, or fiberglass |
| recharge rate | the quantity of water per unit of time that replenishes or refills an aquifer. |
| riffle | A reach of stream that is characterized by shallow, fast moving water broken by the presence of rocks and boulders. |
| public notice | Notification by a regulatory agency (such as EPA or EPD) informing the public of agency actions such as the issuance of a draft permit or scheduling of a hearing |
| evapotranspiration | a term that includes water discharged to the atmosphere as a result of evaporation from the soil and surface-water bodies and by plant transpiration. |
| generator | A machine that changes water power, steam power, or other kinds of mechanical energy into electricity. |
| terrestrial | pertaining to, consisting of, or representing the Earth. |
| placer | (Geology) (1) A glacial or alluvial deposit of heavy minerals such as gold or platinum concentrated in stream or beach gravels |
| carbamates | a class of new-age pesticides that attack the nervous system of organisms. |
| canopy | A layer of foliage in a forest stand |
| air-bound | Condition in a pipeline wherein air trapped in a summit prevents the free flow of the material in the pipeline. |
| brawl | To flow noisily, as turbulent water. |
| in situ | In place |
| bia | Bureau of Indian Affairs (USDI). |
| net primary productivity | the ratio of all biomass accumulation and biomass losses in units of carbon, weight or energy, per land surface unit, over a set time interval (usually a year) |
| habitat | the part of the physical environment in which a plant or animal lives. |
| homozygous | A state in which both genes for a specific trait are the same |
| sun pillar | Horizontal ice crystals in the form of plates, which occur in clouds and ice fog near the earth's surface, reflect sunlight into vertical sun pillars for a spectacular display. |
| persistence | Refers to the length of time a compound stays in the environment, once introduced. |
| schedule of compliance | Description of remedial actions to be accomplished by the permit holder (type of facility to be installed or alternative control measures to be established) and a sequence of actions leading to compliance with applicable standards. |
| detritus | Organic matter produced by the decay or disintegration of a substance or tissue. |
| extreme value series | Hydrological series which includes the largest or smallest values, with each value selected from an equal time interval in the record. |
| algal bloom | A condition which occurs when excessive nutrient levels and other physical and chemical conditions facilitate rapid growth of algae |
| winter range | Areas used by migratory wildlife during the winter months |
| aquifer test | A test to determine hydrologic properties of an aquifer, involving the withdrawal of measured quantities of water from, or the addition of water to, a well and the measurement of resulting changes in head in the aquifer both during and after the period of discharge or addition (recharge). |
| alkaline | has a pH greater than 7; pH modifier in the U.S |
| channel density | The ratio of the length of stream channels in a given basin to the area of the basin, expressed in feet per acre (meters per hectare). |
| aspect | The compass direction toward which a sloping land area faces |
| katafront | A front where the warm air descends the frontal surface, except in the low layers of the atmosphere. |
| irregularly exposed | A water regime in wetland classification in which the land surface is exposed by tides less often than daily. |
| algorithm | A series of well-defined steps used in carrying out a specific process |
| boiling point | The temperature at which the vapour pressure of a liquid equals the pressure of its surface |
| gac | In water treatment, granular activated carbon has been used mainly for taste and odor control, with some special applications that remove Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs) or Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) from contaminated water |
| backwashing | reversing the flow of water through a home treatment device filter or membrane to clean and remove deposits. |
| aerobic decomposition | The biodegradation of materials by aerobic microorganisms resulting in the production of carbon dioxide, water, and other mineral products |
| ecosystem | A system formed by the interaction of a group of organisms and their environment. |
| exogenous | (Geology) Geologic processes originating at or near the surface of the earth or magma. |
| scientific method | A systematic method of inquiry that includes the identification of a specific question or problem, the accumulation of the available data and information relating to that question, the proposal of a tentative answer or solution to the question or problem, the conduct of methodical observations or experiments to test the proposed answer, and the rational interpretation of the results of the observations or experiments. |
| inventorying | Gathering data needed for analyses and evaluation of the status or condition of a specific universe or area of concern. |
| algicide | substance or chemical used specifically to kill or control algae. |
| solifluction | The slow downhill flow or creep of soil and other loose materials that have become saturated. |
| sludge | solid matter that settles to the bottom of sedimentation tanks in a sewage treatment plant and must be disposed of by digestion or other methods or recycled to the land. |
| inert | without active chemical, physiological or other properties; neutral. |
| bole | Trunk of a tree. |
| ditch | A long narrow trench or furrow dug in the ground, as for irrigation, drainage, or a boundary line. |
| sinking | (Environmental) Controlling oil spills by using an agent to trap the oil and sink it to the bottom of the body of water where the Sinking Agent and the oil are biodegraded. |
| damp | Slightly wet; somewhat moist or wet. |
| snow line | (1) The general altitude to which the continuous snow cover of high mountains retreats in summer, such as the Snowcap of a mountain, chiefly controlled by the depth of the winter snowfall and by the summer temperature |
| circulation | The flow or motion of a fluid in or through a given area or volume |
| groundwater recharge | the inflow to a ground water reservoir. |
| sodium adsorption ratio | An expression of relative activity of sodium ions in exchange reactions with soil, indicating the sodium or alkali hazard to soil |
| barrier bar | an elongate offshore ridge submerged at least at high tide, built up by the action of waves or currents. |
| unconfined aquifer | An aquifer containing water that is not under pressure; the water level in a well is the same as the water table outside the well |
| clarifier | :A tank in which solids settle to the bottom and are subsequently removed as sludge. |
| jar test | A laboratory test procedure with differing chemical doses, mix speeds, and settling times, to estimate the minimum or ideal coagulant dose required to achieve water quality goals. |
| filling | Depositing dirt, mud or other materials into aquatic areas to create more dry land, usually for agricultural or commercial development purposes, and frequently with ruinous ecological consequences |
| flotage | See Flotation. |
| spa | (1) A resort providing therapeutic baths |
| zwitter ions | Act as cations or as anions according to the environment in which they find themselves |
| endangerment assessment | A study to determine the nature and extent of contamination at a site on the National Priorities List and the risks posed to public health or to the environment |
| extirpate | to exterminate from a part of a species' range |
| flat coating | a paint or varnish that registers a gloss of less than 15 on an 85-degree meter or less than 5 on a 60-degree meter. |
| volcano | An opening in the earth's crust through which steam and lava are forced out. |
| prostration | Extreme physical weakness or exhaustion. |
| neritic zone | The relatively shallow water zone that extends from the high tide market to the edge of the Continental Shelf |
| buff | Yellowish-brown; medium or dark tan. |
| population | a collection of individuals of one species or mixed species making up the residents of a prescribed area. |
| direct runoff | the runoff entering stream channels promptly after rainfall or snowmelt. |
| pore space | That portion of rock or soil not occupied by solid mineral matter and which may be occupied by ground water. |
| turbidity | a cloudy condition in water due to suspended silt or organic matter. |
| annulus pressure | The positive pressure maintained by a fluid introduced between the well piping and the outer wall (casing) of the borehole of an underground Injection Well providing an indication of the integrity of the well. |
| concentration | amount of a chemical or pollutant in a particular volume or weight of air, water, soil, or other medium. |
| bottom land | See flood plain. |
| water demand schedule | A time distribution of the demand for prescribed quantities of water for specified purposes |
| caecilian | A type of amphibian that is blind, legless and shaped like a worm. |
| drifting snow | Snow particles blown from the ground by the wind to a height of less than six feet. |
| cypress knees | Part of a cypress tree's root system that juts out of the ground, extending above the high water mark. |
| colloidal | A suspension of finely divided particles in a dispersing medium; particles do not rapidly settle out of suspension and are not readily filtered. |
| natural levee | a long, broad, low ridge built by a stream on its flood plain along one or both banks of its channel in time of flood. |
| return flow | Irrigation water applied to an area which is not consumed in evaporation or transpiration and returns to a surface stream or ground water aquifer. |
| cartographer | A map maker |
| understory | a foliage layer lying beneath and shaded by the main canopy of a forest. |
| water supplier | one who owns or operates a public water system. |
| break | (1) To emerge above the surface of the water |
| heat exchangers | Any mechanical device designed to transfer heat energy from one medium to another |
| oxidation | A chemical reaction in which ions are transferring electrons, to increase positive valence. |
| aw | Applied Water |
| sustainability | the long-term capacity of an ecosystem to maintain ecological processes and functions, biological diversity, and productivity. |
| nekton | Macroscopic organisms swimming actively in water, such as fish |
| threatened | a species likely to become endangered |
| soi | an indicator based on the pressure gradient between the quasi-stationary low pressure region over Indonesia and the centre of the subtropical high pressure cell over the eastern Pacific Ocean |
| cured-in-place | A pipe rehabilitation system in which a flexible lining (either epoxy resin or polyester resin) is inserted into an existing sewer and heat cured |
| parts per million | A volume unit of measurement; the number of parts of a substance in a million parts of another substance |
| leucistic | A pure white animal with dark eyes. |
| dew point | The temperature to which air must be cooled at a constant pressure to become saturated. |
| bar screen | in wastewater treatment, a device used to remove large solids from the incoming wastewater stream. |
| water column | an imaginary column extending through a water body from its floor to its surface |
| aggradation | A progressive buildup or raising of the channel bed and floodplain due to sediment deposition |
| particulate matter | Very small, separate particles composed of organic or inorganic matter. |
| loam | A soil consisting of a friable mixture of varying proportions of clay, silt, and sand. |
| herbivore | an animal that consumes plants |
| toxemia | An abnormal condition associated with the presence of toxic substances in the blood. |
| giardia lamblia | a protozoa found in the feces of infected humans and animals that can cause severe gastrointestinal ailments |
| ph | The negative log of the hydrogen ion concentration (-log10 [H+] ); a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, numerically equal to 7 for neutral solutions, increasing with increasing alkalinity and decreasing with increasing acidity |
| ozone | A nearly colorless gas and a form of oxygen (O2) |
| clean lakes program | Federal program evolved from Section 314 of the Clean Water Act. |
| rainfall intensity-duration curve | A curve showing the relationship between average rainfall or precipitation depth (or the rate) and storm duration in a given area. |
| arch-gravity structure | A structure which derives its resistance to the pressure of water from both an arching effect and its own weight. |
| vent | The connection and piping through which gases enter and exit a piece of equipment. |
| sediment interception | a sediment management activity by which most of the soil introduced into suspension is contained within the isolated area of a work site, where it can settle or otherwise be removed |
| teratogenic | Causing birth defects. |
| oxidation | Loss of an electron by an atom, ion, or molecule; an increase in the oxidation state. |
| hail | a form of precipitation which forms into balls or lumps of ice over 0.2 inch in diameter |
| katabatic wind | A wind that is created by air flowing downhill |
| understory | Plants growing beneath the canopy of other plants |
| water column | (see hydrophobic). |
| aurora | It is created by the radiant energy emission from the sun and its interaction with the earth's upper atmosphere over the middle and high latitudes |
| circulate | to move in a circle, circuit or orbit; to flow without obstruction; to follow a course that returns to the starting point. |
| boreal | Of or relating to the north. |
| ea | Energy & Atmosphere section |
| septic tank absorption field | A soil absorption system for sewage disposal, consisting of a subsurface tile system laid in such a way that effluent from the septic tank is distributed with reasonable uniformity into the natural soil. |
| local heat island effect | the incidence of higher air and surface temperatures caused by the absorption of solar energy and its reemission from roads, buildings and other structures. |
| maximum thermometer | An instrument used to measure the highest temperature since its last setting |
| wisconsin | (Geology) Of or relating to one of the glacial stages of the Pleistocene epoch which occurred in North America, which consisted of the Nebraskan (first stage), Kansan (second stage), Illinoian (third stage), and Wisconsin (fourth stage). |
| varve | (Geology) (1) A layer or series of layers of sediment deposited in a body of still water in one year |
| scs | Scientific Certification Systems |
| nonpoint source | source of pollution in which wastes are not released at one specific, identifiable point but from a number of points that are spread out and difficult to identify and control |
| ecdysis | The shedding of scales is called ecdysis, or, in normal usage molting or sloughing |
| groundwater hydrology | the branch of hydrology that deals with groundwater; its occurrence and movements, its replenishment and depletion, the properties of rocks that control groundwater movement and storage, and the methods of investigation and utilization of ground water. |
| stream gradient | A general slope or rate of change in vertical elevation per unit of horizontal distance of the bed, water surface, or energy grade of a stream. |
| model ordinance | A sample regulation that contains elements and language necessary to achieve a desired effect. |
| hyetal | Of or relating to rain or rainy regions. |
| ice pack | (1) A large area of floating pieces of ice driven together more or less closely |
| irrigation water use | Artificial application of water on lands to assist in the growing of crops and pastures or to maintain vegetative growth on recreational lands, such as parks and golf courses. |
| loreal pit | is the deep depression, or fossa, in the loreal area on either side of the head in crotaline snakes (pitvipers) |
| mesic | Refers to environmental conditions that have medium moisture supplies as compared to wet conditions (Hydric) or dry conditions (Xeric). |
| mudslide | A condition where there is a river, flow or inundation of liquid mud down a hillside usually as a result of a dual condition of loss of brush cover, and the subsequent accumulation of water on the ground preceded by a period of unusually heavy or sustained rain |
| nonthreshold pollutant | substance or condition harmful to a particular organism at any level or concentration. |
| puddle | a small pool of water, usually a few inches in depth and from several inches to several feet in its greatest dimension. |
| skid | Short-distance moving of logs or felled trees along the surface of the ground from the stump to the point of loading. |
| aerobic | Any biological process occurring in the presence of molecular oxygen (O2); also applicable to organisms requiring oxygen for survival. |
| blackwater | wastewater from toilet, latrine, and agua privy flushing and sinks used for food preparation or disposal of chemical or chemical-biological ingredients. |
| indicator organisms | microorganisms, such as coliforms, whose presence is indicative of pollution or of more harmful microorganism. |
| arboreal | Pertaining to animals that live primarily in trees and shrubs. |
| chlorinated solvent | An organic solvent containing chlorine atoms that is often used as aerosol spray container, in highway paint, and dry cleaning fluids. |
| disaster area | An area that officially qualifies for emergency governmental aid as a result of a catastrophe, such as an earthquake or a flood. |
| mutation | An abnormal gene that under certain circumstances can cause an animal to be born with an appearance other than wild-type. |
| triploid | having three sets of chromosomes per cell instead of the usual two sets |
| usda | U.S |
| sound | A narrow body of water separating an island from the mainland. |
| top of bank | The break in slope between the bank and the surrounding terrain. |
| debris flow | A rapid moving mass of rock fragments, soil, and mud, with more that half of the particles being larger that sand size. |
| lichen | The common name for any member of the group Lichenes, occurring as fungal and algae cells in symbiotic union and growing in various forms of rocks or trees. |
| monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon | Organic compound containing one carbon and one hydrogen and consisting of one ring in the molecular structure. |
| biogas | Methane gas produced during the Anaerobic decomposition of the remains of plants or animal wastes by bacteria. |
| ozone layer depletion | The destruction of Ozone molecules in the Ozone Layer of the Stratosphere by chemical reactions with materials released by human activities |
| boulder | Rock fragments larger than 60.4 cm (24 inches) in diameter. |
| seasonal or intermittent streams | Streams which flow only at certain times of the year when it receives water from springs, rainfall, or from surface sources such as melting snow |
| fetch | The open area and distance across a body of water in which wind can exert energy on waves to increase their strength of impact on the shoreline. |
| co-permittee | A permittee to a NPDES permit that is only responsible for permit conditions relating to the discharge for which it is operator. |
| aromatics | A type of hydrocarbon that contains a ring structure, such as benzene and toluene |
| interface | in hydrology, the contact zone between two fluids of different chemical or physical makeup. |
| arch dam | Curved masonry or concrete dam, convex in shape upstream, that depends on arch action for its stability; the load or water pressure is transferred by the arch to the Abutments |
| subsurface drainage | (1) The process of directing excess water away from the root zones of plants by natural or artificial means, such as by using a system of pipes and drains placed below ground surface level |
| hydrologic study area | See Hydrologic Regions [California]. |
| coriolis effect | (Climatology and Oceanography) The Coriolis effect, named for French physicist Gaspard Coriolis (1792-1843), is an imaginary force that appears to be exerted on an object moving within a rotation system |
| solute transport | The movement of dissolved substances through a Hydrogeologic Unit. |
| scheduled delivery | Operation of a water delivery system to meet predetermined needs, generally based on user water orders |
| land spreading | The disposal of solid effluents derived from wastewater treatment facilities on the surface of the ground for dilution or dispersal. |
| hydrometric network | Network of stations at which measurement of hydrological parameters is performed. |
| hatch box | A device used to incubate relatively small numbers of eggs |
| mean high tide | the average altitude of all high tides recorded at a given place over a 19-year period. |
| brink | (1) The upper edge of a steep or vertical slope |
| c.b. | This term is used to refer to reptiles and amphibians that were born or hatched in captivity |
| resource | A person, thing, or action needed for living or to improve the quality of life. |
| rugosity | A term used to indicate the degree of roughness of a test-well caused by drilling and subsequent wash-outs |
| cone of depression | natural depression in the water table around a well during pumping. |
| heavy water reactor | A nuclear reactor that uses heavy water as its moderator |
| riparian vegetation | Plants adapted to moist growing conditions found along waterways and shorelines |
| draw | To cause to flow forth as a pump drawing water. |
| farm delivery requirement | The Crop Irrigation Requirement plus farm losses due to evaporation, deep percolation, surface waste, and nonproductive consumption |
| channel | U shaped section of the pipe within the manhole, where sewage flows through a hand formed pipe on the bottom half of a pipe |
| molecular weight | The sum of the atomic weights of the atoms in a molecule |
| compaction | A physical change in soil properties that result in an increase in soli bulk density and a decrease in Porosity |
| piezometric head | Synonymous with Hydraulic Head, which is now commonly used. |
| nipdwr | National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations. |
| parameter | Information used as input to a water quality model or estimated by a water quality model |
| herbicide | A type of pesticide designed to kill plants. |
| immiscibility | The inability of two or more solids or liquids to readily dissolve into one another. |
| lotic-adapted species | species for which all or part of their life history is dependent on flowing water. |
| monsoon | (1) A wind system that influences large climatic regions and reverses direction seasonally |
| carcinogenic | Cancer causing. |
| appropriately qualified professional | see Qualified Professional. |
| contaminate | To make impure or unclean by contact or mixture. |
| volatile organic compounes | a group of chemicals that react in the atmosphere with nitrogen oxides, heat and sunlight to form ozone; VOCs are referred to as hydrocarbons. |
| ozone generator | A device that generates ozone by passing a voltage through a chamber that contains oxygen |
| soil horizon | a layer of soil that is distinguishable from adjacent layers by characteristic physical and chemical properties. |
| electrofishing | a biological collection method that uses electric current to facilitate capturing fishes. |
| stone | Rock or rock fragments used for construction. |
| canceled water right | A water right that is invalidated due to the failure of the water right holder to comply with the terms and conditions of the permit |
| vestigial | Remaining in a species only in a much reduced or useless state |
| scattering | The process by which small particles suspended in the air diffuse a portion of the incident radiation in all directions |
| freshwater marsh | A Circumneutral Ecosystem of more or less continuously water-logged soil dominated by emersed herbaceous plants, but without a surface accumulation of peat. |
| productivity | the rate of accumulation of organic material in an ecosystem or the rate of change in the physical agricultural production of a unit of land, as described by yield (tonnes/ha) per year |
| mesoclimate | The climate of small areas of the earth's surface; it may not be representative of the general climate of the district; intermediate in scale between Macroclimate and Microclimate |
| vernal pool | a small lake or pond that is filled with water for only a short time during the spring. |
| wild-type | The way the animal usually looks in nature (i.e |
| species | One or more animals which closely resemble one another |
| 100-year 24-hour design | This design criteria is used for determining storm sewer size, and assumes 5.9" falling in 24 hours in a SCS Type II storm event. |
| irrigation frequency | Time interval between irrigations. |
| wicket | A sluice gate for regulating the amount of water in a millrace or a canal or for emptying a lock. |
| intangible flood damage | Estimated damage done by disruption of business, danger to public health, shock, loss of life, and other factors not directly measurable. |
| flood plain | A strip of relatively flat land bordering a stream channel that is inundated at times of high water. |
| mass movement | (Geology) The downslope movement of a portion of the land's surface (i.e., a single landslide or the gradual downhill movement of the whole mass of loose earth material) on a slope face |
| water wave | Water waves provide one of the most important mechanisms for transporting energy from one point to another on the sea surface |
| interdentum | a flattened area between the pseudocardinal and lateral teeth |
| sheet piling | Material, typically concrete or steel, placed vertically in the ground to contain erosion or the lateral movement of groundwater. |
| irrigation lateral | A branch of a main canal conveying water to a farm ditch; sometimes used in reference to farm ditches. |
| assemblage | an organism group of interacting species in a given ecosystem, for example, a fish assemblage or a benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage. |
| super | Commonly used herpetocultural term for the dominant form of a co-dominant mutation. |
| bypassing | movement of sand from the accreting updrift side of a structure, inlet or harbour entrance to the eroding downdrift side. |
| lagoon | a shallow pond where sunlight, bacterial action, and oxygen work to purify wastewater |
| aquarius | (1) A constellation in the equatorial region of the Southern Hemisphere near Pisces and Aquila also referred to as the Water Bearer |
| ligament | a group of tough, fibrous tissues that are attached to the shell of a bivalve mollusk and which expand and contract to open and close the shell |
| flow meter | a gauge indicating the velocity and/or volume of a flowing liquid. |
| contamination | Degradation of water quality compared to original or natural conditions due to human activity. |
| edwards outcrop | where the Edwards and associated limestone formations are found at the surface |
| cyclone | An area of closed pressure circulation with rotating and converging winds, the center of which is a relative pressure minimum |
| kansan | (Geology) Of or relating to one of the glacial stages of the Pleistocene epoch which occurred in North America, which consisted of the Nebraskan (first stage), Kansan (second stage), Illinoian (third stage), and Wisconsin (fourth stage). |
| evaporation | the changing of water to water vapor |
| cosmetic solution | Acting upon symptoms or given conditions without correcting the actual cause of the symptoms or conditions. |
| saprobe | An organism that feeds on non-living organic matter. |
| erosion | The movement of soil or rock from one area to another by the action of the sea, running water, moving ice, precipitation, or wind. |
| aphotic | Defined as without light (Dark zone) |
| hydrothermal reservoir | One of three geothermal reservoir systems |
| sky | The vault-like apparent surface against which all aerial objects are seen from the earth. |
| ablation | The process by which ice and snow waste away as a result of melting and/or evaporation. |
| taxon | Any identifiable group of taxonomically related organisms. |
| snow crust | The crisp, almost icy, surface on fallen snow, usually formed by the slight melting and refreezing of the surface snow. |
| microsystem irrigation | Method of precisely applying irrigation water to the immediate root zone of the target plant at very low rates. |
| irrigation water | water which is applied to assist crops in areas or during times where rainfall is inadequate. |
| kieselguhr | A fine, powdered diatomaceous earth used in industry as a filler, a filtering agent, and absorbent, a clarifier, and an insulator |
| heavy water | water in which all the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by deuterium. |
| hydric soil | A soil that, in its undrained condition, is saturated, flooded, or ponded long enough during the growing season to develop Anaerobic conditions that favor the growth and regeneration of hydrophytic vegetation (Hydrophytes). |
| nonrenewable resources | Natural resources that do not naturally replenish themselves within the limits of human time |
| confluence | (1) The act of flowing together; the meeting or junction of two or more streams or rivers; also, the place where these streams meet |
| axanthic | Having no yellow color. |
| ridge-till | The leaving of the soil undisturbed from harvest to planting except for nutrient injection |
| driftage | (1) (Nautical) Deviation from a set course caused by drifting |
| phreatophytes | plants that send their roots into or below the capillary zone to use ground water. |
| confined aquifer | A water-bearing subsurface stratum that is bounded above and below by formations of impermeable soil or rock. |
| irrigated acreage | The land area that is irrigated, which is equivalent to total irrigated crop acreage minus the amount of acreage that was double cropped. |
| manning's equation | an empirical equation used to estimate the average hydraulic conditions of flow within a channel cross section. |
| shear | It is the rate of change over a short duration |
| aerated lagoon | a holding and/or treatment pond that speeds up the natural process of biological decomposition of organic waste by stimulating the growth and activity of bacteria that degrade organic waste. |
| mixed media filtration | A system using two or more dissimilar granular materials (such as anthracite, sand and garnet) blended by size and density |
| arsenate | An inorganic form of oxidised arsenic (As5+). |
| snow roller | The product of moist, cohesive snow that when initiated by wind rolls across the landscape, gathering snow until it can no longer move |
| brackish | mixed fresh and salt water. |
| foreshore | (1) The part of a shore that lies between high and low watermarks |
| firm capacity | For public drinking water supplies, the system delivery capacity with the largest single water well or production unit out of service. |
| litmus paper | An unsized white paper impregnated with Litmus and used as a Ph or acid-base indicator. |
| cascade | A short, steep drop in streambed elevation often marked by boulders and agitated white water. |
| continental air mass | An air mass with continental characteristics |
| plateau | A plateau is a large, flat area of land that is higher than the surrounding land. |
| hard water | Water high in multivalent cations, such as calcium and magnesium |
| cryptomonads | A group of brown colored flagellate algae, very common in the phytoplankton. |
| partial pressure | In a mixture of gases, the pressure exerted by each gas independently of the other gases. |
| settling velocity | (Water Quality) The rate of downward movement of particles through water |
| arithmetic growth | (Statistics) A rate of increase (or decrease) by a constant amount per time period, for example a population increase of X persons per year, year after year |
| slump | The sliding or gravitational movement of an overlying layer of soil, typically from becoming saturated, and lying on a rock layer or other relatively impermeable layer. |
| acls | Alternative Concentration Limits. |
| sediment | The organic material that is transported and deposited by wind and water. |
| capillary fringe | (1) The zone at the bottom of the Zone of Aeration (Vadose Zone) where ground water is drawn upward by capillary force |
| celestial equator | The projection of the plane of the geographical equator upon the celestial sphere. |
| jetty | a structure (as a pier or mole of wood or stone) extending into a sea, lake, or river to influence the current or tide or to protect a harbor. |
| neutralization | raising the pH of an acidic material or lowering the pH of an alkaline material to a nearly neutral pH level (7) Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) |
| clarity | The transparency of a water column |
| bathtub | A large tub to bathe in. |
| chevron | a V-shaped marking |
| gill rakers | Finger-like processes on the gill arches in fishes and larval amphibians. |
| theodolite | An optical instrument used to track the motion of a pilot balloon, or pibal, by measuring the elevation and azimuth angles. |
| cenozoic | 1 |
| forbs | Term for any plant that is not a grass. |
| u-factor | a measure of thermal conductivity that is the inverse of R-value, often used to measure the performance of windows |
| base runoff | Sustained or fair weather runoff |
| lake | Any inland body of standing water, usually fresh water, larger than a pool or pond; a body of water filling a depression in the earth's surface. |
| tailings | The waste material remaining after metal is extracted from ore. |
| parasite | An animal that lives inside another plant or animal living off that plant or animals nutrients |
| priority date | the date of establishment of a water right |
| cold wave | A rapid fall in temperature within twenty-four hours to temperatures requiring substantially increased protection to agriculture, industry, commerce, and social activities |
| channel | A groove in the land that a river flows along. |
| gravity irrigation | (1) Irrigation in which the water is not pumped but flows and is distributed by gravity, includes sprinkler systems when gravity furnishes the desired head (pressure) |
| upstream control | Control structure adjustments based on information from upstream |
| volcanic water | Juvenile Water (new water) furnished by lava flows and volcanic activity. |
| net water use | Refers to water withdrawals plus or minus water transfers |
| filtrate | liquid that has been passed through a filter. |
| cec | Cation Exchange Capacity |
| cce | Carbon - Chloroform Extract |
| wilderness study area | An area possessing wilderness characteristics as defined in the Wilderness Act, an identified pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 |
| floodwater retarding structure | A structure providing for temporary storage of floodwater and for its controlled releases. |
| artesian well | a water well drilled into a confined aquifer where enough hydraulic pressure exists for water rise in the well to a height above the top of the aquifer in the subsurface |
| toxin | A poisonous substance |
| phalanges | The bones of the fingers or toes. |
| geostrophic wind | A steady horizontal motion of air along straight, parallel isobars or contours in an unchanging pressure or contour field |
| ecosystem management | A strategy or plan to manage ecosystems to provide for all associated organisms, as opposed to a strategy or plan for managing individual species. |
| reforestation | The natural or artificial restocking of an area with forest trees. |
| meter | A unit of length which constitutes the basis of the Metric System, was intended to be, and is very nearly, one ten-millionth part of the distance measured on a meridian of the earth from the equator to the pole, being equal to 39.37 U.S |
| oxalates | When Oxalic Acid combines with calcium, iron, sodium, magnesium, or potassium it forms salt crystals called Oxalates |
| effluent guidelines | Technical U.S |
| best practice | an agreed standard of practice that conforms with an internationally agreed set of standards |
| colloids | Matter of very small particle size, in the range of 10-5 to 10-7 in diameter. |
| weathering | the process by which particles, rocks and minerals are altered upon exposure to surface temperatures and pressure, air, water, wind and biological activity Wetland |
| face | The external surface of a structure, such as the surface of an appurtenance or a dam. |
| debris torrent | Rapid movement of a large quantity of materials (wood and sediment) down a stream channel during storms or floods |
| conjunctive operation | The operation of a ground water basin in combination with a surface water storage and conveyance system |
| lakes | ponds and reservoirs. |
| fragmentation | division into smaller sections that often have no connections |
| carbonate aquifer | An aquifer found in limestone and dolomite rocks |
| reservoir capacity | The storage capacity available in a reservoir for all purposes, from the stream bed to the normal maximum operating level |
| surface tension | A phenomenon caused by a strong attraction towards the interior of the liquid action on liquid molecules in or near the surface in such a way to reduce the surface area |
| environmental impact statement | A formal document to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency that considers significant environmental impacts expected from implementation of a major federal action. |
| anthropogenic | Involving the impact of man on nature; induced, caused, or altered by the presence and activities of man, as in water and air pollution. |
| rational method | A simple procedure for calculating the direct precipitation peak runoff from a watershed, using the rainfall intensity, the area of the watershed, and the runoff coefficient appropriate for the type of watershed runoff surface. |
| stratum | A horizontal layer or section. |
| national strike force | An organization under the leadership of the U.S |
| chelate | A ligand having more than one atom with a lone pair that can be used to bind a metal ion. |
| physiographic province | (Geography) A region of similar structure and climate that has had a unified Geomorphic history. |
| xenotime | A phosphate mineral which occurs in some igneous rocks (YPO4). |
| chemist | A person who specializes or works in chemistry. |
| pogonip | A term used in the Western United States denoting a dense winter fog containing frozen particles, formed in the deep valleys of the Sierra Nevada. |
| api | Antecedent Precipitation Index. |
| normalized demand | The process of adjusting actual water use in a given year to account for unusual events such as dry weather conditions, government interventions for agriculture, rationing programs, or other anomalies. |
| benthic deposits | Bottom accumulations which may contain bottom-dwelling organisms and/or contaminants in a lake, harbor, or stream bed. |
| organic | any chemical containing the element carbon overdraft - condition that occurs in a groundwater basin when pumping exceeds the amount of replenishment over a period of years ozone - a gas that is bubbled through water to kill germs |
| biomonitoring | a test used to evaluate the relative potency of a chemical by comparing its effect on a living organism with the effect of a standard population on the same type of organism. |
| ecology | The study of the interrelationships of living organisms to one another and to their surroundings. |
| total soil water potential | The work per unit quantity of pure water that has to be done to change its energy status to that of soil water at the point under consideration |
| acid rain | Rain that has a flamboyantly low pH, due to contact with atmospheric pollutants such as sulphuric oxides. |
| cumulus clouds | A principal cloud type characterized by vertical development; usually isolated with a dark, nearly horizontal base and upper parts resembling domes or towers and usually formed by the ascent of thermally unstable air masses |
| critical dry period | As a general definition, describes a series of water-deficient years, usually a historical period, in which a full reservoir storage system at the beginning is drawn down to minimum storage at the end without any spill. |
| benthic | Living in or on the bottom of a body of water. |
| reverse osmosis | a water treatment method whereby water is forced through a semipermeable membrane which filters out impurities. |
| farm efficiency | The consumptive Crop Irrigation Requirement (CIR) divided by the farm water delivery. |
| evaporation | The process by which a liquid changes to a vapour. |
| polyandrous | When one female mates with two or more males. |
| alum | Common name for commercial-grade Aluminum Sulfate |
| spoil | overburden or other waste material removed in mining, quarrying, dredging, or excavating. |
| drainage | the interception and/or removal of surface and/or groundwater from a given area by natural or artificial means |
| tufa | (Geology) The calcareous and siliceous rock deposits of springs, lakes, or ground water |
| gallon | A unit of volume |
| aqueous solubility | The maximum concentration of a chemical that dissolves in a given amount of water. |
| monazite | A rare earth phosphate mineral ((Ce,La, Y, Th)PO4) mineral which is common both as minor mineral component in granites and is also common in mineralised lodes in south-west England |
| anaerobic | A process that takes place in the absence of oxygen, such as the digestion of organic matter by bacteria in a UASB-reactor. |
| carbon | A nonmetallic element found in all organic substances and in some inorganic substances, as diamonds, coal, graphite, charcoal and lampblack. |
| cold vapor | method to test water for the presence of mercury. |
| hail | Precipitation that originates in convective clouds, such as cumulonimbus, in the form of balls or irregular pieces of ice, which comes in different shapes and sizes |
| outfall sewer | A sewer that receives wastewater from a collection system or from a treatment plant and conveys it to the point of final discharge. |
| hudson bay low | An area of low pressure over or near the Hudson Bay area of Canada that often introduces cold air to the north central and northeast United States. |
| bathtub effect | The accumulation of Leachate in a landfill containing a good liner, but not equipped with a leachate collection and removal system. |
| absolute zero | Considered to be the point at which theoretically no molecular activity exists or the temperature at which the volume of a perfect gas vanishes |
| concentration units | Express the amount of a chemical dissolved in water |
| index of biotic integrity | a multi-metric measure of biological condition developed from collection of data for fish or other organisms |
| protozoa | Small, one-celled animals including amoebae, ciliates, and flagellants. |
| perennial crops | Those plants that live and evapotranspire throughout the year (365 days). |
| acid-forming material | Material containing sulfide minerals or other materials, which if exposed to air, water, or weathering processes will form sulfuric acid that may create Acid Mine Drainage. |
| critical habitat | Under the Endangered Species Act, critical habitat is defined as(1) the specific areas within a geographic area occupied by a federally listed species on which are found physical and biological features essential to the conservation of the species, and that may require special management considerations or protections; and (2) specific areas outside the geographic area occupied by a listed species, when it is determined that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species. |
| osmotroph | An organism that obtains nutrients through the active uptake of soluble materials across the cell membrane |
| evapotranspiration | combination of evaporation and transpiration of water into the atmosphere from living plants and soil |
| extractable organics | (Water Quality) Organic chemical compounds that can be removed from a water sample by the solvent methylene chloride under conditions of pH greater than 11 or less than 2 |
| bachelor | an unmated male |
| lindane | a pesticide that causes adverse health effects when present in domestic water supplies and is toxic to freshwater fish and aquatic life. |
| cz | climate zone |
| downfall | A fall of rain or snow, especially a heavy or unexpected one. |
| closed combustion | a design for furnaces and water heaters in which the supply air is ducted from the outside and exhaust gases are ducted to the outdoors |
| acid precipitation | Atmospheric deposition (rain, snow and dryfall) that is composed of the hydrolyzed by-products from oxidized halogen, nitrogen, and sulfur substances |
| cover crop | A close-growing crop grown primarily for the purpose of protecting and improving soil between periods of regular crop production or between trees and vines in orchards and vineyards. |
| buffer strip | A barrier of permanent vegetation, either forest or other vegetation, between waterways and land uses such as agriculture or urban development, designed to interrupt and filter out pollution before it reaches the surface water resource. |
| straight-line winds | Any surface wind that is not associated with rotation |
| gasification | The process of combining coal with air (or pure oxygen) and steam to yield a gaseous product suitable for use either as a direct source of energy or as a raw material used in the synthesis of chemicals, liquid fuels, or other gaseous fuels. |
| confining layer | a body of impermeable or distinctly less permeable material stratigraphically adjacent to one or more aquifers that restricts the movement of water into and out of the aquifers. |
| leaching | The removal of soluble organic and inorganic substances from the topsoil downward by the action of percolating water. |
| archimedean screw | An ancient apparatus for raising water, consisting of either a spiral tube around an inclined axis or an inclined tube containing a tight-fitting, broad-threaded screw |
| waterfall | A sudden, nearly vertical drop in a stream, as it flows over rock. |
| limnetic | the deepwater zone (greater than 2 meters deep); a subsystem of the Lacustrine System of the U.S |
| sweet | Water that is pleasing to the senses; agreeable and not saline or polluted; drinkable; Potable. |
| nitrification | The oxidation of ammonia to nitrate and nitrite, yielding energy for decomposing organisms. |
| snow quality | The ratio of the weight of the ice within a snowpack to the total weight of the snowpack, usually expressed as a percentage. |
| id | Innovation in Design section |
| sparger | A device that introduces compressed air into a liquid. |
| hardpan | A hard impervious layer composed chiefly of clay or organic materials cemented by relatively insoluble materials, which does not become plastic when wet, and definitely limits the downward movement of water and roots. |
| unconfined | Conditions in which the upper surface of the Zone of Saturation forms a water table under atmospheric pressure. |
| on-site sewage treatment | any individual residential sewage treatment and wastewater dispersal system, such as a septic system. |
| arthropod | An invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton (external skeleton), a segmented body, and jointed appendages. |
| tidal marsh | low, flat marshlands traversed by channels and tidal hollows, subject to tidal inundation; normally, the only vegetation present is salt-tolerant bushes and grasses. |
| clammer or sheller | a person who harvests mussels |
| foreshore | Zone between the high water and low water marks. |
| infiltration | flow of water from the land surface into the subsurface. |
| stream bank failure | Collapse or slippage of a large mass of bank material into the channel caused by hydraulic or geotechnical modes or a combination of both. |
| altithermal | (Climatology) A period of time when it was much warmer than now, approximately 7,000-4,500 years before the present time |
| cfa | conditioned floor area |
| bernoulli's theorem | A statement of the conservation of energy for a steady, nonviscous, incompressible level flow |
| mesoscale | The scale of meteorological phenomena that range in size from several kilometers to around 100 kilometers |
| epithermal | A Hydrothermal mineral deposit formed within approximately one kilometer (0.6 mile) of the earth's surface and in the temperature range of 50°C (122°F) to 200°C (392°F). |
| arma | AutoRegressive Moving Average. |
| wilting point | The minimum quantity of water in a given soil necessary to maintain plant growth |
| volatile organic compounds | Any organic compound which evaporates readily to the atmosphere |
| weeper | A hole or pipe in a wall to allow water to run off. |
| pseudocardinal teeth | structures resembling teeth used in some species to hold the shell together |
| consolidation | (Soil Mechanics) Adjustment of a soil in response to increased load; involves squeezing of water from the pores and a decrease in void ratio (pore space) |
| spit | a small point or low tongue or narrow embankment of land having one end attached to the mainland and the other terminating in open water. |
| static | Pertaining to water stored in a tank but not under pressure. |
| fresh water | an increasingly popular way of providing fresh water to coastal populations. |
| bell holes | a bell-shaped hole dug beneath a pipeline to provide room for use of tools by workers. |
| econometrics | (Statistics) The application of statistical and mathematical methods to the analysis of economic data, with a purpose of giving empirical content to economic theories and verifying them or refuting them |
| natural control | A stream-gaging control which is natural to the stream channel, in contrast to an artificial control constructed by man. |
| isopoda | small but generally visible species flattened from top to bottom, common benthic and epibenthic invertebrates. |
| duckbill anchor | A short piece of steel tube, pointed at one end |
| land subsidence | The sinking or settling of land to a lower level in response to various natural and man-caused factors, for example:[1] earth movements;[2] lowering of fluid pressure (or lowering of ground water level);[3] removal of underlying supporting materials by mining or solution of solids, either artificially or from natural causes;[4] compaction caused by wetting (Hydrocompaction);[5] oxidation of organic matter in soils; or[6] added load on the land surface.With respect to ground water, subsidence most frequently results from overdrafts of the underlying water table or aquifer and its inability to fully recharge, a process termed Aquifer Compaction |
| vegetative controls | non-point source pollution control practices that utilize vegetative cover to reduce erosion and minimize loss of pollutants. |
| orogenic | (Geology) Pertaining to the process of mountain-building, especially by the folding of the earth's crust |
| hydraulic transient | (1) Interim stage when a flow changes from one steady-state condition to another steady-state condition because of a sudden acceleration or deceleration of flow |
| blue-listed | any native species, subspecies, or community that is considered to be vulnerable (of Special Concern) in British Columbia |
| parhelic circle | A luminous halo visible at the height of the sun and parallel to the horizon, caused by the sun's rays reflecting off atmospheric ice crystals |
| decant | To draw off the upper layer of liquid after the heaviest material (a solid or other liquid) has settled. |
| turbidity current | A current in which a limited volume of turbid or muddy water moves relative to surrounding water because of its greater density. |
| playa | a dry, flat area at the lowest part of an undrained desert basin in which water accumulates and is quickly evaporated; underlain by stratified clay, silt, or sand and commonly by soluble salts; term used in Southwestern United States. |
| host fish | one or more species of fish whose tissues and body fluids meet the developmental needs of a particular mussel species during its parasitic glochidial life stage |
| ice | The solid form of water. |
| methylcellulose | Any of various gummy products of cellulose methylation that swell in water and are used especially as emulsifiers, adhesives, thickeners, and bulk laxatives. |
| larva | The early form or first stage of an insect during its development. |
| pore pressure | Pressure exerted by fluid in the void space of soil or rock; the interstitial (pore) movement of water that may take place through a dam, its foundation, or its abutments. |
| agp | Algae Growth Potential |
| divergence | A meteorological condition characterized by the uniform expansion in volume of a mass of air over a region, usually accompanied by fair dry weather. |
| reach | A section of stream between two defined points. |
| detrital | (Geology) Clastic; rock and minerals occurring in sedimentary rocks that were derived from pre-existing igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rocks. |
| ogee | A reverse curve shaped like an elongated letter S |
| seacock | (Nautical) A valve in the hull of a boat or ship that may be opened to let in water so as to flood a ballast tank, for example. |
| aphotic zone | The zone in which most photosynthetic algae can not survive due to light deficiency. |
| fluoridation | The addition of a chemical to increase the concentration of fluoride ions in drinking water |
| critical sewers | The major sewers in a wastewater network that would result in the most significant consequences in the event of structural collapse. |
| ecosystem | a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit |
| impingement | occurs when an entrapped fish is held in contact with an intake screen and unable to escape. |
| bayesian inference | (Statistics) Bayes' theorem recognizes that a decision maker usually has some expectation (an a priori model) of what will occur even before acquiring information, and provides a procedure for using new evidence to produce a revised a posteriori estimate of probability |
| biennial reproduction | Having a two-year reproductive cycle. |
| capillary action | movement of water through very small spaces due to molecular forces called capillary forces. |
| experimental nonpoint source project | A scientific study designed primarily to document the effectiveness of specific nonpoint source pollution controls (BMPs) at reducing nonpoint source pollution |
| meteoric water | Ground water derived primarily from precipitation and the atmosphere. |
| mean annual runoff | The average value of all annual runoff amounts usually estimated from the period of record or during a specified base period from a specified area. |
| mist | (1) A mass of fine droplets of water in the atmosphere near or in contact with the earth; liquid particles measuring 40 to 500 microns, formed by condensation of vapor |
| derecho | A line of intense, widespread, and fast-moving thunderstorms that moves across a great distance |
| supply | a schedule that shows the various quantities of things offered for sale at various prices at a point in time |
| lacustrine | pertaining to, produced by, or formed in a lake. |
| rectify | (Chemistry) (1) To refine or purify, especially by distillation |
| longitude | Longitude is the angular distance east or west from the north-south line that passes through Greenwich, England, to a particular location |
| stoplogs | Large logs or timber or steel beams placed on top of each other with their ends held in guides on each side of a channel or conduit providing a temporary closure versus a permanent bulkhead gate. |
| mcl | The maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water delivered to any user of a public system |
| cape | A cape is a pointed piece of land that sticks out into a sea, ocean, lake, or river. |
| phenolphthalein alkalinity | The alkalinity in a water sample measured by the amount of standard acid needed to lower the pH to a level of 8.3 as indicated by the change of color of the phenolphthalein from pink to clear. |
| agricultural restructuring scenario | A term used to describe the sensitivity of agricultural water demand and farm marketing revenues to changes in certain cropping patterns. |
| spring | A place where water naturally seeps or gushes from the ground - often in marsh or bog areas |
| topography | Configuration of a surface including its relief and the position of its natural and man-made features. |
| pore | An opening in a membrane or medium that allows water to pass through. |
| industrial minerals | An industrial mineral is a geological material obtained by mining which is a non-metallic, non-fuel raw material of commercial value. |
| asbestos | A mineral fiber that can pollute air or water and cause cancer or Asbestosis when inhaled |
| intercalary cartilage | A phalanx-like cartilaginous element inserted between the ultimate and penultimate phalanges in the digits of the frog families. |
| hectare | 10,000 square meters, .405 acres |
| elutriate | To purify, separate, or remove by washing, decanting, and settling. |
| priority date | The date of establishment of a water right |
| tubercle | A small, rounded, discrete hump or bump in skin. |
| fluoridate | To add a fluorine compound to a drinking water supply, for example, for the purpose of reducing tooth decay, particularly in children |
| cut off | A channel cut across the neck of a bend, eliminating the bend. |
| supersaturate | (1) To cause (a chemical solution) to be more highly concentrated than is normally possible under given conditions of temperature and pressure |
| heavy metal | metallic element with relatively high atomic mass (over 5.0 specific gravity), such as lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury; generally toxic in relatively low concentrations to plant and animal life |
| salina | an area where deposits of crystalline salt are formed, such as a salt flat; a body of saline water, such as a saline playa or salt marsh. |
| environmental assessment | An environmental analysis prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that presents the first thorough examination of alternative plans to positively demonstrate that the environmental and social consequences of an applicable project or action were considered |
| concentration | the measure is useful because it corrects for temperature, salinity, and atmospheric pressure which influence the saturation level, a high deficit can be an indicator of a water quality problem. |
| paedomorphosis | Condition in which a larva becomes sexually mature without attaining the adult body form |
| watershed restoration | Improving current conditions of watersheds to restore degraded fish habitat and provide long-term protection to aquatic and riparian resources. |
| biomass | The total mass or amount of living organisms in a particular area or volume. |
| seasonality | (Statistics) Periodic, repetitive, and generally predictable patterns in time series data |
| shorebird | One of several families of often long-legged wading birds that inhabit the seacoast and shallow fresh-water bodies including sandpipers, stilts, killdeer, avocets, plovers and others. |
| frost | The covering of ice crystals that forms by direct sublimation on exposed surfaces whose temperature is below freezing. |
| thundercloud | A large dark cloud charged with electricity and producing thunder and lightning; A Cumulonimbus cloud |
| stratification | Division of an aquatic community into distinguishable layers on the basis of temperature. |
| sulfur dioxide | A colorless, irritating gas that is a primary cause of Acid Rain |
| wetlands management | The maintenance or modification of Wetlands to achieve desired functions. |
| dorsal scales | The dorsal scales cover the snake's back |
| dechlorination | The partial or complete reduction of residual chlorine in a liquid by any chemical or physical process |
| mitigation | actions taken during the planning, design, construction, and operation of a project to control, reduce or eliminate a potential adverse impact of a project. |
| biogeography | The study of the geographic distribution of organisms. |
| total sediment load | The sum of the Bed Load and the Suspended Sediment Load (Discharge). |
| biomass | plant material, such as trees, grasses and crops, that can be converted to heat energy to produce electricity. |
| water requirement | The total quantity of water, regardless of its source, required for production of crops at their normal growth under field conditions |
| het | high-efficiency toilet |
| hardpan | a shallow layer of earth material which has become relatively hard and impermeable, usually through the deposition of minerals |
| instream cover | overhanging or instream structure, such as tree roots, undercut streambanks, boulders, or aquatic vegetation that offer protection for aquatic organisms. |
| mixing zone | a limited volume of receiving water that is allocated for diluting a wastewater discharge without causing adverse effects to the overall water body. |
| nitrate | A chemical compound having the formula NO3- |
| infiltration | the penetration of water through the ground surface into sub-surface soil or the penetration of water from the soil into sewer or other pipes through defective joints, connections, or manhole walls. |
| compressed | flattened or pressed together laterally |
| dry vault | an on-line facility constructed of reinforced concrete underground to control the frequency of flooding downstream by limiting the peak runoff flow |
| silvics | (1) The science treating of the life of trees in the forest |
| saturation mixing ratio | The maximum water vapor concentration in the atmosphere for a given air temperature |
| skewness | Numerical measure of the lack of symmetry of an asymmetrical frequency distribution. |
| anaerobic | any process that can occur without oxygen; also applies to organisms that can survive without oxygen Analysis |
| langelier saturation index | an index reflecting the equilibrium pH of a water with respect to calcium and alkalinity; used in stabilizing water to control both corrosion and scale deposition. |
| hydrologic region | A study area, consisting of one or more planning subareas, that has a common hydrologic character. |
| ions | positive ions go through one membrane, while the negative ions flow through a different membrane, leaving the fresh water behind. |
| hyperplasia | A non-tumorous increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue with resulting enlargement of the affected area. |
| solvent | a substance that dissolves other substances to form a solution. Water dissolves more substances than any other and is known as the universal solvent. |
| dissolve | to enter into a solution divert - to direct a flow away from its natural course divide - a ridge or high area of land that separates one drainage basin from another drainage basin - all of the area drained by a river system drought - a prolonged period of below-average precipitation |
| embedded | enclosed firmly in a surrounding mass. |
| wave machine | A device used for converting the energy of ocean waves into electrical energy |
| pollution | Materials that are not supposed to be in the river make it dirty. |
| ozone | A pungent, colorless, toxic gas; one component of photochemical smog. |
| land farming | A technique for the controlled biodegradation of organic waste that involves the mixture of waste sludges with soil |
| concentric | having a common center |
| feedlot | A confined area for the controlled feeding of animals |
| ovulation | The discharge of an ovum from a vesicular follicle of the ovary; this usually occurs on the 14th day after the first day of the last menstrual period. |
| holding time | the maximum amount of time a sample may be stored before analysis. |
| sand | Small substrate particles, generally referring to particles less than 2 mm in diameter |
| vapor flow | The gaseous flow of water vapor in soils from a moist or warm zone of higher potential to a drier or colder zone of lower potential. |
| structural deformation | The distortion in walls of a tank after liquid has been added or removed. |
| gravitation | The mutual attraction between two masses of matter |
| combined sewer system | A one-pipe sewer system in which a single pipe collects both sewage and stormwater |
| density altitude | The altitude at which a given density is found in the standard atmosphere |
| lee | sheltered. |
| creeper | A grappling device for dragging bodies of water, such as lakes or rivers. |
| arc view | Desktop computer software program that allows viewing, manipulation, and printing of maps of lands and lakes |
| specific heat | the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a kilogram of a substance (water) by 1 degree Celsius. |
| boiling point | The temperature at which a liquid changes to a vaporous state |
| slope stability | The resistance of a natural or artificial slope or other inclined surface to failure by landsliding (mass movement). |
| cir | credit interpretation request |
| osmosis | The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane (allows passage of water but retards or prohibits passage of a solute) from the side with the lower solute concentration to the side with a higher solute concentration. |
| transport capacity | the capacity of a river to carry sediment in suspension or to move sediment along the riverbed. |
| ion exchange treatment | A common water-softening technique often found on a large scale at water purification plants that remove some organics and radium by adding calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide to increase the pH to a level where the metals will precipitate out. |
| ephemeral streams | Streams that flow only in direct response to precipitation and whose channel is at all times above the water table. |
| short circuiting | when some of the water in tanks or basins flows faster than the rest; shortcircuiting may result in shorter contact, reaction, or settling times than calculated or presumed. |
| armoring | (1) the natural process of forming an erosion-resistant layer of relatively large particles on the surface of the stream bed; (2) the artificial application of various materials to strengthen stream banks against erosion (see also revetment). |
| carbonates | Chemical compounds related to carbon dioxide. |
| pool | A reach of stream that is characterized by deep, low-velocity water and a smooth surface. |
| in-channel storage | Water storage volume in a canal above the minimum water level required for conveyance. |
| cape verde islands | A group of volcanic islands in the eastern Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa |
| gel | (Water Quality) A jellylike material formed by the coagulation of a colloidal suspension or sol. |
| hybrid | A crossbred animal |
| butt end | The bottom end of a cutting taken from a riparian plant that will root if planted in soil (it is opposite the budding tip's end of the cutting). |
| isodrosotherm | The line drawn on a weather map connecting points of equal dew point. |
| watershed | land area from which water drains toward a common watercourse in a natural basin. |
| environmental setting | Land area characterized by a unique combination of natural and human-related factors, such as row-crop cultivation or glacial-till soils. |
| radiotelemetry | a method of tracking the movements of a specific species. |
| anabranch | a secondary channel of a stream which leaves and then rejoins the main channel |
| lake | separated by the fairly thin thermocline zone, from the upper, warmer, less dense zone, the epilimnion. |
| unconfined aquifer | an aquifer that discharges and recharges with an upper surface that is the water table unsaturated zone - the subsurface zone, usually starting at the land surface and ending at the water table, that includes both water and air in spaces between rocks usable storage capacity - the quantity of groundwater of acceptable quality that can be economically withdrawn from storage |
| precipitate | An insoluble reaction product in an aqueous chemical reaction. |
| algae | simple rootless plants that grow in sunlit waters in proportion to the amount of available nutrients |
| return flow | surface water that returns to the natural environment after diversion for beneficial uses, such as for irrigation. |
| water surface elevation | the elevation of a water surface above or below an established reference level, such as sea level. |
| distillation | The separation of different substances in a solution by boiling off those of a lower boiling point first |
| headcutting | The action of a bedscarp or headward erosion of a locally steep channel or gully. |
| geographic information system | A computer information system that can input, store, manipulate, analyze, and display geographically referenced data to support the decision-making processes of an organization |
| air | This is considered the mixture of gases that make up the earth's atmosphere |
| extirpated | a wildlife species no longer existing in the wild in Canada, but occurring elsewhere. |
| gaging station | the site on a stream, lake or canal where hydrologic data is collected. |
| net rain | The portion of rainfall during a storm which reaches a stream as direct surface flow. |
| headcut | The development and upstream movement of a vertical or near-vertical change in bed slope, generally evident as falls or rapids |
| catchment | (1) The catching or collecting of water, especially rainfall |
| flooding problem | The disruption to community affairs, damage to property and facilities, and the danger to human life and health that occurs when land use is incompatible with the hydrologic-hydraulic system. |
| equilibrium condition | As used in the chemical sense, a state in which there are no changes in the relative concentrations of the chemical species present in a system |
| trash rack | A screen located at an intake fixture of a dam spillway or other such conduit to prevent the ingress of debris. |
| mandatory considerations | conditions which must be completed as designated and required in order to fulfill (often regulatory or legal) obligations. |
| receptacle load | the total demand on an electrical system from all power equipment. |
| grass/forb | An early forest successional stage where grasses and forbs are the dominant vegetation. |
| henry's law | A way of calculating the solubility of a gas in a liquid, based on temperature and partial pressure, by means of constants. |
| turbidity | A measure of non-transparency of water due to the presence of suspended matter. |
| plumes | The conspicuous feather or feathers of a bird. |
| fogbow | A whitish semicircular arc seen opposite the sun in fog |
| drag | To search or sweep the bottom of a body of water, as with a grappling hook or dragnet. |
| sediment load | The sediment transported through a channel by stream flow. |
| synthetic organic chemicals | man-made organic chemicals |
| static pressure | The pressure exerted by a still liquid or gas, especially water or air. |
| icefog | A fog of ice particles |
| duff layer | Organic matter in various stages of decomposition on the floor of the forest. |
| ground-water flow system | the underground pathway by which ground water moves from areas of recharge to areas of discharge. |
| metabolism | The chemical changes in living systems by which energy is provided for vital processes and activities and new material is assimilated. |
| 10-year 1-hour design | This design criteria is used for determining storm sewer size, and assumes 1.25" falling in 1 hour in a SCS Type II storm event. |
| source water | in its natural state, before any treatment for drinking. |
| glacier | A huge mass of ice, formed on land by the compaction and recrystallization of snow, that moves very slowly downslope or outward due to its own weight. |
| auto-qi | Automated Q-ILLUDAS. |
| bankfull channel width | The top surface width of a stream channel when flowing at a bank full discharge. |
| conservation area | Designated land where conservation strategies are applied for the purpose of attaining a viable plant or animal population. |
| organism abundance and condition | that portion of an Index of Biotic Integrity that is a metric measuring species abundance and condition, including proportion of individuals as hybrids and proportion of individuals with disease, tumors, physical damage, or physical anomalies. |
| hydrocarbons | chemical compounds that consist entirely of carbon and hydrogen; also referred to as volatile organic compound. |
| flocculation | The accumulation of destabilized particles and micro flakes, and subsequently the formation of sizeable flakes |
| ecosystem functions | Processes that are necessary for the self-maintenance of an Ecosystem such as primary production, nutrient cycling, decomposition, etc |
| glacial outwash | stratified detritus (chiefly sand and gravel) "washed out" from a glacier by meltwater streams and deposited in front of or beyond the end moraine or the margin of an active glacier. |
| recharge | refers to water entering an underground aquifer through faults, fractures, or direct absorption. |
| pollutant | Particles, gases, or liquid aerosols in the atmosphere which have an undesirable effect on humans or their surroundings |
| artesian water | groundwater that is under pressure and rises to the land surface when tapped by a well. |
| rating table | (1) A table showing the relation between two mutually dependent quantities or variables over a given range of magnitude |
| sublittoral | (1) Situated, occurring, or formed on the aquatic side of a shoreline or Littoral Zone |
| intake | opening through which a fluid is admitted into a container or conduit. |
| species composition | that portion of an Index of Biotic Integrity that is a metric measuring the number and identity of species. |
| assessment report | A comprehensive record of historical, existing and projected water quality conditions of a particular watershed. |
| ecosystem | the interacting system of a biological community and its non-living environmental surroundings; a complex system composed of a community of fauna and flora, taking into account the chemical and physical environment with which the system is interrelated. |
| hydrodynamics | The branch of science that deals with the dynamics of fluids, especially incompressible fluids, in motion. |
| organism | any form of animal or plant life. |
| active fault | A fault that has undergone movement in recent geologic time (the last 10,000 years) and may be subject to future movement |
| bank-full capacity | the rate of water flow that completely fills a channel; the flow rate at which the water surface is level with the flood plain. |
| red-listed | any indigenous species, subspecies, or plant community that is Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened in British Columbia. |
| villi | Tiny bumps on the skin surface |
| discharge coefficient | (Hydraulics) The ratio of actual rate of flow to the theoretical rate of flow through orifices, weirs, or other hydraulic structures. |
| fluid potential | The mechanical energy per unit mass of a fluid at any given point in space and time with respect to an arbitrary state and datum |
| phytoplankton | Free-floating, mostly microscopic aquatic plants. |
| storativity | The volume of water that a permeable unit, i.e., aquifer, will absorb or expel from storage per unit surface area per unit change in head |
| standard deviation | Statistical measure of the dispersion or scatter of a series of values |
| escherichia coli | A bacterial species which inhabits the intestinal tract of man and other warm-blooded animals |
| smart growth | various urban planning policies and land-use strategies that seek to provide the greatest benefit to the community and preserve the natural environment |
| reuse | Water that is discharged by one user and is used by other users |
| plastron | The ventral part of the turtle shell, consisting of a series of paired bones, overlain by series of laminae alternating with bones. |
| ef | energy factor |
| bcf | Bioconcentration Factor. |
| intervale | (New England) A tract of low-lying land, especially along a river. |
| filter cake | (1) The solids or semisolids deposited on a filter as a fluid is moved through it |
| retaining wall | A wall built to support or prevent the advance of a mass of earth or water. |
| base width | (1) The time interval between the beginning and end of the direct runoff produced by a storm |
| embryo | 1 |
| pathogen | agent causing disease |
| flood stage | The level of a river or stream where overflow onto surrounding areas can occur. |
| hydropower | electrical energy produced by falling water. |
| waterlogging | saturation of soil with irrigation water so the water table rises close to the surface. |
| food web | The complex intermeshing of individual food chains in an ecosystem. |
| fallow | a phase when land is not being actively cropped |
| lepidoptera | A large order of scaly-winged insects including the butterflies, skippers, and moths, often brightly colored and having a coiled sucking proboscis (Morris 1992). |
| cranberry | A sour, red berry grown on low bushes in bogs and swamps |
| freezing | the change of a liquid into a solid as temperature decreases |
| bar | an accumulation of alluvium (usually gravel or sand) caused by a decrease in sediment transport capacity on the inside of meander bends or in the center of an overwide channel. |
| shrubland | an area dominated by short, multi-stemmed plants; a typical example is the chenopod shrublands but sometimes the 'mallee' is classified as a shrubland (see chenopod shrubland) |
| rehydrate | To cause (something Dehydrated) to take up fluid. |
| alkalinity | a measure of the capacity of a solution to neutralize acids Anaerobic |
| pristine | (Ecology) No trace of human activities; landscape alterations from natural ecological processes only. |
| parasphenoid teeth | In amphibians, teeth actually borne by the parasphenoid bone itself. |
| vascular plant | Any of various plants, such as the ferns and seed-bearing plants, in which the phloem transports sugar and the xylem transports water and salts. |
| coastline | The shape or outline of a coast. |
| buffer strip | A barrier of permanent vegetation, either forest or other vegetation, between waterways and land uses such as agriculture or urban development, designed to intercept and filter out pollution before it reaches the surface water resource. |
| rodenticide | A pesticide or other agent used to kill rats and other rodents or to prevent them from damaging food, crops, or forage. |
| floodplain information reports | Reports prepared to provide local governmental agencies with basic technical data to assist in planning for wise use and development of their flood plains. |
| inguinal | The area on the underside in front of the hind legs |
| secchi disc | A circular plate, generally about 10-12 in (25.4-30.5 cm) in diameter, used to measure the transparency or clarity of water by noting the greatest depth at which it can be visually detected |
| noncontact recreation | recreational pursuits not involving a significant risk of water ingestion, including fishing, commercial and recreational boating, and limited body contact incidental to shoreline activity |
| committee | A group of persons chosen to complete certain work. |
| cpi | Consumer Price Index. |
| camp scar | Camp sites on wilderness and primitive lakes are easily recognized from the water surface and air by their lighter tone and barren character |
| ribonucleic acid | A class of nucleic acids characterized by the presence of the sugar ribose and the pyrimidine uracil; includes mRNA (messenger RNA), tRNA (transfer RNA), and rRNA (ribosomal RNA). |
| complexation | The combination of different atoms to form a new compound. |
| wet deposition | The introduction of acidic material to the ground or to surface waters by sulfuric and nitric acids dissolved in rainfall or snow |
| asbestosis | A disease associated with inhalation of Asbestos fibers |
| clarification | Clearing action that occurs during wastewater treatment when solids settle out |
| biennial plant | A plant that lives for two years, producing vegetative growth the first year, usually blooming and fruiting in the second year, and then dying. |
| detention | The process of collecting and holding back stormwater for delayed release to receiving waters. |
| void ratio | Ratio of volume of intergranular voids to volume of solid material in a sediment or sedimentary rock. |
| cv | Capital Value |
| geomorphic | pertaining to the form of the Earth or of its surface features. |
| contour furrows | Furrows plowed approximately on the contour on pasture and rangeland to prevent runoff and increase infiltration; also, furrows laid out approximately on the contour for irrigation purposes. |
| chuckhole | A rough hole in pavement, made by wear and weathering, more commonly referred to as Pothole. |
| mesohabitat | basic structural elements of a river or stream such as pools, backwaters, runs, glides, and riffles. |
| sandstorm | A strong wind carrying sand particles through the air |
| kwh | kilowatt-hour |
| rain gauge | An instrument used to measure the amount of rain that has fallen |
| whiteout | When visibility is near zero due to blizzard conditions or occurs on sunless days when clouds and surface snow seem to blend, erasing the horizon and creating a completely white vista. |
| watt-hour | An electrical energy unit of measure equal to one watt of power supplied to, or taken from, an electrical circuit steadily for one hour. |
| canal pool | Canal section between check structures |
| eer | energy efficiency rating |
| stocking rate | the number of animals carried per unit area of land on a year-long basis |
| metamorphic rock | Rock whose original compounds and textures have been transformed to new compounds and textures by reactions that occurred when the rock was subjected to high temperatures, high pressures, or both. |
| environmental assessment | The critical appraisal of the likely effects of a proposed project, activity, or policy on the environment, both positive and negative. |
| relative humidity | A type of humidity that considers the ratio of the actual vapor pressure of the air to the saturation vapor pressure |
| concrete-gravity structure | A type of concrete structure in which resistance to overturning is provided only by its own weight. |
| hemipenis | The copulatory organ of a male snake or lizard. |
| greenhouse effect | a popular term used to describe the role of atmospheric trace gases- water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone-in keeping the Earth's surface warmer than it would be otherwise; also known as enhanced greenhouse effect |
| topsoil | the top layer of soil; topsoil can grow better crops partly because it has more organic matter (humus), allowing it to hold more water than lower soil layers toxic - poisonous; harmful to living organisms transpiration - evaporation of water through the leaves of plants trihalomethanes, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene - organic compounds which may be harmful to health at certain levels in drinking water turbidity - the state of having sediment or foreign particles suspended or stirred up in water |
| mesa | Table land, flat in nature, moderately elevated, and well drained. |
| soil vapor survey | A non-invasive method for the detection of volatile or semivolatile organic contaminants in shallow subsurface soil |
| finite difference | a method of solving the governing equations of a numerical model by dividing the spatial domain into a mesh of nodes |
| elevation head | The potential energy in a hydraulic system, represented by the vertical distance between the hydraulic system (pipe, channel, etc.) and a reference level, and expressed in length units |
| caldera | a large, more or less circular, basin-shaped volcanic depression whose diameter is many times greater than the volcanic vent. |
| venomous | An animal that injects a toxin through fangs or a stinger, (as opposed to poisonous animals that need to be eaten or touched to be dangerous). |
| softening | The removal of calcium and magnesium from water to reduce hardness. |
| bittern | The bitter water solution of bromides, magnesium, and calcium salts remaining after sodium chloride is crystallized out of seawater. |
| drought | a prolonged period of less-than-normal precipitation such that the lack of water causes a serious hydrologic imbalance. |
| filling | Used in describing the history of a low pressure system or an area of cyclonic circulation, it means an increase in the central pressure of the system |
| cell | (Biology) The basic building block of all living matter |
| planning horizon | The overall time period considered in the planning process that spans all activities covered in or associated with the analysis or plan and all future conditions and effects or proposed actions which would influence the planning decisions. |
| saroc | San Antonio River Oversight Committee; a twenty-two member citizen committee appointed in 1998 to guide the planning and implementation of the San Antonio River Improvements Project. |
| thermograph | A self-registering thermometer which has a thermometric element consisting either of a bimetallic strip or a metal tube filled with alcohol or mercury, and makes an autographic record on a ruled chart wrapped around a clock-driven cylinder. |
| recurrence interval | the average interval of time within which the magnitude of a given event, such as a storm or flood, will be equaled or exceeded once. |
| non-contact cooling water | Water used for cooling which does not come into direct contact with any raw material, product, byproduct, or waste. |
| lactate | To secrete milk |
| carrying capacity | the maximum population size that can be supported indefinitely by a given environment, and can apply to any trophic level of organism (carnivore, herbivore, microbial, autotrophic, etc) |
| ecosystem | a local biological community and its pattern of interaction with its environment. |
| hemoglobin | The oxygen-carrying pigment of the erythrocytes, formed by the developing erythrocyte in the bone marrow |
| double heterozygous | Being heterozygous for two different traits. |
| carbon dioxide | A colorless, odorless, nonpoisonous gas, CO2, that forms Carbonic Acid when dissolved in water |
| community water system | A public water system that has at least 15 service connections for year-round residents or that serves at least 25 year-round residents. |
| osb | oriented-strand board |
| boiloff | The vaporization of liquid. |
| nps pollution | See Non-Point Source Pollution. |
| flood | an overflow or inundation that comes from a river or other body of water and causes or threatens damage |
| water-quality guidelines | Specific levels of water quality which, if reached, may adversely affect human health or aquatic life |
| suspended sediment | Sediment suspended in a fluid by the upward components of turbulent currents, moving ice, or wind. |
| tolerance | 1)The ability of a living thing to withstand adverse conditions, such as pest attacks, weather extremes, or pesticides |
| carbonate rock | (Geology) A rock consisting chiefly of carbonate minerals, such as limestone and dolomite. |
| irc | International Residential Code |
| wastewaters | sludges, liquid wastes or spent nuclear fuel, a shallow sound, channel or pond, near and generally connected to, a larger body of water. |
| holocene | (Geology) The present epoch of time, beginning about 10,000 years ago |
| sop | Standard Operating Procedure |
| unravel | The lose material from the edges of a revetment. |
| catalyze | To modify, especially to increase, the rate of a chemical reaction by Catalysis or the action of a Catalyst. |
| velocity head | Energy contained by fluid because of its velocity; usually expressed in feet of fluid (foot-pounds per pound). |
| revetment | A facing of stone, wood, or other natural materials placed on a bank as protection against wave action and currents. |
| vapor pressure | The pressure exerted by the molecules of a given vapor |
| cryoscope | An instrument used to measure the freezing point of a liquid. |
| backhoe | an excavator in which the bucket faces the operator and is pulled towards him. |
| photoautotroph | An organism which utilizes carbon dioxide (CO2) for cell growth and obtains its energy from the sun. |
| posterior end | the longer end of the shell as measured from the umbo; also considered the back end; also the end with the siphons, usually sticking above the stream bottom |
| karst | a type of topography that results from dissolution and collapse of carbonate rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum, and that is characterized by closed depressions or sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage. |
| continuous recorder | A device which measures stream flow levels on a continual basis. |
| newhall winds | The local name for winds blowing downward from desert uplands through the Newhall Pass southward into the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles. |
| condensation nuclei | A particle upon which condensation of water vapor occurs |
| interceptor sewer | very large sewer lines that collect the flow from main and trunk lines and carry them to treatment plants. |
| aqueous | (1) Relating to, similar to, containing, or dissolved in water; watery |
| specific conductance | a measure of the ability of a water to conduct an electrical current |
| striation | One of a number of parallel lines or scratches on the surface of a rock that were inscribed by rock fragments embedded in the base of a glacier as it moved across the rock. |
| grit | Dense inorganic matter, such as sand and gravel, present in water or sewage. |
| surface tension | The elastic-like force in a body, especially a liquid, tending to minimize, or constrict, the area of the surface. |
| metabolite | A substance produced in or by biological processes. |
| extant | in existence; still existing; not destroyed or lost. |
| yield | the quantity of water expressed either as a continuous rate of flow (cubic feet per second, etc.) or as a volume per unit of time |
| water use | whenever water is used by an activity or organism, either in the place it is found or by withdrawing it Watershed |
| inorganic | Matter other than plant or animal and not containing a combination of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, as in living things. |
| haze | Atmospheric moisture, dust, smoke, and vapor that diminishes visibility. |
| asce | American Society of Civil Engineers. |
| stagnation | lack of motion in water that holds pollutants in place. |
| salmonella typhosa | A waterborne microorganism which is the causative agent of typhoid fever. |
| mesosphere | The layer of the atmosphere located between the stratosphere and the ionosphere, where temperatures drop rapidly with increasing height |
| pelite | (Geology) A sedimentary rock composed of fine fragments, as of clay or mud. |
| polyestrus | Having more than one estrus cycle in a year |
| algal bloom | the rapid proliferation of passively floating, simple plant life, such as blue-green algae, in and on a body of water. |
| stratus | A low altitude cloud typically resembling a horizontal layer of fog |
| grade | The vertical alignment of a sewer. |
| windthrow | A tree or trees uprooted or felled by the wind. |
| subhumid climate | Regions where moisture in normally less than under humid conditions but still sufficient for the production of many agricultural crops without irrigation or dryland farming |
| water quality-based permit | A permit with an effluent limit more stringent than one based on technology performance |
| fermentation | The conversion of organic matter to methane, carbon dioxide and other molecules by anaerobic bacteria. |
| concentration | The amount of Solute present in proportion to the total Solution |
| skid trail | A temporary, nonstructural pathway over forest soil used for dragging felled trees or logs to a log landing. |
| wettable powder | dry formulation that must be mixed with water or other liquid before it is applied. |
| combined sewer | A sewer that conveys both stormwater and sanitary sewage in the same pipe. |
| photosynthesis | The synthesis of compounds with the aid of light. |
| perched water table | groundwater standing unprotected over a confined zone. |
| glacier | a huge mass of ice, formed on land by the compaction and re-crystallization of snow, that moves very slowly downslope or outward due to its own weight Greywater |
| phreatic | Of or relating to ground water. |
| retrogression | In meteorology, it is the movement of a weather system in a direction opposite to the direction of the basic flow in which it is embedded |
| stocking density | the statistical number of animals on a farm or in a region, divided by the total area of grazing land available |
| natality | Refers to births |
| precipitation | water that falls from the clouds - rain, snow, hail or sleet |
| hardpan | a relatively hard, impervious, and usually clayey layer of soil lying at or just below land surface-produced as a result of cementation by precipitation of insoluble minerals. |
| conservation easement | An agreement negotiated on privately owned lands to preserve open space or protect certain natural resources. |
| mill wheel | A wheel, typically driven by water, that powers a mill. |
| ph | "The negative logarithm of the molar concentration of hydrogen ion |
| hydronic | Of, relating to, or being a system of heating or cooling that involves transfer of heat by a circulating fluid (as water or vapor) in a closed system of pipes. |
| toxic | Harmful to living organisms. |
| caustic | Alkaline or basic. |
| lake | separated by the fairly thin thermocline zone, from the lower, colder, denser zone of water, the hypolimnion. |
| price at equilibrium | where supply and demand curves intersect |
| bipedal locomotion | Literally, moving on two feet |
| anode | A site in electrolysis where metal goes into solution as a cation leaving behind an equivalent of electrons to be transferred to an opposite electrode, called a cathode. |
| temperature | The measure of molecular motion or the degree of heat of a substance |
| fertilization | 1 |
| isobar | A line on a weather map connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure |
| zooplankton | Free-floating or weakly-swimming planktonic organisms not capable of photosynthesis. |
| river reach | Any defined length of river. |
| reuse water | Water used repeatedly. |
| horn | A body of land or water shaped like a horn. |
| cryology | The science of the physical aspects of snow, ice, hail, sleet, and other forms of water produced by temperatures below 0C (32F). |
| runlet | A Runnel (see below). |
| water pollution | degradation of a body of water by a substance or condition to such a degree that the water fails to meet specified standards or cannot be used for a specific purpose. |
| saltbush | see chenopod shrubland |
| aggregates | Particles of rock that are used in a bound or unbound form in construction. |
| minor flooding | Flooding resulting in minimal or no property damage but some public inconvenience |
| advection | The horizontal transfer of any property in the atmosphere by the movement of air (wind) |
| bog hole | A hole containing soft mud or quicksand. |
| saltation | Particles bouncing down a river bed |
| lough | (Irish) (1) A lake |
| discharger | any person who discharges waste that could affect the quality of state waters |
| preferred use | A use given some sort of preference not given other uses |
| ml | one million litres, or 1000 cubic metres, (1 acre foot = 1234 cubic metres) |
| terminal lake | A lake with no outlet. |
| detention structure | A structure constructed for the temporary storage of floodflows where the opening for release is of a fixed capacity and not manually operated. |
| windstorm | A storm with high winds or violent gusts but little or no rain. |
| national meteorological center | Now incorporated into the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, it was the division of the National Weather Service that produced, processed, handled, and distributed meteorological and oceanographic information to users throughout the Northern Hemisphere, specifically U.S |
| metallothionein | A protein that binds to excess essential metals in the body. |
| carbonates | the collective term for the natural inorganic chemical compounds related to carbon dioxide that exist in natural waterways. |
| subirrigated land | Land with a high water table condition, either natural or artificially controlled, that normally supplies a crop irrigation requirement. |
| water-quality standards | State-adopted and U.S |
| capillarity | (1) The property of tubes or earth-like particles with hair-like openings which, when immersed in fluid, raise (or depress) the fluid in the tubes above (or below) the surface of the fluid in which they are immersed |
| sinking agent | A chemical additive that, when applied to a floating oil discharge, will cause oil to sink below the surface of the water |
| oxide | A compound containing two elements, one of which is oxygen. |
| abrasion | Removal of stream-bank soil as a result of sediment-laden water, ice, or debris rubbing against the bank. |
| nonfull-cost entitlement | Maximum acreage, whether held directly or indirectly, that a landholder may irrigate with Reclamation irrigation water at less than the Full-Cost Rate. |
| stagnation point | A place in a ground-water flow field at which the ground water is not moving |
| ureaformaldehyde | a combination of urea and formaldehyde used in some glues and adhesives, particularly in composite wood products |
| precipitation | Any or all forms of water particles that fall from the atmosphere, such as rain, snow, hail, and sleet |
| suspended load | All the material transported by a stream or river, neither in contact with the river bottom (Bed Load) nor in solution (Dissolved Load). |
| undercurrent | A current, as of air or water, below another current or beneath the surface. |
| injection well | a well constructed for injecting treated wastewater directly into the ground for storage to increase ground water supplies |
| keel | A ridge down the center of a scale |
| blowdown | Trees felled by high winds. |
| tributyltin | A chemical agent used in the past in shipping as an antifouling agent. |
| mathematical model | A representation of physical laws or processes expressed in terms of mathematical symbols and expressions (i.e., equations) |
| strait | A strait is a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water. |
| splash | (1) To cause (a liquid substance) to scatter and fall in drops or blobs |
| model | A simulation, by descriptive, statistical, or other means, of a process or project that is difficult or impossible to observe directly. |
| bank | The sloping ground that borders a stream and confines the water in the natural channel when the water level, or flow, is normal. |
| wf | water factor |
| average annual recharge | amount of water entering the aquifer on an average annual basis |
| gram | The basic unit of weight in the Metric System equal to 1/1000 kilogram and nearly equal to the mass of one cubic centimeter of water at its maximum density; also equal to 1/28th of an ounce or 0.0022046 pound. |
| surface compaction | Increasing soil density by applying force at the surface |
| snow line | The lowest elevation area of a perennial snow field on high terrain, such as a mountain range. |
| fluvioglacial | Pertaining to streams flowing from glaciers or to the deposits made by such streams. |
| frozen | (1) Made into, covered with, or surrounded by ice |
| convective transport | The component of movement of heat or mass induced by thermal gradients in ground water |
| habitat | The native environment where a plant or animal naturally grows or lives. |
| aggressive water | water which is soft and acidic and can corrode plumbing, piping, and appliances. |
| saxicolous | A term used to describe organisms that live on rocks and in rock crevices. |
| climate | Meteorological elements that characterize the average and extreme conditions of the atmosphere over a long period of time at any one place or region of the earth's surface. |
| basin | a bowl shaped land formation usually caused by a glacier |
| well stimulation | Cleaning, enlarging, or increasing the pore space of a well used for the Injection of fluids into subsurface geological strata. |
| irrigation | controlled application of water to arable land to supply requirements of crops not satisfied by rainfall. |
| sediment | particles derived from rocks or biological materials that have been transported by, suspended in, or deposited by air, water, or ice or that are accumulated by other natural agents, such as chemical precipitation from solution or secretion by organisms. |
| deadman | A log, timber, block of concrete, or pipe buried in a stream bank that is used to anchor a revetment with cable or chain. |
| calcium | (Ca++) The most abundant cation found in Wisconsin lakes |
| offstream use | Water withdrawn or diverted from a ground or surface-water source for use at another place |
| soil acidification | a gradual increase in the acidity of a soil as a consequence of a variety of natural processes and management actions |
| vacuum drying | Removal of liquid material from a solution or mixture under reduced air pressure, which results in drying at a lower temperature than is required at full pressure. |
| soil erosion | the processes by which soil is removed from one place by forces such as wind, water, waves, glaciers, and construction activity and eventually deposited at some new place. |
| lagged endogenous variable | (Statistics) Refers to the use of a prior-period Dependent Variable used as an Explanatory Variable in the current period |
| geotextile | See Erosion Control Fabric |
| headgate | the gate that controls water flow into irrigation canals and ditches |
| floodgate | (1) A gate used to control the flow of a body of water |
| equilibrium | state of balance. |
| conduit | (1) A natural or artificial channel through which fluids may be conveyed |
| hemipenes | The hemipenes is the male reptiles reproduction organ. |
| genetics | The study of heredity. |
| backfill | material used to build up and consolidate the land behind a seawall or similar structure. |
| venturi | A short tube with a constricted throat used to determine fluid pressures and velocities by measurement of differential pressures generated at the throat as a fluid traverses the tube. |
| instream flows | See flows. |
| pool/riffle ratio | The ratio of surface area or length of pools to the surface area or length of riffles in a given stream reach; frequently expressed as a relative percentage of each category |
| slope-discharge | A curve which shows the discharge at a given Gaging Station, taking into account the slope of the water surface, as well as the Gage Height |
| clutch size | The number of eggs laid in a clutch. |
| previously developed | site in LEED for Homes, a lot consisting of at least 75% previously developed land. |
| salt lake | A landlocked body of water that has become salty through evaporation. |
| bcwmc | Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission |
| cholera | An infectious waterborne disease that is characterized by severe diarrhea and its resultant dehydration and electrolyte imbalance |
| dissolved solids | The dissolved mineral constituents or chemical compounds in water or solution; they form the residue that remains after evaporation and drying |
| water glass | An open tube or box having a glass bottom for making observations below the surface of the water. |
| lee | Located in or facing the path of an oncoming glacier |
| soil conditioner | An organic material like humus or compost that helps soil absorb water, build a bacterial community, and take up mineral nutrients. |
| defrost | (1) To remove ice or frost from |
| multi-cropping | The practice of producing two or more crops consecutively on the same parcel of land during a 12-month period |
| tasc | Technical Advisory Sub-Committee |
| tidal flat | An extensive flat tract of land alternatively covered and uncovered by the tide, and comprising mostly unconsolidated mud and sand |
| periphyton | Micro-organisms that coat rocks, plants, and other surfaces on lake bottoms. |
| riparian areas | Land areas directly influenced by a body of water |
| acequia | irrigation channels constructed during the period of Spanish Colonial Mission settlement |
| suspended sediment | sediment that is transported in suspension by a stream. |
| endangered species | a species that is in imminent danger of becoming extinct. |
| point source pollution | Pollutants discharged from an identifiable, stationary location or fixed facility, such as a pipe. |
| sump | (1a) A low-lying place, such as a pit, that receives drainage; (1b) A cesspool |
| human health advisory | Guidance provided by U.S |
| hydrothermal | (1) Having to do with hot water, especially having to do with the action of hot water in producing minerals and springs or in dissolving, shifting, and otherwise changing the distribution of minerals in the earth's crust |
| erosion control | The application of necessary measures including artificial structures, vegetative manipulation, water control, or physical soil changes to minimize soil erosion. |
| baseline information | information relating to a specific time or defined area of land or water, from which trends or changes can be assessed |
| trickling filter | a treatment system in which wastewater is trickled over a bed of stones or other material covered with bacteria that break down the organic waste and produce clean water. |
| zingg bench terrace | A special type of bench terrace designed for dryland moisture conservation |
| elements | The distinctive building blocks of matter that make up every material substance. |
| cirrostratus clouds | A high-altitude, thin hazy cloud, usually covering the sky and often producing a halo effect |
| base | accept an unshared pair of electrons from a base or react with a base to form a salt, a substance that has more free hydrogen ions, H+, than hydroxyl ions, OH-, (see alkaline). |
| longitudinal profile | A graphic presentation of elevation vs |
| terrane | area or surface over which a particular rock type or group of rock types is prevalent. |
| hydrometeorology | The science of the application of meteorology to hydrologic problems; the branch of meteorology that deals with the occurrence, motion, and changes of the state of atmospheric water |
| bag of waters | The double-walled fluid-filled sac that encloses and protects the fetus in the womb and that breaks releasing its fluid during the birth process |
| yellow rain | A powdery, poisonous, yellow substance reported as dropping from the air in southeast Asia and found to be the excrement of wild honeybees contaminated by a fungal toxin. |
| rain forest | A forest which grows in a region of heavy annual precipitation |
| flood forecasting | Flood forecasts are primarily the responsibility of the National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and are used to predict flood stages and times and indicate areas subject to flooding. |
| alluvial | An adjective referring to soil or earth material which has been deposited by running water, as in a riverbed, flood plain, or delta. |
| leaching | extraction or flushing out of dissolved or suspended materials from the soil, solid waste, or another medium by water or other liquids as they percolate down through the medium to groundwater. |
| embankment | An artificial deposit of material that is raised above the natural surface of the land and used to contain, divert, or store water, support roads or railways, or for other similar purposes. |
| giardiasis | A disease that results from an infection by the protozoan parasite Giardia Intestinalis, caused by drinking water that is either not filtered or not chlorinated |
| mine tailings | The decomposed outcrop of a bed or vein of valuable material. |
| qep | Qualified Environmental Professional |
| sand | Small substrate particles, generally from 0.6 to 2.0 mm in diameter |
| steady-state mass balance | the mathematical concept that the sum of upstream pollutant loads, each determined by the product of their concentration times flow, equals a resultant downstream load after mixing. |
| tube settler | device using bundles of tubes to let solids in water settle to the bottom for removal by conventional sludge collection means |
| manhole | A subsurface structure in which two or more pipes meet, with person access from the ground surface. |
| anadramous | any fish which spends a portion of its life cycle in freshwater and a portion in the sea aquifer - an underground layer of rock, sediment or soil that is filled or saturated with water aquifer system - a heterogeneous body of introduced permeable and less permeable material that acts as a water-yielding hydraulic unit of regional extent aqueduct - man-made canal or pipeline used to transport water |
| organic | (1) Referring to or derived from living organisms |
| environmental analysis | An analysis of alternative actions and their predictable short-term and long-term environmental effects, incorporating physical, biological, economic, and social considerations. |
| hypsography | (1) The science or art of describing elevations of land surfaces with reference to a datum, usually Mean Sea Level (MSL) |
| coi | Cone of Influence. |
| natural community | A distinct and reoccurring assemblage of populations of plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, and viruses naturally associated with each other and their physical environment. |
| injection zone | a geological formation receiving fluids through a well. |
| jet stream | A high-speed, meandering wind current, generally moving from a westerly direction at speeds often exceeding 400 kilometers (250 miles) per hour at altitudes of 15 to 25 kilometers (10 to 15 miles) |
| ecoregion | a geographic area over which the macroclimate is sufficiently uniform to permit development of similar ecosystems on sites with similar geophysical properties. |
| lithometeor | Atmospheric phenomena which affect the state of the atmosphere |
| organic soil | Soil composed of predominantly organic rather than mineral material |
| enteric viruses | a category of viruses related to human excreta found in waterways. |
| gram molecular weight | The mass, in grams, of a substance equal to its molecular weight |
| subsurface water | Water below the surface of the ground, including soil moisture, intermediate zone water, capillary fringe water, and ground water |
| forecast horizon | (Statistics) The number of time periods to be forecasted; also, the time period in the future to which forecasts are to be made. |
| initial water deficiency | The quantity, usually expressed in depth of water in inches on a unit area, by which the actual water content of a given soil zone (usually the Root Zone) is exceeded by the field capacity of that zone at the beginning of the rainy season |
| peri-urban | low density housing and road development on the periphery of urban areas, still retaining small areas of rural land within networks of suburban building |
| bar | A stream bed deposit of sand or gravel often exposed during low-water periods |
| intercepting drain | A drain constructed at the upper end of an area to intercept and carry away surface or ground water flowing toward the area from higher ground |
| global positioning system | A system which verifies latitude and longitude of a location on the ground through the use of a transmitter and a remote (satellite) vehicle. |
| ground water hydraulics | The study of the movement of water, especially water under pressure and water's movement through various soil medium. |
| internal fertilization | 1 |
| carapace | The shell covering the back (top) of a turtle, crab, or other animal. |
| wind shear | The rate of wind speed or direction change with distance |
| dystrophic lake | A lake characterized by a lack of nutrients, and often having a low pH (acidic) and a high humus content |
| tropic of cancer | The most northern point on the earth where the sun is directly overhead, located at approximately 23.5 degrees North latitude. |
| process variable | A physical or chemical quantity which is usually measured and controlled in the operation of a water treatment plant or industrial plant. |
| wind | Moving air. |
| shrink-swell potential | The susceptibility of soil to volume change due to loss or gain in moisture content. |
| gas | A state of matter; a substance that generally exists in the gaseous phase at room temperature. |
| troposphere | the layer of atmosphere closest to the Earth, extending seven to ten miles above the surface, containing most of the clouds and moisture. |
| hydrograph | a chart that measures the amount of water flowing past a point as a function of time. |
| wetlander | A person who lives in proximity to Wetlands and whose culture is linked to them. |
| cu | Catalog Unit. |
| channel | A channel is a body of water that connects two larger bodies of water (like the English Channel) |
| coagulation | in water treatment, the use of chemicals to make suspended solids gather or group together into small flocs. |
| municipal sewage | Sewage (mostly liquid) originating from a community which may be composed of domestic sewage, industrial wastes, or both. |
| nuisance flooding | Flooding which causes public inconvenience, but little or no property damage |
| climax | The final stage of vegetation succession; a climax community reproduces itself and is in equilibrium with the existing environment. |
| gush | To flow forth suddenly in great volume. |
| chute spillway | the overall structure which allows water to drop rapidly through an open channel without causing erosion |
| prior appropriation | a doctrine of water law that allocates the rights to use water on a first in time, first in right, basis. |
| basaltic | A fine grained igneous rock composed of the minerals plagioclase and pyroxene. |
| hardwood bottomland | hardwood forested lowlands adjacent to some rivers, especially valuable for wildlife breeding, nesting, and habitat. |
| density | The ratio of the mass of a substance to the volume it occupies |
| plankton | microscopic floating plant and animal organisms of lakes, rivers, and oceans. |
| effective precipitation | the part of precipitation which produces runoff; a weighted average of current and antecedent precipitation "effective" in correlating with runoff |
| habitat | A place where a biological organism lives |
| carcinogen | A cancer-causing substance or agent. |
| apwa | American Public Works Association. |
| selective ion probe | An electrode for which the measured voltage is proportional to the concentration of a specific ion in the solution being tested |
| nonporous | something which does not allow water to pass through it |
| adsorption | (1) The adherence of ions or molecules in solution to the surface of solids |
| regional water manager | a person employed by the government or a government corporation and designated in writing by the Minister as a Regional Water Manager and includes a person designated in writing by the Minister as an acting or assistant Regional Water Manager. |
| biotower | (Water Quality) A means of wastewater treatment in which the waste is allowed to fall through a tower packed with synthetic media, on which there is biological growth |
| agricultural capability | Determines, given the ideal state, what a given area of land is capable of producing in terms of agricultural production and output. |
| species | a group of plants, animals or micro-organisms that have a high degree of similarity and generally can interbreed only amongst themselves to produce fertile offspring, so that they maintain their 'separateness' from other such groups |
| water losses | Water which is unavailable or lost from a particular containment system. |
| dalton's law | States that the total pressure exerted by a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of the gases |
| ecological succession | An orderly, directional and therefore predictable process of development that involves changes in species structure and community processes over time |
| absorption | the process by which substances in gaseous, liquid, or solid form are assimilated or taken up by other substances. |
| absorb | to take in. |
| high-line jumpers | Pipes or hoses connected to fire hydrants and laid on top of the ground to provide emergency water service for an isolated portion of a distribution system. |
| tributary | smaller rivers which collect together to make a bigger river |
| reclamation | the process of returning a site to its natural state, or a state that prevents environmental impacts or threats to human health and safety Restoration |
| stationary front | A front which is nearly stationary or moves very little since the last synoptic position |
| microcosm | A laboratory model of a natural Ecosystem in which certain environmental variables can be manipulated to observe the response |
| causeway | A raised roadway formed by filling across wet or marshy ground, or the surface of a lake from shore to shore. |
| herbivore | Plant eater, vegitarian |
| capillary attraction | The force that results from greater adhesion of a liquid to a solid surface than internal cohesion of the liquid itself and that causes the liquid to be raised against a vertical surface, as water is in a clean glass tube |
| autumn turnover | The mixing of the entire water mass of a lake in the autumn. |
| ozone | An unstable oxidizing agent, that consists of three oxygen atoms and can be found in the ozone layer in the atmosphere |
| biologist | Person who specialized or works in biology. |
| hydrokinetics | The branch of physics having to do with fluids in motion. |
| effluent | any substance, particularly a liquid, that enters the environment from a point source |
| topsoil | the uppermost layer of soil, containing high levels of nutrients and organic matter |
| tailwater runoff | Refers to unused irrigation water or rain water that is collected at the base or at the end of an irrigation system or field in a ditch or other impoundment |
| physical weathering | Breaking down of rock into bits and pieces by exposure to temperature and changes and the physical action of moving ice and water, growing roots, and human activities such as farming and construction. |
| kgal | A thousand gallons (kilogallons). |
| sleet | precipitation which is a mixture of rain and ice. |
| adiabatic lapse rate | The theoretical rate at which the temperature of the air changes with altitude |
| free moisture | Liquid that will drain freely from solid waste by the action of gravity only. |
| model plant | A hypothetical plant design used for developing economic, environmental, and energy impact analyses as support for regulations or regulatory guidelines; the first step in exploring the economic impact of potential New Source Performance Standards (NSPS). |
| pump | a device which moves, compresses, or alters the pressure of a fluid, such as water or air, being conveyed through a natural or artificial channel. |
| nonpersistent pollutant | A substance that can cause damage to organisms when added in excessive amounts to the environment but is decomposed or degraded by natural biological communities and removed from the environment relatively quickly |
| molecules | Combinations of two or more atoms of the same or different elements held together by chemical bonds. |
| polder | An area of low-lying land, especially in the Netherlands, that has been reclaimed from a body of water and is protected by dikes. |
| pce | See Perchloroethylene |
| microhabitat | zones of similar physical characteristics within a mesohabitat unit, differentiated by aspects such as substrate type, water velocity, and water depth. |
| total hardness | The total dissolved salts in water, expressed as total parts of dissolved slats in a million parts of water |
| pool | A small part of a stream reach with little velocity, commonly with water deeper than surrounding areas. |
| sapropel | (1) A mud rich in organic matter formed at the bottom of a body of water |
| degree day | The difference, expressed in degrees, between the mean temperature for a given day and a reference temperature (usually 0°C). |
| detachment | The removal of transportable fragments of soil material from a soil mass by an eroding agent, usually falling raindrops, running water, or wind |
| updrift | direction opposite to the predominant movement of longshore transport. |
| barrier | A physical block or impediment to the movement or migration of fish, such as a waterfall (natural barrier) or a dam (man-made barrier). |
| jet streak | A region of accelerated wind speed along the axis of a jet stream. |
| ocean | lake, or other body of water into which light can penetrate, also known as the zone of photosynthesis. |
| lime | Common water treatment chemical |
| dilution | The reduction of the concentration of a substance in air or water. |
| gwp | Global-Warming Potential |
| resident population | The number of persons who live within a state or other political subdivision (county, city, etc.) who consider it their permanent place of residence |
| atomic number | A specific number that differs for each element, equal to the number of protons in the nucleus of each of its atoms. |
| treatment tank | A water-tight tank designed to retain sewage long enough for satisfactory bacterial decomposition of the solids to take place |
| ecosystem | a community of organisms considered together with the nonliving factors of its environment. |
| snow cover | The areal extent of ground covered by the snow |
| dichromatism | Color differences between individuals of the same species. |
| activated carbon | Substance used in the water treatment process to remove dissolved organic matter from raw drinking water. |
| pentachorophenol | toxic substance usually used as a wood preservative. |
| clear | The state of the sky when no clouds or obscurations are observed or detected from the point of observation. |
| well interference | The effects of neighboring pumping wells on the discharge and drawdown at a particular pumping well. |
| mean low water | The average height of the low water over 19 years. |
| chlorination | the adding of chlorine to water or sewage for the purpose of disinfection or other biological or chemical results. |
| digester | in wastewater treatment, a unit in which anaerobic bacterial action is induced and accelerated in order to break down and stabilize organic matter removed from the treatment process. |
| calorie | amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1 degree Celsius. |
| streamflow routing | A technique used to compute the effect of channel storage on the shape and movement of a flood wave. |
| intertidal | alternately flooded and exposed by tides. |
| col | A mountain pass. |
| softwood | timbers from trees such as pines and cypresses; in Australia most softwood comes from pine plantations (see hardwood) |
| central pressure | The atmospheric pressure at the center of a high or low |
| boathouse | A building for storing boats. |
| lemna gibba | The genus and species name of a small, stemless, free-floating plant used in experiments to determine the toxicity of pollutants to aquatic plant life |
| environmental impact | The positive or negative effect of any action upon a given area or resource. |
| disturbed lot area | the part of a site that is directly affected by construction activity, including any activity that would compact the soil or damage vegetation. |
| acid neutralizing capacity | Measure of the buffering capacity of water; the ability of water to resist changes in pH. |
| waste disposal facilities | facilities designated for the disposal of liquid or solid wastes Waste Rock |
| salt water | The water of the ocean, distinguished from fresh water by its appreciable salinity. |
| deciduous | Falling off or being shed during a certain season or at a partial stage of growth such as leaves or antlers. |
| clarifier | a tank in which solids settle to the bottom and are subsequently removed as sludge. |
| seston | All material, both organic and inorganic, suspended in a waterway. |
| maximum probable flood | The largest flood for which there is any reasonable expectancy. |
| peclet number | the relationship between properties of the mesh, fluid velocity, and eddy viscosity for a hydraulic computer model. |
| deciduous | Trees and plants that shed their leaves at the end of the growing season. |
| iridescent | displaying a shining, rainbowlike range of colors. |
| benchmark | the value for an indicator that has some defined environmental significance (or threshold) in the functioning of the natural system |
| minnow trapping | a steel mesh, baited and camouflaged trap used to catch small freshwater fish alive by submerging into a waterbody and left for a set time period. |
| frozen precipitation | Precipitation that reaches the ground in a frozen state |
| radiation | The process by which energy is propagated through any medium by virtue of the wave motion of that medium |
| runnel | (1) A rivulet; a brook |
| method detection limit | The minimum concentration of a substance that can be accurately identified and measured with current laboratory technologies. |
| gravel envelope | In well construction, a several-inch thickness of uniform gravel poured into the annular space between the well casing and the drilled hole |
| watch | A forecast issued well in advance of a severe weather event to alert the public of the possibility of a particular hazard, such as tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flash and river floods, winter storms, or heavy snows. |
| degasification | The process of removing dissolved gasses from water, using vacuum or heat. |
| diatomaceous | consisting of or abounding in diatoms, a class of unicellular or colonial algae having a silicified cell wall that persists as a skeleton after death. |
| tornado | (1) A rotating column of air usually accompanied by a funnel-shaped downward extension of a Cumulonimbus Cloud and having a Vortex several hundred yards in diameter whirling destructively at speeds of up to 500 miles per hour (800 kilometers per hour) |
| habitat | The native environment or specific surroundings where a plant or animal naturally grows or lives |
| adaptation | Changes in an organism's structure or habits that allow it to adjust to its surroundings, which usually makes them more likely to survive and reproduce than their competitors. |
| urodele | An amphibian category that contains newts and salamanders |
| emergency action plan | A predetermined plan of action to be taken to reduce the potential for property damage and loss of lives in a downstream area affected by a dam break or excessive spillway discharges. |
| kilogram | one thousand grams. |
| biotic community | A naturally occurring assemblage of plants and animals that live in the same environment and are mutually sustaining and interdependent |
| dewater | remove or separate a portion of the water in a sludge or slurry to dry the sludge so it can be handled and disposed; remove or drain the water from a tank, trench, or aquifer. |
| homogeneity | Characteristic of a medium in which material properties are identical throughout |
| kl | one thousand litres, or one cubic metre |
| littoral shelf | The sedimentary material on shorelines formed by waves and currents. |
| jurisdictional wetland | An area that meets the criteria established by the U.S |
| isthmus | An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses |
| ice needle | A thin ice crystal floating high in the atmosphere in certain conditions of clear, cold weather. |
| dolos | A concrete protective unit used to dissipate wave energy thus preventing damages to breakwaters and jetties |
| biological oxidation | Decomposition of complex organic materials by microorganisms |
| spawn | to lay and fertilize eggs. |
| middens | A large refuse heap containing such materials discarded materials, food remains, bones, and so on. |
| three-mile limit | The limit of the marginal sea of three miles included in the territorial waters of a state. |
| lateral | Building or house service connection to sewer or sewer-to-sewer connection. |
| recessional moraine | Glacial Till occurring as ridges where the front of a retreating glacier temporarily held a fixed position |
| receiving waters | A river, ocean, stream, or other watercourse into which wastewater or treated effluent is discharged. |
| zone of saturation | The layer beneath the surface of the land in which all openings are filled with water. |
| nitrogen | a plant nutrient that can cause an overabundance of bacteria and algae when high amounts are present, leading to a depletion of oxygen and fish kills |
| masonry dam | A dam constructed mainly of stone, brick, or concrete blocks that may or may not be joined with mortar |
| hydrometer | an instrument used to measure the density of a liquid. |
| suspended | Sediment particles which are held buoyantly aloft within a flowing body of water as a result of the fluid turbulence. |
| legume | Any member of the bean or pea family Fabaceae; a type of dry fruit whose pod forms from one carpel and opens from both sides. |
| datum | Any numerical or geometric quantity or set of such quantities that may serve as a reference or base for other, comparable quantities |
| cellulose | A polysaccharide that is the major complex carbohydrate in plants, especially their cell walls. |
| saprophytic | pathogenic or parasitic. |
| fill | (1) (Geology) Any sediment deposited by any agent such as water so as to fill or partly fill a channel, valley, sink, or other depression |
| flow model | (1) A digital computer model that calculates a hydraulic head field for the modeling domain using numerical methods to arrive at an approximate solution to the differential equation of ground-water flow |
| settleable solids | in sewage, suspended solids that will settle when the sewage is brought to a quiet state for a reasonable length of time, usually two hours. |
| contact recreation | activities involving a significant risk of ingestion of water, such as wading by children, swimming, water skiing, diving and surfing |
| landslide | A movement of earth down a steep slope. |
| valley | Low land between hills and mountains. |
| volatilization | The process of Evaporation. |
| landslide | a movement of earth mass down a steep slope. |
| toxic hot spot | location in enclosed bay, estuary, or any adjacent waters that has toxic pollution problems in the water or sediment in excess of applicable standards. |
| dissolve | The process during which solid particles mix molecule by molecule with a liquid and appear to become part of the liquid. |
| conductivity | (1)A measure of the ability of a solution to carry an electrical current |
| stream power | a measure of energy available to move sediment, or any other particle in a stream channel |
| watercraft | (Nautical) A boat or ship; water vehicles considered as a group. |
| opalescent | exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal |
| cache | A collection of items kept in one location. |
| rainwater | Water that has fallen as rain and contains little dissolved mineral matter. |
| voc | volatile organic compound |
| geographic information system | A computer system capable of storing and manipulating spatial data. |
| arboriculture | The planting, care, and tending of trees and shrubs, individually or in small groups, for utilitarian purposes. |
| critical point | (1) (Physics) The temperature and pressure at which the liquid and gaseous phases of a pure stable substance become identical |
| dioxin | Any of a family of compounds known chemically as dibenzo-p-dioxins |
| polar front | A semi-continuous, semi-permanent boundary between polar air masses and tropical air masses |
| cod | Chemical Oxygen Demand. A measure of the oxygen equivalent of the organic matter content of a sample that is susceptible to oxidation by a strong chemical oxidation. Differs from the BOD test in that COD uses oxygen derived from chemicals, while BOD uses oxygen derived from air dissolved in water. |
| forb | Any Herbaceous flowering plant, other than a grass; especially one growing under range conditions. |
| rod | A rod-shaped cell in the retina that is sensitive to dim light. |
| attenuation | the process whereby the magnitude of a flood event is reduced by slowing, modifying, or diverting the flow of water. |
| detachment | The process of a soil particle, nutrient or pesticide, breaking free from its position in the soil. |
| snowpack | The amount of annual accumulation of snow at higher elevations. |
| charles' law | States that when the pressure is held constant, the volume of a gas varies directly with the temperature |
| gradient | Vertical drop per unit of horizontal distance. |
| anthropogenic | of human origin or human induced; can be used in the context of emissions that are produced as a result of human activities |
| flood frequency curve | (1) A graph showing the average interval of time within which a flood of a given magnitude will be equaled or exceeded once |
| stratified random sample | (Statistics) A randomized sample composed of two or more sets of random samples, each drawn from a single homogeneous unit (stratum) of a heterogeneous population |
| ventral | Referring to the underside of an animal, the "tummy" side. |
| hook echo | A radar reflectivity pattern observed in a thunderstorm, appearing like a fish hook and indicating favorable conditions for tornadic development |
| probabilistic process | The process in which the probability of occurrence of the variables is taken into consideration and their sequence of occurrence is ignored. |
| aluminum sulfate | A white crystalline compound, Al2(SO4)3, used chiefly in paper making, water purification, sanitation, and tanning |
| chemosphere | A vaguely defined region of the upper atmosphere in which photochemical reactions take place |
| infrared | The long wave, electromagnetic radiation of radiant heat emitted by all hot objects |
| sla | Population and related socio-economic statistics are gathered by collection districts, aggregated to SLAs and in turn these are aggregated to statistical divisions, and then to States and Territories |
| vernal pools | (1) Wetlands that occur in shallow basins that are generally underlain by an impervious subsoil layer (e.g., a clay pan or hard pan) or bedrock outcrop, which produces a seasonally perched water table |
| low | (1) Situated below the surrounding surfaces as in water standing in low spots |
| microbial load | The total number of bacteria and fungi in a given quantity of water or soil or on the surface of food |
| harvested rainwater | The rain that falls on a roof or yard and is channeled by gutters or channels to a storage tank |
| fen | Low land covered wholly or partly with water; a Moor or Marsh |
| introduced | brought in and established in a new place or surroundings |
| chlorination | process of purifying/disinfecting water by adding chlorine Climate |
| snow crystal | A configuration of ice crystals, usually in the shape of a hexagonal plane or delicate column, formed around a nucleus by sublimation, condensation and freezing, coalescence, or a combination thereof. |
| globule | A tiny ball or globe, especially a drop of liquid. |
| water of hydration | Water chemically combined with a substance in such a way that it can be removed, as by heating, without substantially changing the chemical composition of the substance. |
| dentition | 1 |
| geophysical log | A record of the structure and composition of the earth encountered when drilling a well or similar type of test or boring hole. |
| crop subsidy | A price support paid to farmers by the government. |
| perennial stream | one that flows all year round |
| shear strength | The internal resistance of a body to shear stress |
| distal | away from the center or origin |
| precocious | Appearing, developing, or maturing earlier than is usual. |
| adsorption | Separation of liquids, gases, colloids or suspended matter from a medium by adherence to the surface or pores of a solid. |
| soil air | Below-ground air in the pore spaces between soil particles |
| percolating waters | Underground waters whose course and boundaries are incapable of determination |
| laboratory water | purified water used in the laboratory as a basis for making up solutions or making dilutions |
| nowcast | A short-term weather forecast for expected conditions in the next few hours. |
| drought | a sustained period of under-average precipitation. |
| shear line | A line of maximum horizontal wind shear |
| splatter | To Spatter or Splash. |
| pesticide | Any chemical agent used for the control of specific organisms, for example, Insecticides, Herbicides, Fungicides, etc. |
| ipm | Integrated Pest Management |
| spring overturn | A physical phenomenon that may take place in a lake or similar body of water during the early spring, most frequently in lakes located in temperate zones where the winter temperatures are low enough to result in freezing of the lake surface |
| multiple use | Harmonious and coordinated management of the various surface and subsurface resources, without impairment of the land, that will best meet the present and future needs of the people |
| mef | modified energy factor |
| aerobe | An organism which requires oxygen for its life processes. |
| border ditch | A ditch used as a border of an irrigated strip or plot, water being spread from one or both sides of the ditch along its entire length. |
| glob | A small drop; a globule. |
| fluvial deposit | A sedimentary deposit consisting of material transported by suspension or laid down by a river or stream. |
| inchoate water right | an unperfected water right. |
| brownian movement | The constant, random, zigzag movement of small particles dispersed in a fluid medium, caused by collision with molecules of the fluid |
| snowhedge | A planting of shrubs or other plants to intercept drifting snow |
| softening | The removal of metal ions such as calcium and magnesium from water supplies |
| nfrc | National Fenestration Rating Council is the non-profit organization that administers the only uniform, independent rating and labeling system for the energy performance of windows, doors, skylights, and attachment products |
| synergism | The cooperative action of two or more organisms producing a greater total result than the sum of their independent effects; chemicals or muscles in synergy enhance the effectiveness of one another beyond what an individual could have produced. |
| erosion | the wearing away of a riverbank caused by continuous movement of water and wind. |
| coliform bacteria | A group of bacteria used as an indicator of sanitary quality in water |
| oxidation-reduction potential | The electric potential required to transfer electrons from the oxidant to the reductant, used as a qualitative measure of the state of oxidation in water treatment systems. |
| geomorphology | A branch of both physiography and geology that deals with the form of the earth, the general configuration of its surface, and the changes that take place due to erosion of the primary elements and the buildup of erosional debris. |
| discharge permit | a permit issued by a state or the federal government to discharge effluent into waters of the state or the United States |
| teleconnections | Information used by forecasters to determine what the weather might be elsewhere when compared with past weather conditions at the same degree of longitude. |
| overcast | The amount of sky cover for a cloud layer that is 8/8ths, based on the summation layer amount for that layer. |
| volatility | the tendency of a liquid to evaporate. |
| isotropy | That condition in which a medium has the same properties in all directions. |
| barrel | (1) A measure of liquid volume (conventionally) equal to 42 U.S |
| cuticle | Waxy protective layer on the surface of a leaf or stem. |
| toxicity | The capacity of a chemical to do harm to an organism by other than mechanical means. |
| rotation management | A type of livestock grazing management system where pastures are grazed for only a portion of the year or season and rested for the remainder. |
| ebb | (1) Ebb Tide |
| -idae or -id | Suffixes for the name of an animal family |
| filter | a device used to remove solids from a mixture or to separate materials |
| migration | the movement of oil, gas, contaminants, water, or other liquids through porous and permeable rock. |
| load | material that is moved or carried by streams, reported as weight of material transported during a specified time period, such as tons per year. |
| cosewic | Committee On the Status of Endangered Wildlife In Canada |
| total concentration | Refers to the concentration of a constituent regardless of its form (dissolved or bound) in a sample. |
| granular activated carbon | pure carbon heated to promote "active" sites which can adsorb pollutants |
| colorado river commission [nevada] | An agency of the State of Nevada consisting of seven members, to include four members appointed by the Governor and three members from the Southern Nevada Water Authority Board of Directors |
| paleontology | The study of fossils of animal and plant life that existed in remote geological times |
| debris flow | A rapidly moving mass of rock fragments, soil, and mud, with more than half of the particles being larger than sand size. |
| cod | See Cone of Depression. |
| national priorities list | EPA's list of the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites identified for possible long-term remedial action under Superfund |
| ion | An atom or group of atoms that has a net positive or net negative charge. |
| aerobic | any biological process that occurs in the presence of oxygen; also applies to organisms that require oxygen to survive Alkalinity |
| microrganisms | Organisms that are so small that they can only be observed through a microscope, for instance bacteria, fungi or yeasts. |
| well drillers | Individuals who have the equipment an ability to drill or dig wells |
| slope | The side of a hill or mountain, the inclined face of a cutting, canal or embankment or an inclination from the horizontal. |
| ladder blocking | a method of framing in which an interior partition wall butts up against a perpendicular exterior wall and is connected by horizontal pieces of lumber - rather than vertical studs - which allows additional insulation to be installed behind the horizontal lumber on the exterior wall. |
| cyanobacteria | See Blue-green Algae. |
| flagellum | A long, thread-like organelle used by many microscopic organisms for locomotion and feeding. |
| waterfront | (1) Land abutting a body of water |
| ecosystem | a community of plants, animals, and non-living things that exist in the same place Effluent |
| vapor dispersion | The movement of vapor clouds or plumes in the air due to wind, gravity, spreading, and mixing. |
| plankton | microscopic aquatic plants and animals that depend chiefly upon currents for their movements |
| open woodlands | an area with scattered trees in which the tree crowns cover less than about 30% of land surface (see woodland) |
| moraine | a mound, ridge, or other distinct accumulation of unsorted, unstratified glacial drift, predominantly till, deposited chiefly by direct action of glacier ice. |
| stream channel | A long, narrow depression shaped by the concentrated flow of a stream and covered continuously or periodically by water. |
| organic wastes | a quantitative measure of the degree to which organic compounds consume oxygen in water, based on a five-day test in which loss of oxygen in a sample results from bacterial respiration and chemical processes, a traditional water quality measurement applied to wastewater such as treated sewage. |
| oviposition | The laying of eggs. |
| provider | local organizations selected by USGBC based on demonstrated experience and expertise in supporting builders in the construction of high-performance, sustainable homes in their market |
| chromosomes | they unite to cause fertilization and a diploid zygote. |
| toe | The break in slope at the foot of a stream bank where it meets the stream bed. |
| greenhouse effect | The warming of the earth's atmosphere caused by a build-up of carbon dioxide or other trace gases; it is believed by many scientists that this build-up allows light from the sun's rays to heat the earth but prevents a counterbalancing loss of heat. |
| backpressure | a pressure that can cause water to backflow into the water supply when a user's wastewater system is at a higher pressure than the public system. |
| navier-stokes equations | a set of equations that describe the physics governing the motion of a fluid |
| hose | (1) A flexible tube for conveying liquids or gases under pressure |
| permit | An authorization, license, or equivalent control document issued by EPA or an approved state agency to implement the requirements of an environmental regulation; e.g |
| waterspout | A small, weak tornado, which is not formed by a storm-scale rotation |
| mantle | The back, wings, and scapulars of a bird. |
| carbonate hardness | Hardness of water caused by carbonate and bicarbonate by-products of calcium and magnesium. |
| solar window screen | mesh used to block light and heat from the sun, as well as insects |
| decommissioning | the process of permanently closing a facility/site; includes rehabilitation and plans for future maintenance of affected land and water Dewater |
| sewage | The waste and wastewater produced by residential and commercial sources and discharged into sewers. |
| pumping test | a test conducted to determine aquifer or well characteristics. |
| migration | The movement of oil, gas, contaminants, water, or other liquids through porous and permeable rock. |
| turbidity | presence of very tiny particles in water that give it a cloudy appearance. Removal of particles in treatment results in clear water. |
| edge development | generally, a group of homes that extend an existing community beyond its borders but remain connected to it |
| plunge pool | A pool at the foot of a small water-fall in a river |
| subbasins | One of several basins that form a watershed. |
| hydraulic gradient | The slope or the water surface |
| reserve capacity | Extra treatment capacity built into wastewater treatment plants and sewers to be able to catch up with future flow increases due to population growth. |
| water year | a division based on a general pattern of annual wet and dry periods rather than a calendar year |
| growing season | Considered the period of the year during which the temperature of cultivated vegetation remains sufficiently high enough to allow plant growth |
| fault trace | The intersection of a fault and the earth's surface as often revealed by dislocation of fences and roads and/or by ridges and furrows in the ground. |
| suspended-sediment concentration | The velocity-weighted concentration of suspended sediment in the sampled zone (from the water surface to a point approximately 0.3 foot above the bed); expressed as milligrams of dry sediment per liter of water-sediment mixture (mg/L). |
| mean | The arithmatic average of a set of observations, unless otherwise specified. |
| activated carbon adsorption | The process of pollutants moving out of water and attaching on to Activated Carbon. |
| settle | To cause to sink, become compact, or come to rest; to cause a liquid to become clear by forming a Sediment. |
| watering place | (1) A place where animals find water to drink; a watering hole |
| stormwater | Stormwater is rainwater, snowmelt runoff or precipitation that accumulates in stormwater storage systems during and immediately following a storm event, that enters the storm drain system and empties into lakes, rivers and streams. |
| point-source contaminant | Any substance that degrades water quality and originates from discrete locations such as discharge pipes, drainage ditches, wells, concentrated livestock operations, or floating craft. |
| hydroelectricity | Electric energy produced by water-powered turbine generators. |
| detection limit | The concentration of a constituent or analyte below which a particular analytical method cannot determine, with a high degree of certainty, the concentration. |
| phenolphthalein alkalinity | the alkalinity in a water sample measured by the amount of standard acid needed to lower the pH to a level of 8.3 as indicated by the change of color of the phenolphthalein from pink to clear. |
| toxic substance | A chemical or mixture that can cause illness, death, disease, or birth defects |
| alpenglow | A rosy glow that suffuses snow-covered mountain peaks at dawn or dusk on a clear day. |
| prairie pothole | a shallow depression, generally containing wetlands, occurring in an outwash plain, a recessional moraine, or a till plain; usually the result of melted blocks of covered glacial ice; occur most commonly in the North-Central United States and in States west of the Great Lakes from Wisconsin to eastern Montana. |
| restoration | The act or process of bringing something back to a previous condition or position |
| agricultural land | any land on which crops or pastures are cultivated or domestic stock are grazed |
| grassed waterway | natural or constructed watercourse or outlet that is shaped or graded and planted in suitable vegetation for the disposal of runoff water without erosion. |
| esker | A narrow ridge of gravelly or sandy glacial outwash material deposited by a stream in an ice tunnel within a glacier |
| puddling | The compaction of wet material, such as clay, in order to make a watertight paste. |
| water exports | The artificial transfer (pipes, canals, aqueducts, etc.) of water to one region or subregion from another region |
| vaporization | The change of a substance from a liquid or solid state to the gaseous state. |
| senescence | the aging process |
| hydromechanics | The branch of physics having to do with the laws governing the motion and equilibrium of fluids. |
| cathode | A site in electrolysis where cations in solution are neutralized by electrons that plate out on the surface or produce a secondary reaction with water. |
| mitigation | actions taken to avoid, reduce, or compensate for the effects of human-induced environmental damage. |
| natural precipitation | Represents the average annual precipitation (rainfall, snow, and sleet) measured at a number of different weather stations. |
| boom | A floating device used to contain oil on a body of water. |
| cradle | A supporting structure shaped to fit the conduit it supports. |
| risk communication | The process of exchanging information about levels or significance of health or environmental risk. |
| monitoring | Periodic or continuous surveillance or testing to determine the level of compliance with statutory requirements and/or pollutant levels in various media or in humans, plants, and animals. |
| biological opinion | A document which states the opinion of the U.S |
| secondary treatment | second step in most waste treatment systems, in which bacteria break down the organic parts of sewage wastes; usually accomplished by bringing the sewage and bacteria together in trickling filters or in the activated sludge process |
| osmosis | the passage of a liquid from a weak solution to a more concentrated solution across a semi-permeable membrane that allows passage of the solvent (water) but not the dissolved solids. |
| pleistocene age | The geologic epoch of the Quartenary period extending from the end of the Pliocene to the beginning of the Holocene, and the rocks formed during that time. |
| monitor | An articulated device holding a rotating nozzle with which a jet of water is regulated, used in mining and fire fighting. |
| cartridge filter | Disposable filter device that has a filter range of 0.1 micron to 100 microns. |
| base period | A period of time specified for the selection of data for analysis |
| ecosystem | An ecological community considered together with nonliving factors of its environment as an environmental unit. |
| primary productivity | the rate at which plants produce organic matter through photosynthesis, generally expressed as net (all increase minus all decay) |
| receiving waters | a river, ocean, stream, or other watercourse into which wastewater or treated effluent is discharged. |
| hydraulics | The physical forces that interact between the river and it's surrounding landscape. |
| whiteout | A polar weather condition caused by a heavy cloud cover over the snow, in which the light coming from above is approximately equal to the light reflected from below, and which is characterized by absence of shadow, invisibility of the horizon, and ability to discern only very dark objects. |
| fish fence | any structure which is built from one stream-bank completely across to the other stream-bank and is used to passively count, capture or count, juvenile and adult fish. |
| hydroelectricity | Electric energy production by water powered turbine generators. |
| isotherm | line that connects points of equal temperature. |
| outcrop | exposed at the surface |
| in-line filtration | a pretreatment method in which chemicals are mixed by flowing water; commonly used in pressure filtration installations. |
| hole | A deep place in a body of water. |
| pan evaporation | Evaporation in inches from a standard Weather Bureau Class A pan |
| dissolved oxygen | amount of oxygen gas dissolved in a given quantity of water at a given temperature and atmospheric pressure |
| micrometer | a metric unit of linear measurement equivalent to one-thousandth of a millimeter or one-millionth of a meter, it is the common dimension used to measure the length of glochidia and juvenile mussels |
| scavenging coefficient | The exponential constant (Þ) in an Exponential Decay model for the physical removal of particulate from the air by rainfall |
| cloaca | A body opening that serves both for excretion and for the reproductive organs. |
| runoff plots | Areas of land, usually small, arranged so the portion of rainfall or other precipitation flowing off and perhaps carrying soluble materials and soil may be measured. |
| erosion | the movement of rock and soil |
| remedial investigation | (Environmental) An in-depth study designed to gather data needed to determine the nature and extent of contamination at a Superfund site, establish site cleanup criteria, identify preliminary alternatives for remedial action, and support technical and cost analyses of alternatives |
| bimodal distribution | (Statistics) A collection of observations with a large number of values centered (as in a Normal Distribution) around each of two points |
| hydrophone | An electrical instrument for detecting or monitoring sound transmitted through water. |
| demand | the number of units of something that will be purchased at various prices at a point in time |
| dorsolateral ridge/fold | A glandular ridge on the upper sides of certain frogs. |
| cap | Composed of a layer of warmer, dryer air aloft which may suppress or delay the development of thunderstorms |
| awwa | American Water Works Association. |
| usable storage capacity | The available storage capacity plus the remaining ground water storage within a reasonable pump lift |
| map scale | The relationship between the actual size of a place and its size as shown on a map. |
| xerophyte | a plant adapted for growth under dry conditions. |
| mesophyte | A plant that grows under medium or usual conditions of atmospheric moisture supply, as distinguished from one which grows under dry or desert conditions (Xerophyte) or very wet conditions (Hydrophyte). |
| jerboas | a small, nocturnal, social rodent of the family Dipodidae found in Old World deserts, having enlarged hind limbs that are modified for leaping. |
| necrotic | Necrosis is why the cells or tissues die. |
| control scheme | The collection of methods and algorithms brought together to accomplish control of a canal system. |
| spring runoff | Snow melting in the spring causes water bodies to rise |
| outfall | The mouth or outlet of a river, stream, lake, drain or sewer. |
| logarithm | (Mathematics) The value of the exponent that a fixed number (the base) must have to equal a given number |
| wattle | See Live Fascine. |
| moisture holding capacity | the amount of liquid that can be held against gravity, by waste materials or soil, without generating free liquid. |
| attrition | The action of one particle rubbing against the other in a filter media or ion exchange bed that can in time cause breakdown of the particles. |
| heavy water | Water composed of isotopes of hydrogen of atomic weight greater than 1 or of oxygen of atomic weight greater than 16, or both; especially water composed of ordinary oxygen and the isotope of hydrogen of atomic weight 2; Deuterium Oxide (D2O) |
| niche | The unique position occupied by a particular species, conceived both in terms of the actual physical area that it inhabits and the function that it performs within the community. |
| moisture equivalent | The ratio of: (1) the weight of water which the soil, after saturation, will retain against a centrifugal force 1,000 times the force of gravity, to (2) the weight of the soil when dry |
| sodic | Soils having an excess concentration of sodium ions |
| meander | curves in the stream channel where the stream dissipates energy. |
| keeled scales | Keeled scales refer to reptile scales that, rather than being smooth, have a ridge down the center that may or may not extend to the tip of the scale,making them rough to the touch. |
| codominant | A gene that causes the homozygous form to look different than the wild-type and the heterozygous form to have traits of both. |
| urban flooding | Nuisance flooding of streets, underpasses, basements and other low-lying urban areas |
| ecoregion | An area of similar climate, landform, soil, potential natural vegetation, hydrology, or other ecologically relevant variables. |
| manometer | An instrument for measuring pressure which usually consists of a U-shaped tube containing a liquid, the surface of which in one end of the tube moves proportionally with changes in pressure on the liquid in the other end |
| broadacre farms | commercial farms producing relatively low value crops such as wool, sheep meat, beef, cereals, on large areas |
| oxidase | Any of a group of enzymes which catalyze oxidation reactions by using molecules of oxygen as the electron acceptor. |
| average water year | A tern denoting the average annual hydrologic conditions based upon an extended or existing period of record |
| contiguous habitat | Habitat suitable to support the life needs of a species that is distributed continuously across the landscape. |
| serrated | notched or grooved |
| rawinsonde | An upper air observation that evaluates the winds, temperature, relative humidity, and pressure aloft by means of a balloon-attached radiosonde that is tracked by a radar or radio direction-finder |
| continuous discharge | A routine release to the environment that occurs without interruption, except for infrequent shutdowns for maintenance, process changes, etc. |
| cfr | Code of Federal Regulations. |
| hydrologic balance | an accounting of all water inflow to, water outflow from, and changes in water storage within a hydrologic unit over a specified period of time. |
| large woody debris | Pieces of wood larger than 10 feet long and 6 inches in diameter, in a stream channel. |
| chalcopyrite | The major ore mineral for copper (CuFeS2). |
| tcid | See Truckee-Carson Irrigation District (TCID). |
| brumation | A state similar to hibernation in which a reptile dramatically reduces its food intake although it may still drink |
| breaker zone | area in the sea where the waves break. |
| perchloroethylene | A solvent often used for degreasing and in dry cleaning which sometimes makes its way into water wells and other ground water supplies |
| most probable number | (Water Quality) A statistically determined number which represents the number of bacteria most likely present in a sample, based on test data |
| snowflake | Precipitation which is made up of a number of snow crystals fused together. |
| hydraulic head | (1) The height of the free surface of a body of water above a given point beneath the surface |
| environmental impact statement | A report required by Section 102(2)(c) of Public Law 91-190, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for all major projects which significantly impact on the quality of the human environment or are environmentally controversial |
| channel-forming discharge | See dominant discharge. |
| stream bank stabilization | The lining of stream banks with riprap, matting, etc., or other measures intended to control erosion. |
| basic | the opposite of acidic; has a pH of greater than 7. |
| chemosphere | The region of the upper Atmosphere including the Mesosphere and upper Stratosphere in which various sunlight-driven chemical reactions occur. |
| ecoregion | A physical region that is defined by its ecology, which includes meteorological factors, elevation, plant and animal speciation, landscape position, and soils. |
| mesic | 1 |
| tuberculation | Development or formation of small mounds of corrosion products on the inside of iron pipe |
| bat | Best Available Technology [Economically Achievable] |
| clarity | The clearness of a liquid. |
| aphytal | The plantless zone of a lake bottom |
| hydrotherapy | External use of water in the medical treatment of diseases |
| balanced operation | Operation of a canal system where the water supply exactly matches the total flow demand. |
| resolution | The minimum distance between two adjacent features or objects, or the minimum size of a feature or object, that can be detected by a Remote Sensing system. |
| water table | level below the earth's surface at which the ground becomes saturated with water |
| land use | The primary or primary and secondary uses of land, such as cropland, woodland, pastureland, etc |
| turning basin | A widened area in a navigation channel or harbor area which is constructed to enable ships to maneuver in a safe and efficient manner. |
| toxin | Any of a variety of unstable, poisonous compounds produced by some microorganisms and causing certain diseases or physical reactions. |
| branch packing | Live woody branch cuttings and compacted soil used to repair slumped areas of stream banks. |
| cfl | compact fluorescent light |
| r-value | a measure of thermal resistance, most often used for rating insulation products and installations |
| phalanx | Any one of the bones in the fingers or toes. |
| environment | All of the external factors, conditions, and influences that affect an organism or a community. |
| storm seepage | That part of precipitation which infiltrates the surface soil, and moves toward the streams as ephemeral, shallow, perched ground water above the main ground-water level |
| assay | a test for a specific chemical, microbe, or effect. |
| raw water | Intake water prior to treatment or use for drinking water. |
| evaporative cooling | Cooling of a liquid, such as water, by allowing a portion to evaporate |
| pressure characteristic | The pattern of the pressure change during the specified period of time, usually the three hour period preceding an observation |
| valve | A device fitted to a pipeline or orifice in which the closure member is either rotated or moved transversely or longitudinally in the waterway so as to control or stop the flow. |
| milligram | One-thousandth of a gram. |
| ford | A point where a road goes through a river. |
| vibrio comma | The waterborne microorganism which causes asiatic cholera. |
| dry adiabatic lapse rate | The Adiabatic Lapse Rate for air not saturated with water vapor, or 0.98°C per 100 meters rise (5.4°F per 1,000 feet), expressed as:à°d = -dT/dzwhere:dT is the change in air temperature;dz is the change in altitude; andà°d is the dry adiabatic lapse rate.Compare to Wet Adiabatic Lapse Rate. |
| electrolysis | The passage of an electric current through an Electrolyte, causing the migration of the positively charged ions to the negative electrode (cathode) and the negatively charged ions to the positive electrode (anode). |
| joint-use capacity | That reservoir capacity which has been assigned to flood control purposes during certain periods of the year and to other purposes during other periods of the year. |
| climatic cycle | the periodic changes climate displays, such as a series of dry years following a series of years with heavy rainfall. |
| biosphere | the earth and all its ecosystems. |
| hydrogeological cycle | The natural process recycling water from the atmosphere down to (and through) the earth and back to the atmosphere again |
| equator | The geographic circle at 0 degrees latitude on the earth's surface |
| bottom | (1) The deepest or lowest part, as the bottom of a well |
| energy gradient | The change in energy per unit length in the direction of flow or motion. |
| separate sewer system | A two-pipe sewer system in which one pipe collects sewage and sends it to a wastewater treatment plant and the other pipe collects stormwater, which is typically discharged to a stream. |
| biological processes | Processes characteristic of, ore resulting from, the activities of living organisms. |
| mitigation | Actions taken to avoid, reduce, or compensate for the effects of human-induced environmental damage. |
| dripstone | deposits of calcium carbonate that include stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and cave pearls. |
| standing crop | The quantity of plant Biomass in a given area |
| chute below a pool | portion of the channel below a natural or artificial pool (e.g |
| storm winds | On the Beaufort Wind Scale, a wind with speeds from 56 to 63 knots (64 to 72 miles per hour). |
| growth management program | A program comprised of several techniques to coordinate public and private decisions about the location and timing of development in order to best utilize environmental and physical resources. |
| grade stabilization structure | A structure for the purpose of stabilizing the grade of a gully or other watercourse, thereby preventing further head-cutting or lowering of the channel grade. |
| wire-to-water efficiency | The efficiency of a pump and motor together |
| non-transient non-community water system | A public water system that regularly serves at least 25 of the same non-resident persons per day for more than six months per year. |
| adenosine triphosphate | An organic, phosphate-rich compound important in the transfer of energy in organisms |
| net economic benefits | Economic benefits minus economic costs. |
| conventional turf | grass, typically a monoculture, that requires considerable watering, mowing, and/or fertilizers |
| enzyme | Any of numerous proteins or conjugated proteins produced by living organisms and functioning as biochemical catalysts |
| perclene | See Perchloroethylene (PCE) or Tetrachloroethylene. |
| estuarine | (1) Of, pertaining to, or formed in, an Estuary |
| fragmentation | The subdivision of a solid in fragments |
| nephelometric | A method of measuring turbidity in a water sample by passing light through the sample and measuring the amount of the light that is deflected. |
| dissolved air flotation | A procedure of induced flotation with very fine air bubbles or 'micro bubbles', |
| alp | ENERGY STAR Advanced Lighting Package |
| plications | folds |
| nitrogen | An element which in living organisms is a component of protein structures. |
| pump station | mechanical device installed in sewer or water system or other liquidcarrying pipelines to move the liquids to a higher level. |
| buffer | A solution which is resistant to pH changes, or a solution or liquid whose chemical makeup tends to neutralize acids or bases without a great change in pH |
| hydraulic radius | The cross-sectional area of a stream divided by the wetted perimeter. |
| recoverable ground water | The amount of water which may be physically and economically withdrawn from the ground water reservoir. |
| confined aquifer | an aquifer that lies between two rock layers of very low permeability |
| specific conductance | Method to estimate the dissolved solid content of a water supply by testing its conductivity. |
| targeting | The process of prioritizing pollutant sources for treatment with BMPs or a specific BMP to maximize the water quality benefits of the implemented BMPs. |
| emulsion | A suspension of small Globules of one liquid in a second liquid with which the first will not mix. |
| ligand | A neutral molecule or ion having a lone pair of electrons that can form a bond with a metal ion. |
| helicity | A property of a moving fluid, such as air, representing the potential for helical flow (flow that follows a corkscrew pattern) |
| iceblink | (1) A white or yellow streak in the sky near the horizon, caused by the reflection of light from an area of ice |
| interbasin transfer | the physical transfer of water from one watershed to another; regulated by the Texas Water Code. |
| phreatic water | Synonymous with the Zone of Saturation. |
| half-life | The time required for half of a substance introduced to a living system or ecosystem to be eliminated or disintegrated by natural processes. |
| hydrologic model | Mathematical formulations that simulate hydrologic phenomenon considered as processes or as systems. |
| exotic species | a species occurring in an area outside its historically known natural range as a result of intentional or accidental dispersal by human activities (including exotic organisms, GMOs and translocated species see also native species, novel biota) |
| sea stack | A small, steep-sided rocky projection above sea level near a cliffed shore. |
| dip | To plunge briefly into a liquid, as in order to wet, coat, or saturate |
| cover | Anything that provides protection for fish and/or wildlife from predators or ameliorates adverse conditions of stream flow and/or seasonal changes in metabolic costs |
| risk | the probability that an undesirable event will or will not occur |
| muddle | To make turbid or muddy. |
| primary productivity | the productive capabilities of self-feeding organisms. |
| parcel | A volume of air small enough to contain uniform distribution of its meteorological properties and large enough to remain relatively self-contained and respond to all meteorological processes. |
| el nino | a complex set of changes in the water temperature in the Eastern Pacific equatorial region, producing a warm current; it occurs annually to some degree between October and February, but in some years intensifies and causes unusual storms and destruction of marine life and land ecosystems |
| conservation | The continuing protection and management of natural resources in accordance with principles that assure their optimum long-term economic and social benefits. |
| asme | American Society of Mechanical Engineers |
| thm | Trihalomethanes |
| colloids | finely divided solids which will not settle but which may be removed by coagulation or biochemical action. |
| site preparation | A forestry activity designed to remove unwanted vegetation and other material, and to cultivate or prepare the soil for reforestation. |
| water-table aquifer | An unconfined Aquifer. |
| volcano | A volcano is a mountainous vent in the Earth's crust |
| dockyard | An area, often bordering a body of water, with facilities for building, repairing, or dry-docking ships. |
| bacteria | single-celled microscopic organisms. |
| absolute | The micron rating of a filter |
| fault sag ponds | A small, enclosed depression along an active or recent fault |
| water cycle | evapotranspiration, evaporation, incorporation into plant tissue, infiltration into ground water and consumption by humans, wildlife or livestock, are some of the reasons water may not be immediately available for reuse |
| corridor | A connection between adjacent land areas that allows the passage of fauna form one area to the other. |
| piezometry | (Physics) The measurement of the compressibility of liquids. |
| dead end | the end of a water main that is not connected to other parts of the distribution system. |
| saturation vapor pressure | The maximum possible partial pressure of water vapor in the atmosphere at a given temperature. |
| meromixis | A condition of permanent stratification of water masses in lakes. |
| arachnid | A category of anthropods that includes spiders, scorpions, tarantulas, ticks and mites. |
| threshold pollutant | A substance that is harmful to a particular organism only above a certain concentration, or threshold level. |
| current | the portion of a stream or body of water which is moving with a velocity much greater than the average of the rest of the water |
| climatic cycle | The periodic changes of climate, including a series of dry years following a series of years with heavy rainfall. |
| cirrocumulus clouds | A high-altitude cloud composed of a series of small, regularly arranged cloudlets in the form of ripples or grains |
| k index | The measure of thunderstorm potential based on the vertical temperature lapse rate, the moisture content of the lower atmosphere and the vertical extent of the moist layer. |
| geologic erosion | normal or natural erosion caused by geological processes acting over long geologic periods and resulting in the wearing away of mountains, the building up of floodplains, coastal plains, etc. |
| decomposition | The breakdown of matter by bacteria and fungi, changing the chemical makeup and physical appearance of materials. |
| mountain wave | A wave in the atmosphere caused by a barrier, such as a mountain |
| photosynthesis | The manufacture by plants of carbohydrates and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll, using sunlight as an energy source. |
| chezy's roughness | a coefficient in Chezy's equation that accounts for energy loss due to the friction between the channel and the water. |
| reservation | A withdrawal usually of a more or less permanent nature; also, any federal lands of the U.S |
| environment | The sum of all external influences and conditions affecting the life and development of an organism or ecological community; the total social and cultural conditions. |
| elimination | The act, process, or an instance of eliminating or discharging, as the removal from a molecule of the constituents of a simpler molecule for example, ethylene is formed by the elimination of water from ethanol. |
| rumination | The process of digestion of ruminants, whereby the animal swallows food quickly, and then regurgitates and chews it more thoroughly at a later time until digestion is completed. |
| loading | The influx of pollutants to a selected water body. |
| void | The pore space or other openings in rock |
| base flood | The flood having a 1 percent average probability of being equaled or exceeded in a given year at a designated location |
| exceedence interval | The average number of years between the occurrence of an event of a given magnitude and one that is more extreme. |
| cfcs | Chlorofluorocarbons. |
| latent heat | the amount of heat given up or absorbed when a substance changes from one state to another, such as from a liquid to a solid. |
| jetter | one (as a geyser) that sends out a jet. |
| consent decree remediation deadlines | All construction associated with meeting the terms of the CSO Consent Decree and the First Amended Consent Decrees (FACD) must be completed by November 2007 and July 2014, respectively |
| terraqueous | Composed of land and water. |
| mixed liquor | a mixture of activated sludge and water containing organic matter undergoing treatment in an aeration tank. |
| altocumulus cloud | A fleecy cloud, usually a rounded mass, but which can change radically and unexpectedly, producing intermediate forms, at an average height of 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) |
| imhoff cone | a clear, cone-shaped container used to measure the volume of settleable solids in a specific volume of water. |
| shelf ice | An extension of glacial ice into coastal waters that is in contact with the bottom near the shore but not toward the outer edge of the shelf. |
| radial drainage | An arrangement of stream courses in which the streams radiate outward in all directions from a central zone or inward from all directions to a central area. |
| acid free | having a pH of 7 or more; without acid. |
| dock | A place for vessels to load and unload cargo or to be repaired. |
| cobblestone pavement | See Boulder Pavement. |
| terrarium | The cage or container for keeping reptiles and amphibians. |
| valley | An area of land that is lower than the land on either side of it |
| melanism | Blackness, the opposite of albinism. |
| diadromous | Relating to a fish that migrates between salt and fresh waters. |
| restoration | The return of an ecosystem to a close approximation of its condition prior to disturbance. |
| threatened species | Under the Federal Endangered Species Act, animal populations may be determined to be either threatened or endangered |
| millipore filter | A thin membrane of modified cellulose that is used as a filter in the bacteriological examination of water or wastewater |
| solubility | the amount of mass of a compound that will dissolve in a unit volume of solution. |
| swell | Waves that have travelled out of the area in which they were generated. |
| sinkhole | a depression in an area underlain by limestone |
| miscibility | The ability of two liquids to mix. |
| moisture stress | A condition of physiological stress in a plant caused by a lack of water. |
| water quality standards | laws or regulations, promulgated under Section 303 of the Clean Water Act, that consist of the designated use or uses of a waterbody or a segment of a waterbody and the water quality criteria that are necessary to protect the use or uses of that particular waterbody |
| eelgrass | A type of submerged aquatic vegetation |
| neonate | Newly hatched or born. |
| diamond drill | a piece of equipment used to drill through hard rock, the drill has a diamond on the drill bit and can cut through hard rock better than a metal drill bit Dilution |
| molt | 1 |
| water storage pond | An impound for liquid wastes designed to accomplish some degree of biochemical treatment |
| watershed lag | The time from the center of mass of effective rainfall to peak of hydrograph. |
| population | The number of people living in a certain area. |
| rain area | (1) The area indicated on a weather map over which rain fell within a certain period of time |
| aquamarsh | A water body in which the original open water is nearly or completely obscured by emergent, and floating aquatic vegetation |
| assimilative capacity | (1) The ability of air, a natural body of water, or soil to effectively degrade and/or disperse chemical substances |
| manning's roughness | a coefficient in Manning's equation that accounts for energy loss due to the friction between the channel and the water |
| invasive plant | A plant that moves in and takes over an Ecosystem to the detriment of other species; often the result of Environmental Manipulation. |
| resnet | Residential Energy Services Network |
| indigenous | Existing, growing, or produced naturally in a region. |
| ice jam | An accumulation of broken river ice caught in a narrow channel, frequently producing local flooding |
| equilibrium surface discharge | The steady rate of surface discharge which results from a steady rate of net rainfall over a long period, with the discharge rate equal to the net rainfall rate. |
| toilet water | A scented liquid with a high alcohol content used in bathing or applied as a skin freshener. |
| ionic strength | The weighted concentration of ions in solutions, computed by the formula:Ionic Strength = 1/2 Sum(Zi2Ci)where:Z = the charge on a particular ionic species; andC = the concentration of a particular ionic species. |
| bank storage | the change in the amount of water stored in an aquifer resulting from a change in stage of an adjacent surface-water body. |
| acid rain | the acidic rainfall which results when rain combines with sulfur oxides emissions from combustion of fossil fuels. |
| biotransformation | Conversion of a substance into other compounds by organisms; including biodegradation. |
| double cropping | The practice of producing two or more crops consecutively on the same parcel of land during a 12-month period |
| mitigation | Actions taken with the goal of reducing the negative impacts of a particular land use or activity. |
| maximum holding time | The longest time period that water samples can be retained between the taking of the sample and the laboratory analysis for a specific material before the results are considered invalid |
| zone of aeration | The comparatively dry soil or rock located between the ground surface and the top of the Water Table |
| calve | To break at an edge, sot that a portion separates |
| muck | (1) A moist, sticky mixture, especially of mud and filth |
| nutrient | Any inorganic or organic compound needed to sustain plant life. |
| concentration | the process of separating a mineral from valueless host rock in preparation for further processing; also the amount of a substance in a given weight or volume of another material Conductivity |
| sub-basin | in general, a portion of a river basin. |
| articulation | (of a lake) The ratio of area of inlets and bays to the total area of the lake. |
| aquifer | a geologic formation that will yield water to a well in sufficient quantities to make the production of water from this formation feasible for beneficial use; permeable layers of underground rock or sand that hold or transmit groundwater below the water table. |
| downstream | The direction that the river flows, towards the mouth of the river. |
| stream power | Directly related to the sediment transport rates of a stream and measured as the loss of potential energy per unit length of stream channel |
| coarse rejects | waste rock that is produced early in a mine's processing stage; the rock is not further crushed or concentrated because it contains little or nothing of economic value Concentrate |
| friction | In meteorology, it is the turbulent resistance of the earth on the atmosphere |
| damage-frequency curve | A graph showing the flood damages and their probabilities of occurrence |
| acid | pH of water less than 5.5; pH modifier used in the U.S |
| water cycle | natural pathway water follows as it changes between liquid, solid, and gaseous states; biogeochemical cycle that moves and recycles water in various forms through the ecosphere |
| covariance | (Statistics) A measure of the linear association between two variables |
| in-situ stripping | treatment system that removes or strips volatile organic compounds from contaminated groundwater or surface water by forcing an air stream through the water and causing the compounds to evaporate. |
| e. coli | A bacterial species which inhabits the intestinal tract of man and other warm-blooded animals |
| spectrophotometry | Process of determining the energy distribution in a spectrum of luminous radiation. |
| rocky mountain spotted fever | an acute, infectious, and sometimes fatal tick-borne disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii; characterized by fever, bone and muscle pain, headache, and rash |
| recurrence interval | average amount of time between events of a given magnitude |
| playa | Generally, a dry or intermittently dry lakebed in the lowest spot of a closed valley |
| physical and chemical treatment | Processes generally used in wastewater treatment facilities |
| residual detention storage | Detention storage existing at the end of a period of excess rain. |
| community beach | Beach dedicated for the semi-exclusive use of a definite subdivision |
| feasibility study | (1) A complete assessment of alternative courses of action to solve one or more problems, to meet needs, and to recommend the most practical course of action consistent with state and local planning objectives |
| aquatic life | All forms of living things found in water, ranging from bacteria to fish and rooted plants |
| conflicting uses | Uses that act to the detriment of other users |
| mutagen | A substance or agent that increases the chance of mutation (permanent change in the hereditary material involving a physical change in chromosomes or genes). |
| agency | A department of the government. |
| marine | (1) Of or pertaining to the sea; having to do with the ocean or the things peculiar to the ocean |
| static lift | The vertical distance between source and discharge water levels in a pump installation. |
| percent sodium | The percent of cationic equivalents in a water which is attributable to sodium. |
| continuous sample | A flow of water from a particular place in a plant to the location where samples are collected for testing |
| anhydride | A chemical compound formed from another, often an acid, by the removal of water. |
| ravine | Another name for a narrow gorge. |
| lake | an inland body of water, usually fresh water, formed by glaciers, river drainage etc |
| public water system | a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances. In Texas, a public water system is one that serves at least 15 service connections or serve at least 25 individuals at least 60 days out of the year. |
| capillary zone | soil area above the water table where water can rise up slightly through the cohesive force of capillary action |
| marsh | A type of wetland that does not accumulate appreciable peat deposits and is dominated by herbaceous vegetation |
| transform | in salamanders, to change from the larval form to the terrestrial form, which involves absorption of the gills and tail fin, and other changes |
| phagotroph | An organism that obtains nutrients through the ingestion of solid organic matter |
| neutralization | (1) (Chemistry) A reaction between an acid and a base that yields a salt and water |
| base flows | the component of a flow regime that represents normal flow conditions between precipitation events |
| supercool | To cool a liquid below a transition temperature without the transition occurring, especially to cool below the freezing point of water without solidification into ice. |
| disposal | the relocation and/or containment, of unwanted materials Dissolution |
| land improvement | See Land Development. |
| delivery/release | The amount of water delivered to the point of use and the amount released after use; the difference between these amounts is usually the same as the Consumptive Use. |
| locus | A gene's position on a chromosome (plural: loci). |
| wave | See Water Alliances for Voluntary Efficiency. |
| monogamy | a mating pattern in which males and females are paired one to one for at least one reproductive season; usually associated with parental care by both parents. (Monogamous) - Prolonged and exclusive pair bond with a single member of the opposite sex in order to raise young. |
| terminal velocity | For a particle falling in a nonturbulent fluid (liquid or gas), the maximum possible velocity reached when the drag, or frictional resistance, on the particle equals the gravitational force on the particle |
| mantle | (Geology) The division of the earth's interior between the core and the crust |
| promiscuous | A mating behavior in which the male and female do not form lasting pair bonds; one male may mate with several females, or one female with several males. |
| conductivity | a measure of the ability of a liquid to transmit electrical current or heat Conservation |
| off-channel habitat | habitat, which is not part of the active channel, but connected to the main stream by a short channel |
| creosote | Chemical used in wood preserving operations and produced by distillation of tar, including Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs and PNAs) |
| mudballs | round material that forms in filters and gradually grows when not removed by backwashing. |
| dfo | Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada |
| lake | or other body of water into which light can penetrate, also known as the zone of photosynthesis. |
| hydrostatic loads | Forces imposed on a flooded structure due to the weight of the water. |
| prime farmland | Land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing agricultural crops as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to the Farmland Protection Policy Act of 1982 |
| petroleum derivatives | chemicals formed when gasoline breaks down in contact with water. |
| representativeness | (Statistics) How well a given sample represents the total population from which it was taken. |
| cloacal glands | glands in the wall of the cloaca that function during reproduction |
| coe | Corps of Engineers |
| sharp-crested weir | A device for measuring water, featuring a notch cut in a relatively thin plate and having a sharp edge on the upstream side of the crest. |
| median tolerance limit | The concentration of a test substance at which just 50 percent of the test animals are able to survive for a specified period of exposure. |
| aquatic | although many are planktonic, some species are extremely large. |
| specific heat | (1) The ratio of the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one unit of temperature to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a similar mass of a reference material, usually water, by the same amount |
| arars | Applicable, Relevant, Appropriate Requirements. |
| pluviometer | A Rain Gauge. |
| supralittoral zone | That portion of the seashore adjacent to the tidal or spray zone |
| boulder | A streambed substrate particle greater than 10 inches in its longest dimension. |
| inflated | swollen or expanded |
| solder | A metallic compound used to seal joints between pipes |
| dehydration | (1) The process of removing water from a substance or compound |
| parthenogenic | Having unisexual reproduction in which young are produced by unfertilized females. |
| silica | (Geology) Silicon dioxide (SiO2) |
| larval | Referring to the sides of the body |
| snag | Any standing dead, partially dead, or defective (cull) tree at least 10 in |
| harvest | the take or consumption of a renewable natural resource by humans |
| movable bed | A stream bed made up of materials readily transportable by the streamflow. |
| recarbonization | process in which carbon dioxide is bubbled into water being treated to lower the pH. |
| distribution system | the network of pipes leading from a treatment plant to customers' plumbing systems. |
| anthropomorphic | Regarding animals as possessing human qualities. |
| aerate | to supply air to water, soil, or other media. |
| toxic release inventory | A database of annual toxic releases from certain manufacturers compiled from EPCRA Section 313 reports |
| solvent | Substance (usually liquid) capable of dissolving one or more other substances. |
| core | (Geology) The central portion of the earth below the Mantle, beginning at a depth of about 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) and probably consisting of iron and nickel |
| terrapin | Fresh-water tortoise |
| apron | (1) A platform, as of planking, at the entrance to a dock |
| seasonally adjusted | (Data Analysis) Data which have been adjusted (modified) by Seasonal Adjustment Factors so as to remove the effects of Seasonality |
| icicle | Ice that forms in the shape of a narrow cone hanging point down |
| hydrologic soil groups | The classification of soils by their reference to the intake rate of infiltration of water, which is influenced by texture, organic matter content, stability of the soil aggregates, and soil horizon development. |
| thundersquall | A squall accompanied by thunder and lightning. |
| hoa | homeowner's association |
| prairie pothole | A geologic and geographic formation prevalent in the Northern Great Plains region of the United States and characterized by a depression in the land formed thousands of years ago as a result of retreating Glaciers during the last Ice Age |
| right valve | the right half of the shell when the dorsal edge or hinge is facing up and the anterior end is directed forward (away from the collector) |
| watermaster-reported headgate deliveries | The watermaster-reported, measured and/or estimated farm headgate deliveries. |
| volatile organic compound | a carbon compound that vaporizes (becomes a gas) at normal room temperatures |
| internal drainage | (1) Movement of water down through soil to porous aquifers or to surface outlets at lower elevations |
| underflow | movement of water through subsurface material. |
| coast | According to prevailing usage, the term is applied to land bordering seas. The shorelands of the Great Lakes are also called coasts. |
| estuarine waters | deepwater tidal habitats and tidal wetlands that are usually enclosed by land but have access to the ocean and are at least occasionally diluted by freshwater runoff from the land (such as bays, mouths of rivers, salt marshes, lagoons). |
| dredging | Removing material (usually sediments) from wetlands or waterways, usually to make them deeper and wider. |
| savanna | a plain characterized by coarse grasses and scattered tree growth. |
| water year | The 12-month period, October 1 through September 30 |
| vegetated roof | a roof partially or fully covered by vegetation, used to manage water runoff and provide additional insulation in winter and cooling in summer. |
| ground water reservoir | An aquifer or aquifer system in which ground water is stored |
| hydraulic head | the height of the free surface of a body of water above a given point beneath the surface. |
| truncate | having the end shortened or squared off |
| biological oxidation | decomposition of complex organic materials by microorganisms |
| hermaphrodite | an animal or plant normally having both male and female reproductive organs |
| in-situ oxidation | technology that oxidizes contaminants dissolved in groundwater, converting them into insoluble compounds. |
| algae | Chlorophyll-bearing nonvascular, primarily aquatic species that have no true roots, stems, or leaves; most algae are microscopic, but some species can be as large as vascular plants. |
| phenotype | An animal's external apperance, as caused by its genotype. |
| kettle | (1) (Geology) A depression left in a mass of Glacial Drift, formed by the melting of an isolated block of glacial ice |
| body fluid | the total body water, contained principally in blood plasma and in intracellular and interstitial fluids |
| sustained overdraft | long term withdrawal from the aquifer of more water than is being recharged. |
| downstream control | (Irrigation) Control structure adjustments which are based on information from downstream; the required information is measured by a sensor located downstream or based on the downstream water schedule established by the Watermaster. |
| concentration | the ratio of the quantity of any substance present in a sample of a given volume or a given weight compared to the volume or weight of the sample. |
| hydrothermal deposit | (Geology) A mineral deposit formed when hot, aqueous solutions fill fractures or other open spaces in rocks or along faults |
| post-bmp implementation | The period of use and/or adherence to the BMP. |
| playa lake | a shallow, temporary lake in an arid or semiarid region, covering or occupying a playa in the wet season but drying up in summer; temporary lake that upon evaporation leaves or forms a playa. |
| issue | All issues and aspirations are related to flood and coastal defence and grouped or categorised under the three main themes: Technical; Environmental; or Socio-economic. |
| refrigerant | a fluid that absorbs heat from a reservoir at low temperatures and rejects heat at higher temperatures. |
| dry line | The boundary between the dry desert air mass of the Southwest U.S |
| muskeg | A Swamp or Bog formed by an accumulation of sphagnum moss, leaves, and decayed matter resembling Peat |
| physiographic province | a region in which the landforms differ significantly from those of adjacent regions. |
| element | (1) (Chemistry) Any substance that cannot be separated into different substances by ordinary chemical methods |
| playa lake | A temporary lake formed in a Playa |
| hydraulic fracturing | Any technique involving the pumping of fluid under high pressure into an oil or gas formation to create fissures and openings in the reservoir rock and increase the flow of oil or gas. |
| overbank flows | the component of an instream flow regime that represents infrequent, high flow events that exceed the normal channel |
| phytoplankton die-off | An abrupt, massive mortality of Phytoplankton resulting from natural or manmade causes. |
| groundwater monitoring | The periodic measurement of ground water levels |
| precocial | Being born in a relatively advanced state of development and some what capable of being independent shortly after birth |
| electrical log | A record of electrical-resistivity tests made at various depths in a well. |
| boiling point | the temperature at which a liquid boils |
| coral reef | a ridge of limestone, composed chiefly of coral, coral sands, and solid limestone resulting from organic secretion of calcium carbonate; occur along continents and islands where the temperature is generally above 18° C. |
| tracking | Documenting or recording the location and timing of BMP implementation. |
| stemflow | The rainfall or snowmelt led to the ground down the trunks or stems of plants. |
| hydrostatic head | A measure of pressure at a given point in a liquid in terms of the vertical height of a column of the same liquid which would produce the same pressure. |
| latent heat transfer | The removal or addition of heat when a substance changes state |
| rainfall intensity-duration-freque | Curves showing the relationship between rainfall or precipitation intensity and duration for different levels of frequency; each curve represents the rainfall intensity-duration which will be equaled or exceeded once in a certain number of years, indicated as the frequency of that curve. |
| free liquids | (Water Quality) Liquids capable of migrating from waste and contaminating ground water |
| coarse woody debris | sound or rotting logs, stumps, or large branches that have fallen or been cut and left on the ground. |
| amphibian | (1) A cold-blooded, smooth-skinned vertebrate of the class Amphibia, such as a frog or salamander, that characteristically hatches as an aquatic larva with gills |
| deposit | something dropped or left behind by moving water, as sand or mud. |
| aquifer | one that does not deliver drinking water, an unused aquifer or below the levels of fresh water. |
| fluoride | A binary compound of Fluorine with another element; gaseous, solid, or dissolved compounds containing fluorine that result from industrial processes |
| disturbance | This has several applications |
| ninetieth percentile | See 90th Percentile (first entry under the letter "N"). |
| blowing sand | Sand that is raised by the wind to heights of six feet or greater |
| cobble | Rock fragments 7.6 cm (3 inches) to 25.4 cm (10 inches) in diameter. |
| chemosynthesis | The synthesis of carbohydrate from carbon dioxide and water using energy obtained from the chemical oxidation of simple inorganic compounds |
| life cycle assessment | (Environmental) An objective process to evaluate all the environmental burdens of a product or process through its entire existence (life cycle) |
| blinding | A build-up of particles in a filter medium, that prevents fluids from flowing through. |
| phytoplankton | Usually microscopic aquatic plants, sometimes consisting of only one cell. |
| cfr | U.S |
| deionized water | water free of inorganic chemicals. |
| rocketsonde | A type of radiosonde that is shot into the atmosphere by a rocket, allowing it to collect data during its parachute descent from a higher position in the atmosphere than a balloon could reach. |
| ocean floor sediment | Unconsolidated materials that settle and accumulate on the floor of the deep ocean |
| flood insurance | There are two types of Flood Insurance that compensate for physical property damage resulting from flooding: |
| friable | descriptive of a rock or mineral that crumbles naturally or is easily broken, pulverized, or reduced to powder. |
| activity | The effective concentration of a chemical based on thermodynamic considerations |
| desert | A desert is a very dry area. |
| granular activated carbon | In water treatment, granular activated carbon has been used mainly for taste and odor control, with some special applications that remove Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs) or Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) from contaminated water |
| photolysis | The breakdown of a material by sunlight |
| shoal | (1) A shallow place in a body of water |
| deadman | A log, block of concrete, rebar, or other object buried in a stream bank that is used to tie in revetment with cable or chain. |
| winters doctrine | The doctrine of (federal) reservation rights |
| settling tank | A term used synonymously with Settling Chamber. |
| climatic year | a period used in meteorological measurements |
| stream gradient | A general slope or rate of change in vertical elevation per unit of horizontal distance of the water surface of a flowing stream. |
| reticulate | Usually used in herpetology with reference to a color pattern, which has linear markings resembling the meshes of a net. |
| aqueous | something made up of water. |
| nauplius | The free-swimming microscopic larval stage characteristic of many crustaceans, barnacles, etc. |
| palatal complex | Bones and soft tissue that make up the palate. |
| fission | Reproduction of microrganisms by means of cell division. |
| pond | A body of water smaller than a lake, often artificially formed. |
| adequate-size farm | A farm with resources and productivity sufficient to generate enough income to (a) provide an acceptable level of family living; (b) pay current operating expenses and interest on loans; and (c) allow for capital growth to keep pace with technological growth. |
| scum | (Biological) A filmy layer of extraneous or impure matter that forms on or rises to the surface of a liquid or body of water. |
| snow sample | A core taken from the snow mantle on a snow course from which the depth and density of snow may be determined. |
| delegated state | A state (or other governmental entity such as a tribal government) that has received authority from the U.S |
| debris | Obstructions in a sewer line, such as tree roots and trash that reduce the capacity of the sewer and contribute to blockage and overflows. |
| fema | Federal Emergency Management Agency |
| log and safety boom | A net-like device installed around the discharge facility of a dam to prevent logs, debris, or boaters from entering the outlet device. |
| fragile area | Areas that, due to steepness, soil type, exposure, and cover, are especially subject to soil erosion and rapid deterioration |
| pervious paving | Paving material that allows water to penetrate to the soil below. |
| electrodialysis | a process which uses an electrical current and an arrangement of permeable membranes to separate soluble minerals from water |
| net precipitation | The potential for Leachate generation from a waste disposal site |
| shear | Force parallel to a surface as opposed to directly on the surface |
| scour | Removal of underwater material by waves or currents, especially at the toe of a shore protection structure. |
| total coliform | The Escherica coli and similar gram negative bacteria that are normal inhabitants of fecal discharges |
| mfs | Micro Filtration System, it serves full automatic solid/ liquid separation. |
| frame | The metal ring that holds a manhole in place. |
| mpca | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency |
| exotic | An organism or species that is not native to the area in which it is found. |
| sewage | Waste fluid in a sewer system. |
| headworks | The diversion structures at the head of a conduit. |
| boulder wind | A local name referring to an extremely strong downslope wind in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains near Boulder, Colorado. |
| cercla | Comprehensive Environment Response, Compensation and Liability Act |
| constricting | The method, which many snakes utilize to kill their prey by wrapping themselves around and tightening until the meal is dead. |
| irrigation | The controlled application of water to cropland, hayland, and/or pasture to supplement that supplied through nature. |
| neck cutoff | The breakthrough of a river across the narrow neck separating two meanders, where downstream migration of one has been slowed and the next meander upstream has overtaken it |
| bed material | The sediment mixture of which a streambed, lake, pond, reservoir, or estuary bottom is composed. |
| particle size | The sizes of a particle, determined by the smallest dimension, for instance a diameter |
| siphon tubes | (Irrigation) Small curved pipes, typically 0.5-4.0 inches (1.3-10.2 centimeters) in diameter, that deliver water over the side of a head ditch or lateral to furrows, corrugations, or borders. |
| minors | Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) with flows of less than 1 million gallons per day |
| wave length | The least distance between particles moving in the same phase of oscillation of a wave |
| spit | (1) A narrow point of land extending into a body of water |
| reach | in general, a length of stream with relatively homogenous characteristics. |
| satellite images | Images taken by a weather satellite that reveal information, such as the flow of water vapor, the movement of frontal system, and the development of a tropical system |
| litre | The basic unit of measurement for volume in the metric system; equal to 61.025 cubic inches or 1.0567 liquid quarts. |
| polymer | A substance which consists of giant molecules formed by the linkage of simple molecules (monomers) |
| conservation | protection, preservation, management, or restoration of a resource Consumptive Water Use |
| squall | A brief, sudden, violent windstorm, often accompanied by rain or snow. |
| spring tide | The highest high and the lowest low tides during the lunar month |
| sanitary landfill | landfill that is lined with plastic or concrete or located in clay-rich soils to prevent hazardous substances from leaking into the environment. |
| natural sink | A habitat that serves to trap or immobilize chemicals such as plant nutrients, organic pollutants, or metal ions through natural processes |
| public right-of-way | The designated area that lies between private property lines on the side that parallels the street |
| groundwater law | the common law doctrine of riparian rights and the doctrine of prior appropriation as applied to ground water. |
| eolian soil material | Soil material accumulated through wind action. |
| core area | The area of habitat essential in the breeding, nesting, and rearing of young, up to the point of dispersal of the young. |
| hydrology | The study of the occurrence, circulation, properties, and distribution of water and its atmosphere. |
| biological integrity | The capability of supporting and maintaining a balanced, integrated, adaptive community of organisms having a species composition and functional organization comparable to that of the natural habitat in a region. |
| fixed ground water | water held in saturated material that it is not available as a source of water for pumping. |
| organotins | chemical compounds used in antifoulant paints to protect the hulls of boats and ships, buoys, and pilings from marine organisms such as barnacles. |
| sustainable development | Development that ensures that the use of resources and the environment today does not restrict their use by future generations. |
| gorget | A patch on the throat of a bird or other animal, distinguished by color, texture, etc. |
| epidemiology | The study of the incidence, transmission, distribution, and control of infectious disease (including waterborne disease) in large populations. |
| lifts | Layers of loose soil |
| chemigation | Application of pesticides or fertilizers to farmlands through irrigation systems. |
| enteric fever | An acute, highly infectious disease caused by a bacillus (Salmonella typhi) transmitted chiefly by contaminated food or water and characterized by high fever, headache, coughing, intestinal hemorrhaging, and rose-colored spots on the skin |
| tilt | The inclination to the vertical of a significant feature of the pressure pattern or of the field of moisture or temperature |
| endemism | the characteristic of being confined to or indigenous in, a certain area or region. |
| density | (1) Matter measured as mass per unit volume expressed in pounds per gallon (lb/gal), pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft3), and kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m3) |
| conventional tilling | Tillage operations considered standard for a specific location and crop and that tend to bury the crop residues; usually considered as a base for determining the cost effectiveness of control practices. |
| perspire | To produce sweat or salty water from glands in the skin |
| ubiquitous organisms | Organisms that can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions or variations |
| non-filtrable residue | The total quantity of substances in a sample which can be removed by filtration through a 0.45 m membrane filter |
| entrance head | The Head required to cause flow into a conduit or other structure, including both entrance loss and Velocity Head. |
| cloudy | (1) When the sky is covered with clouds |
| cso | Combined Sewer Overflows occurs when heavy rain or melting snow causes sanitary sewers to overflow into stormwater drainpipes |
| sodicity | A measure of the excess sodium in a soil which imparts a poor physical condition to the soil |
| hydrolysis | the decomposition of organic compounds by interaction with water. |
| delayed implantation | Usually, the fertilized egg implants in the wall of the female's uterus shortly after mating and fertilization |
| cut line | a line cut through a forest area to facilitate cadastral or seismic surveys, or to create firebreaks. |
| floodway encroachment lines | The lines marking the limits of Floodways on federal, state, and local floodplain maps. |
| discharge formula | (Hydraulics) A formula used to calculate the rate of flow of fluid in a conduit or through an opening |
| exposure indicator | A characteristic of the environment measured to provide evidence of the occurrence or magnitude of a response indicator's exposure to a chemical or biological stress. |
| surface erosion | The detachment and transport of soil particles by wind, water, or gravity or a group of processes whereby soil materials are removed by running water, waves and currents, moving ice, or wind. |
| melt | To be changed from a solid to a liquid state by application of heat or pressure or both. |
| cultural landscape | Man-made features of a region reflecting land-use patterns, population distribution, and other activities of man that have altered the natural landscape. |
| mid-seral condition | Synonymous with fair ecological conditions. |
| vegetation clearing window | a period of least risk for vegetation disturbance when there will be a reduced risk of impacting bird eggs, nests, and young |
| clay grain size fraction | These are sediment grains which are less than 4 microns in size. |
| pliocene | (Geology) The epoch immediately preceding the Pleistocene which lasted for about 10 million years' duration from about 12 million years ago to about 2 millions years ago. |
| recreational benefit | The value of a recreational activity to the recreationist, usually measured in dollars above the cost of participating in the recreational activity (travel, lodging, entrance fees, etc.) |
| dry ice | Solid carbon dioxide that sublimates at -78.5°C (-110°F) and is used primarily as a coolant. |
| electrophoresis | The migration of charged colloidal particles (Colloids) or Molecules through a solution under the influence of an applied electric field usually provided by immersed electrodes |
| abatement | Reducing the degree or intensity of, or eliminating, pollution. |
| cations | An atom or group of atoms that has a net positive charge. |
| dedicated natural flow | River flows dedicated to environmental use |
| stratosphere | The layer of the earth's atmosphere that extends from approximately 11 km to 50 km above the earth's surface. |
| acre-foot | A quantity or volume of water covering 1 acre to a depth of 1 ft; equal to 43,560 ft3 or 325, 851 gal. |
| flyway | a specific air route taken by birds during migration. |
| xylem | The supporting and water-conducting tissue of Vascular Plants, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels; woody tissue. |
| invertebrate | Animals that have no spinal column or backbones. |
| humidity | The degree of moisture in the air. |
| parts per billion | The number of "parts" by weight of a substance per billion parts of water |
| alluvial dam lakes | Numerous basins which are the sites of both existing and extinct lakes in the arid regions of western U |
| vapor barrier | A continuous plastic membrane which surrounds the entire thermal envelope of a house and prevents moisture penetration into the wall cavity |
| slush | (1) Partially melted snow or ice |
| outfall | The place where a sewer, drain, or stream discharges; the outlet or structure through which reclaimed water or treated effluent is finally discharged to a receiving water body. |
| potential supply | That part of the resource base that has the potential for development or further expansion. |
| shower | Precipitation from a convective cloud that is characterized by its sudden beginning and ending, changes in intensity, and rapid changes in the appearance of the sky |
| trajectory | The curve that a body, such as a celestial object, describes in space |
| before-after design | A term referring to water quality monitoring designs that require collection of data before and after implementation of best management practices. |
| plash | (1) To cause a splashing or spattering effect |
| sedimentary cycle | biogeochemical cycle in which materials primarily are moved from land to sea and back again. |
| stream-gaging station | A gaging station where a continuous record of the discharge of a stream is obtained. |
| wellspring | The source of a stream or spring. |
| melanistic | Is a term that refers to the black color phase of some animals - abnormally dark, especially due to an increase of melanin. |
| conservation plan | A collection of material containing land user information requested for making decisions regarding the conservation of soil, water, and related plant and animal resources, along with necessary habitat, for all or part of an operating unit. |
| ae | Awareness & Education section credit category |
| micronutrient | A chemical element required only in small amounts (usually less than one part per million [ppm] in the plant) for the growth of plants. |
| climate | The historical record and description of average daily and in seasonal weather events that help describe a region |
| land breeze | A diurnal coastal breeze that blows offshore, from the land to the sea |
| discount rate | The interest rate used in evaluating water (and other) projects to calculate the present value of future benefits and future costs or to convert benefits and costs to a common time basis. |
| cabotage | Trade or transport in coastal waters or airspace or between two points within a country. |
| wilderness act | A 1964 Act of Congress which established federal Wilderness Areas |
| hydrologic unit | is a geographic area representing part or all of a surface drainage basin or distinct hydrologic feature. |
| aeration | Any active or passive process by which intimate contact between air and liquid are assured, generally by spraying liquid in the air, bubbling air through water, or mechanical agitation of the liquid to promote surface absorption of air. |
| imperiled species | declining, rare, or uncommon species; species federally listed as threatened or endangered, or candidates for such; and species with limited distributions. |
| piezometric surface | the imaginary surface to which groundwater rises under hydrostatic pressure in wells or springs. |
| diffuse-source pollution | pollution from sources such as an eroding paddock, urban or suburban lands and forests; spread out, and often not easily identified or managed |
| clay | Substrate particles that are smaller than silt and generally less than 0.003 mm in diameter. |
| hydrographic region [nevada] | Nevada has been divided into 14 hydrographic regions or basins, which are now used by the Nevada Division of Water Resources, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the U.S |
| resilience | the ability of an ecosystem to maintain or restore biodiversity, biotic integrity, and ecological structure and processes following disturbance. |
| identification | (Statistics) A term used to describe the ability to determine an econometric model's structural parameters, i.e., the coefficients of the exogenous (or independent) variables |
| agricultural | Having to do with farming or farms. |
| climate | the synthesis of the day-to-day weather conditions in a given area; the actual climate is characterised by long-term statistics of the state of the atmosphere in an area |
| previously developed | a site with preexisting paving, construction or other types of altered landscapes |
| berm crest | ridge of sand or gravel deposited by wave action on the shore just above the normal high water mark. |
| cyclone | (Meteorology) An atmospheric system characterized by the rapid, inward circulation of air masses about a low-pressure center, usually accompanied by stormy, often destructive, weather |
| structural bmps | BMPs that require the construction or use of a structure such as a terrace, lagoon, or waste storage facility. |
| disinfection | to destroy or prevent the growth of micro organisms Disposal |
| mine drainage | Water pumped or flowing from a mine. |
| secchi disc | A circular plate, generally about 10-12 inches in diameter, used to measure the transparency or clarity of water by noting the greatest depth at which it can be visually detected |
| adenosine triphosphate | A nucleotide consisting of adenine, ribose and three phosphate groups that serves as the energy source for cell metabolism |
| swale | A piece of meadow, often a slight depression or valley, as in a plain or moor, marshy and rank with vegetation |
| bog | a type of wetland that accumulates appreciable peat deposits |
| macroclimate | The general large-scale climate of a large area or country, as distinguished from Mesoclimate and Microclimate. |
| blind spots | Any place on a filter medium where fluids cannot flow through. |
| inch-degrees | The product of inches of rainfall times temperature in degrees above freezing (Fahrenheit), used as a measure of the snowmelting capacity of rainfall. |
| biomagnification | an increase in concentration of a substance at each progressive link in the food chain (for example: berries birds foxes bears; the concentration of a contaminant such as lead would be highest in a large meat-eater) Bioremediation |
| conduit | a natural or artificial channel through which fluids may be conveyed. |
| acid aerosol | Airborne particles composed of sulfates (SOX), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), nitrates (NOX), and/or nitric acid (HNO3) |
| dhw | domestic hot water |
| raised bogs | See Peatland. |
| polygynous | Of or relating to polygyny |
| instream use | use of water that does not require withdrawal or diversion from its natural watercourse; for example, the use of water for navigation, recreation, and support of fish and wildlife. |
| watery | (1) Filled with, consisting of, or soaked with water; wet or soggy |
| water right | A legally protected right to take possession of water occurring in a natural waterway and to divert that water for beneficial use. |
| rainmaker | One who is supposedly capable of producing rain. |
| ph | The value that determines if a substance is acid, neutral or basic, calculated from the number of hydrogen ions present |
| mixolimnion | The uppermost region in a Meromictic Lake. |
| injection | The introduction of a chemical or medium into the process water to alter its chemistry or filter specific compounds. |
| hydropneumatic | a water delivery system, usually small, that maintains water pressure in the distribution system by means of pressure in a compressed air tank. |
| environmental indicator | a measurement, statistic or value that provides evidence of the effects of environmental management programs or of the state or condition of the environment. |
| big water | To avoid reducing channel capacity, the San Antonio River Improvements Project plan calls for these wider stretches of water to be excavated just upstream of a grade control structure where the overall main channel can be widened |
| fema designated flood zone | FEMA designates Flood Zones, which are zones where water overflows from a river or stream during extreme storm events |
| suspended-sediment discharge | The quantity of suspended sediment passing a transect in a unit of time |
| displacement | distance by which portions of the same geological layer are offset from each other by a fault. |
| adjudication | a court proceeding to determine all rights to the use of water on a particular stream system or ground water basin. |
| rising sludge | (Water Quality) The rising of previously settled solids in the settling tank of an activated sludge system |
| backing | A counterclockwise shift in the wind direction in the Northern Hemisphere at a certain location |
| polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons/polararomatic hyd | A group of highly reactive organic compounds, such as pyrene, that comprise a component of creosotes and can cause cancer. |
| streambank stabilization | The lining of streambanks with riprap, matting, etc., or other measures intended to control erosion. |
| profundal zone | a lake's deep-water region that is not penetrated by sunlight. |
| rdp | Rainleader Disconnect Program |
| viviparous | Reproducing by giving birth to live young. |
| splashdown | A spacecraft's soft landing on the water, thereby permitting recovery of personnel and critical components. |
| anomalies | As related to fish, externally visible skin or subcutaneous disorders, including deformities, eroded fins, lesions, and tumors. |
| fallow | cropland, tilled or untilled, allowed to lie idle during the whole or greater part of the growing season. |
| availability | The location or nutrients of pesticides on the soil influences the amount available for loss. |
| soil flushing | A treatment technique for cleaning soil contaminated with inorganic or organic hazardous waste |
| firewhirl | A tornado-like rotating column of fire and smoke created by intense heat from a forest fire or volcanic eruption. |
| retarding reservoir | Ungated reservoir for temporary storage of flood water |
| capillary potential | The work required to move a unit mass of water from the reference plane to any point in the soil column. |
| anc | Acid Neutralizing Capacity. |
| migration | fish and other animal movements between two or more separate habitats (e.g., from over-wintering habitat to spawning habitat). |
| storm surge | an abnormal and sudden rise of the sea along a shore as a result of the winds of a storm. |
| splat | A splattering or wet, slapping sound. |
| tree/plant preservation plan | a scheme that seeks to preserve existing plants on a project site. |
| waterfall | a sudden, nearly vertical drop in a stream, as it flows over rock. |
| range carrying capacity | Permitted Animal Unit Month (AUM) production. |
| suction lysimeter | A sampling device for the collection of groundwater from the unsaturated zone |
| consolute | Of or relating to liquid substances that are capable of being mixed in all proportions. |
| transport | The movement of a soil particle, nutrient, or pesticide from its original position |
| orographic | pertaining to mountains, in regard to their location and distribution; said of the precipitation caused by the lifting of moisture-laden air over mountains. |
| drizzle | Rather uniform precipitation consisting exclusively of minute and very numerous drops of water less than 0.02 inches (0.51 mm) in diameter, which seem to float in and follow even the slightest motion of the air |
| kilowatt hour | One kilowatt of power applied for one hour. |
| interstices | The openings or pore spaces in a rock, soil, and other such material |
| floodplain fringe | The portion of the flood plain outside the floodway which is covered by floodwaters during the 100-year recurrence interval flood |
| seashore | (1) Land by the sea |
| regression | (Statistics) A statistical method for studying and expressing the change in one Variable associated with and dependent upon changes in another related variable or set of variables. |
| enrichment | The addition of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus and carbon compounds, into a lake or waterway to the point that the Trophic Level is greatly increased because of the stimulation of the growth of algae and other aquatic plants. |
| clearcutting | A silvicultural system in which all merchantable trees are harvested over a specified area in one operation. |
| microwave oven | An oven in which food is cooked by the heat produced by the absorption of microwave energy by water molecules in the food. |
| diluting water | distilled water that has been stabilized, buffered, and aerated |
| external cost | cost of production or consumption that must be borne by society; not by the producer. |
| alpine | That portion of mountains above tree growth; or organisms living there |
| antibodies | a proteins, produced as a result of the introduction of an antigen, that has the ability to combine with the antigen that caused its production. |
| drainage area | The drainage area of a stream at a specified location is that area, measured in a horizontal plane, which is enclosed by a drainage divide. |
| salt-water marsh | Low, flat marshlands subject to inundation by salt waters; may be tidal or non-tidal; normally the only vegetation present is salt-tolerant bushes and grasses |
| spring | area where there is a concentrated discharge of ground water that flows at the ground surface. |
| stalagmite | A conical mineral deposit, usually calcite or aragonite, built up on the floor of a cavern, formed from the dripping of mineral-rich water |
| snow garland | Snow appearing as a beautiful long thick rope draped on trees, fences and other objects |
| condensation | the change of state from a gas to a liquid |
| root wad | A short length of tree trunk with a root mass. |
| w.c. | Wild caught is used to describe animals that were just that, caught in the wild and brought into captivity. |
| isoconcentration | Graphic plot of points having the same contaminant concentration levels. |
| well plug | a seal installed in a borehole or well preventing movement of fluids. |
| titrant | A solution of known strength or concentration; used in Titration. |
| ground water law | The common law doctrine of Riparian Rights and the doctrine of prior appropriation (Appropriative Rights) as applied to ground water |
| th | Total Hardness |
| riparian | Located on the banks or a stream or other body of water. |
| hydraulic jump | The rapid change in the depth of flow from a low stage to a high stage, resulting in an abrupt rise of water surface. |
| legionella | A genus of bacteria, some species of which have caused a type of pneumonia called Legionnaires Disease. |
| load | What the river carries along with it - mud, sand, rocks, wood |
| administered groundwater basin | A groundwater basin (watershed, area, or sub-area) which, in the interest of public welfare, is monitored by an appropriate agency to insure adequate water resources for prescribed uses |
| herbivorous | Feeding exclusively or mainly on plants. |
| corona | (Astronomy) A faintly colored luminous ring appearing to surround a celestial body visible through a haze or thin cloud of water vapor, especially such a ring around the moon or sun, caused by the diffraction of light from suspended matter in the intervening medium |
| wettability | The relative degree to which a fluid will spread into solid surface in the presence of other immiscible fluids. |
| bpi pan | A circular evaporation pan, 6 feet in diameter and 2 feet deep, made of unpainted galvanized iron |
| crest | A crest is a formation on the top of a reptiles head |
| cop | coefficient of performance |
| chlorination | The application of chlorine or one of its compounds to water or wastewater, often for disinfection or oxidation purposes. |
| constant pressure surface | A surface along which the atmospheric pressure is equal everywhere. |
| marsh | an area periodically inundated and treeless and often characterized by grasses, cattails, and other monocotyledons |
| unsteady flow | Flow that is changing with respect to time. |
| hibernate | To pass the winter in a condition of hibernation in sleep or seclusion. |
| hydrogeology | the geology of groundwater, with particular emphasis on the chemistry and movement of water. |
| capillary water | (1) Water held in the soil above the Phreatic Surface by capillary forces; or soil water above hydroscopic moisture and below the field capacity |
| abioseston | Nonliving components of the seston. |
| right abutment | That part of the right-hand side of a valley side wall against which a dam is constructed |
| coefficient of runoff | Factor in the rational runoff formula expressing the ratio of peak runoff rate to rainfall intensity. |
| bank | the sloping land bordering a stream channel that forms the usual boundaries of a channel |
| physiographic divisions | (Geography) Broad land groupings based on the physical features of the landscape. |
| anoxia | The absence of oxygen or a pathological deficiency of oxygen. |
| ground clutter | A pattern of radar echoes reflecting off fixed ground targets such as buildings or hills near the radar |
| larva | the newly hatched, immature form of an animal that undergoes metamorphosis, differing markedly in form or appearance from the adult |
| oxygen demanding waste | organic water pollutants that are usually degraded by bacteria if there is sufficient dissolved oxygen (DO) in the water. |
| anthropogenic | caused or produced as a result of human activity Aquatic |
| coromell | The prevailing evening land breeze which takes place from November to May in the vicinity of La Paz, at the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico. |
| secondary succession | an association of plants that develops after the destruction of all or part of the original plant community. |
| sludge digester | tank in which complex organic substances like sewage sludge are biologically dredged |
| peninsula | A peninsula is a body of land that is surrounded by water on three sides. |
| novel biota | a species occurring in an area outside its historically known natural range as a result of intentional or accidental dispersal by human activities (including exotic organisms, GMOs and translocated species) (see also exotic species) |
| dock | (1) The area of water between two piers or alongside a pier that receives a ship for loading, unloading, or repairs |
| polluted | Something which contains foreign substances. |
| demiwater | Demineralised water |
| aquaculture | The controlled cultivation and harvest of aquatic plants or animals (e.g., edible marine algae, clams, oysters, and salmon). |
| well plug | Any watertight or gastight seal installed in a well to prevent the flow of fluids or gases. |
| bank | The ground at the side of a river |
| organic | Containing carbon, but possibly also containing hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine, nitrogen, and other elements. |
| seal | the impermeable material, such as cement grout bentonite, or puddling clay placed in the annular space between the borehole wall and the casing of a water well to prevent the downhole movement of surface water or the vertical mixing of artestian waters. |
| reserves | amount of a particular resource in known locations that can be extracted at a profit with present technology and prices. |
| melting point | The temperature at which a solid substance undergoes fusion, changing from a solid to a liquid state |
| bosque | a dense growth of trees and underbrush. |
| dolomite | a sedimentary rock consisting chiefly of magnesium carbonate. |
| social behavior | Communicating with behaviors and sounds (a few species vocalize).Generally this kind of "talking" is with members of your own species |
| bed load | Sediment that moves near the streambed. |
| economic efficiency | the extent to which managers are able to make optimum use of resources in production by accounting for the relative prices of resources and products; prices are used to select from a number of technically efficient combinations of resources; where market prices do not coincide with community values the result is the selection of products and practices that are socially inefficient |
| femoral pores | Plugs on the inside thigh of a reptile |
| compounds | Two or more different elements held together in fixed proportions by attractive forces called chemical bonds. |
| cut bank | The outside bank of a bend, often eroding opposite a point bar. |
| drip irrigation system | a network of pipes and valves that rest on the soil or underground and slowly deliver water to the root systems of plants |
| insectivorous | refers to an animal that feeds primarily on insects. |
| echo sounder | A device for measuring the depth of water or the depth of an object below the surface by sending pressure waves down from the surface and recording the time until the echo returns from the bottom. |
| anapsis | Refers to reptilian skull in which there are no temporal openings |
| nonporous | Something which does not allow water to pass through it |
| clear well | A reservoir containing potable water which has been previously treated before entering the distribution lines. |
| mouth | The end of the river |
| vapor | The gas given off by substances that are solids or liquids at ordinary atmospheric pressure and temperatures. |
| shallows | a term applied to a shallow place or area in a body of water; a shoal. |
| isobar | The line drawn on a weather map connecting points of equal barometric pressure. |
| dispersion coefficient | A measure of the spreading of a flowing substance due to the nature of the porous medium (and specific substance or fluid properties), with interconnected channels distributed at random in all directions |
| mare nostrum | A navigable body of water, such as a sea, that is under the jurisdiction of one nation or that is shared by two or more nations. |
| crown | the upper part of a tree or other woody plant that carries the main system of branches and the foliage. |
| photic | (1) Penetrated by or receiving light |
| nox | Oxides of nitrogen, specifically NO (nitric oxide), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide or nitrogen peroxide), and NO3, nitrate. |
| dredger | a ship or boat employed in dredging. |
| gulf | A gulf is a part of the ocean (or sea) that is partly surrounded by land (it is usually larger than a bay). |
| nerodia | is a genus of nonvenomous colubrid snakes commonly referred to as water snakes. |
| sample | bacterial colonies on laboratory media resulting from filtering and culturing bacteria from a water sample, each colony in the laboratory culture is presumed to have arisen from the multiplication of a single bacterium in the original sample. |
| diatoma | A small genus of fresh-water diatoms typifying the family Diatomaceae |
| influent | The stream of water that enters any system or treatment unit. |
| venom | A toxin produced by an animal. |
| data bank | A well-defined collection of data, usually of the same general type, which can be accessed by a computer and may readily be used for further analysis, presentation, and forecasting |
| peaking | Typically describes the peak water demand for a municipal water system and is expressed as a ratio of the base demand level, e.g., 2:1 peaking represents a peak demand that is twice the base demand. |
| habitat | the native environment or specific surroundings where a plant or animal naturally grows or lives |
| distribution coefficient | The quantity of a solute absorbed per unit weight of a solid divided by the quantity dissolved in water per unit volume of water. |
| fertilizer | Any of a large number of natural or synthetic materials, including manure and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compounds, spread on or worked into soil to increase its fertility. |
| scour | The erosive action of running water in streams, which excavates and carries away material from the bed and banks |
| mantle | a tissue lining the inside of a mussel shell that encloses the viscera and secretes new shell material from its edges for continued shell growth |
| crevasse | (1) A deep crack or fissure, especially in a glacier |
| subtidal | continuously submerged; an area affected by ocean tides. |
| drainage basin | The area of land that drains water, sediment, and dissolved materials to a common outlet at some point along a stream channel. |
| fluvial | Of or pertaining to rivers and streams; growing or living in streams ponds; produced the action of a river or stream. |
| cut and built terrace | See Wave Built Terrace or Littoral Shelf. |
| mineral soil | Soil composed of predominantly mineral rather than organic materials. |
| sediment | Particles and/or clumps of particles of sand, clay, silt, and plant or animal matter carried in water. |
| tideland flooding | The periodic flooding of Tidelands during extremely high tides coupled with strong winds and/or high river stages flowing out over a high tide. |
| navigable waters | Traditionally, waters sufficiently deep and wide for navigation by all, or specific sizes of, vessels. |
| biodegradable | Capable of being broken down by living organisms into inorganic compounds. |
| crop rotation | A pattern of changing the crops grown in a specific field from year to year in order to control pests and maintain soil fertility. |
| rimrock | 1 |
| plug | cement, grout, or other material used to fill and seal a hole drilled for a water well. |
| cryptosporidiosis | A disease of the intestinal tract caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium parvum |
| water-soluble substance | a substance that can readily disperse through the environment. |
| ap | LEED Accredited Professional (LEED) |
| impermeable | Unable to transmit water; not easily penetrated |
| plasmolysis | Shrinkage or contraction of the protoplasm away from the wall of a living plant or bacterial cell, caused by loss of water through Osmosis. |
| flood plain | The area adjacent to a stream that is on average inundated once a century. |
| water use | used for a specific purpose, i.e., domestic, agricultural or industrial. |
| prehensile tail | Capable of grasping or wrapping with the tail. |
| qualitative analysis | (Data Analysis) The examination or analysis of a phenomenon to determine its qualitative characteristics versus its quantitative characteristics, i.e., characteristics for which precise numerical identification are not appropriate |
| rearing habitat | Areas in rivers or streams where juvenile salmon and trout find food and shelter to live and grow. |
| pathogen | microorganisms which can cause disease. |
| clastic | Pertaining to a rock or sediment composed principally of broken fragments that are derived from pre-existing rocks or minerals and that have been transported some distance from their places of origin. |
| meander amplitude | The distance between points of maximum curvature of successive meanders of opposite phase in a direction normal to the general course of the meander belt, measured between center lines of channels. |
| weir | Usually a barrier constructed to catch upstream migrating adult fish. |
| recycling | The process by which salvaged materials become usable products. |
| autumnal | Appearing or flowering in the fall. |
| aerobic bacteria | Single-celled, microscopic organisms that require oxygen to live and are partly responsible for the Aerobic Decomposition of organic wastes. |
| variance | (Statistics) A measure of the spread or dispersion of a variable about its Mean or Arithmetic Mean value |
| total water used | Total water withdrawal which does not include recirculation. |
| hummocky | Hilly, uneven landscape resulting from deep-seated soil movement, usually of a rotational nature. |
| oxbow lake | A small arc-shaped lake formed when a meander is sealed off by deposition |
| hydraulic gradient | the direction of groundwater flow due to changes in the depth of the water table. |
| megawatt | A unit of electricity equivalent to 1 million watts or 1,000 kilowatts (KW). |
| emulsion | Dispersion of one liquid in another liquid, occurs when a liquid in insoluble. |
| aluminum | A light, bluish white malleable and ductile metallic element found only in combinations |
| terrestrial | A term used to describe Animals living on land. |
| load line | The line on a ship indicating the depth to which it sinks in the water when properly loaded |
| transport capacity | The ability of a stream to transport a Suspended Load, expressed in terms of the total weight of the suspended particles. |
| xeriscape | landscaping that doesn't require a lot of water |
| contact stabilization | A modification of the Activated Sludge Process wherein a contact basin provides for the rapid adsorption of the waste |
| rock | See cobble. |
| combined sewer | a sewer system that carries both sanitary sewage and stormwater runoff |
| isotherm | A line drawn on a weather map or chart linking all points of equal or constant temperature. |
| mountain breeze | A katabatic wind, it is formed at night by the radiational cooling along mountainsides |
| pristine | the earliest condition of the quality of a water body; unaffected by human activities. |
| purge | to force a gas through a water sample to liberate volatile chemicals or other gases from the water so their level can be measured. |
| ocean | The intercommunicating body of salt water occupying the depressions of the earth's surface, or one of its major primary subdivisions, bounded by the continents, or the equator, and other imaginary lines |
| tailings | Particulate waste material produced during mining operations |
| afue | annual fuel utilization efficiency |
| flowing artesian well | a special case of an artesian well where a water well drilled into a confined aquifer has enough hydraulic pressure for the water to rise to a height above ground surface and to flow at the surface without pumping. |
| drop | The quantity of fluid which falls in one spherical mass; a liquid globule; often, a teardrop, raindrop, dewdrop, etc |
| base | (1) Any of various typically water-soluble and bitter tasting compounds that in solution have a pH greater than 7, are capable of reacting with an acid to form a salt, and are molecules or ions able to take up a proton from an acid or able to give up an unshared pair of electrons to an acid |
| endamoeba histolytica | A waterborne disease organism causing amoebic dysentery. |
| viruses | A group of infectious agents consisting primarily of a genome that replicates itself within a host cell by using its nucleic acids to direct the host cell to synthesize more viral nucleic acids and proteins |
| snow creep | A continuous, extremely slow, downhill movement of a layer of snow. |
| sexual dimorphism | Refers to a species where the males and females are different in appearance |
| acid rain | Rainfall with a pH of less than 7.0 |
| trace | Generally, an unmeasurable or insignificant quantity |
| potential drop | Difference in total head between two Equipotential Lines. |
| loch | A lake; also, a bay or arm of the sea especially when nearly landlocked. |
| opercular chamber | The closed cavity which covers the internal gills of the frog embryo, opening to the outside through a spiracle. |
| reference files system | An OPP database that provides data on pesticide active ingredients, registrants, and products (including product types, formulations, transfers, etc.) registrant - A pesticide manufacturer that has registered a pesticide product. |
| microbial growth | The activity and growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, diatoms, plankton, and fungi. |
| water management | The practice of limiting the amount of water used in activities such as animal waste flushing systems or milking operations in order to reduce the amount of runoff and, therefore, decrease the probability of polluting nearby surface water. |
| safe yield | the annual amount of water that can be taken from a source of supply over a period of years without depleting that source beyond its ability to be replenished naturally in "wet years." |
| drought condition | Hydrologic conditions during a defined Drought period during which rainfall and runoff are much less than average. |
| tideland | (1) Land overflowed during flood tide |
| forfeited water right | a water right canceled because of several consecutive years of nonuse. |
| lavage | A washing, especially of a hollow organ, such as the stomach or lower bowel, with repeated injections of water. |
| crustacea | One of several jointed-legged groups of animals that comprise the Arthopoda |
| perfected water right | a water right which indicates that the uses anticipated by an applicant, and made under permit, were made for beneficial use |
| bmps | Methods that have been determined to be the most effective, practical means of preventing or reducing pollution from non-point sources. |
| greenbelt | Strip of natural vegetation growing parallel to a stream that provides wildlife habitat and an erosion and flood buffer zone |
| hazard tree | any potential tree failure due to a structural defect that may result in property damage, personal injury or other items of value. |
| conservation education | A comprehensive concept that spans curricula from kindergarten through adult, post-graduate programs and links the subject to natural resource conservation, stressing the characteristics and interrelationships in management and use of our natural resources that will result in knowledgeable citizenry with attitudes of responsibility toward the conservation of those natural resources. |
| miscible | Liquids which are soluble in each other. |
| zeolite | (1) (Geology) Any of various hydrous silicates that are analogous in composition to the feldspars, occur as secondary minerals in cavities of lavas, and can act as an ion-exchanger |
| semiarid | A term applied to regions or climates where moisture is normally greater than under arid conditions but still definitely limits the growth of most crops |
| anthropogenic | effects, processes, objects, or materials that are derived from human activities, as opposed to those occurring in natural environments without human influences |
| blowout | a small saucer or trough-shaped hollow or depression formed by wind erosion on a pre - existing dune or other sand deposit. |
| muggy | A subjective term for warm and excessively humid weather. |
| public service | The business of supplying an essential commodity, such as water or electricity, or a service, such as communications or transportation, to the public. |
| pump station | A station housing relatively large pumps and their appurtenances |
| certificate of water right | An official document which serves as evidence of a Perfected Water Right |
| biodiversity | the number of different plants and animals that live in a specific area Bioindicators |
| interface | the common boundary between two substances such as water and a solid, water and a gas, or two liquids such as water and oil. |
| international date line | The line of longitude located at 180° East or West (with a few local deviations) where the date changes by a day |
| nimbostratus | This cloud exhibits a combination of rain or snow, and sometimes the base of the cloud cannot be seen because of the heaviness of precipitation |
| direct runoff | The runoff entering stream channels promptly after rainfall or snowmelt. |
| littoral transport | The movement of sedimentary, either parallel (long-shore transport) or perpendicular (on-shore transport), to the shoreline. |
| environment | aggregate of external conditions that influence the life of an individual organism or population. |
| compliance | meeting all applicable drinking water regulations. |
| dichotomous key | A device for identifying organisms based on the answers to a series of questions, with each question involving alternate choices. |
| thermal pollution | A temperature rise in a body of water sufficient to be harmful to the aquatic life in the water. |
| concentration | The ratio of the quantity of any substance present in a sample of a given volume or a given weight compared to the volume or weight of the sample. |
| absolute zero | The zero value of thermodynamic temperature, or 0 Kelvin (K), also equivalent to -273.15 Celsius (C) on the Centigrade Temperature Scale or -459.67 Fahrenheit (F) on the Fahrenheit Temperature Scale. |
| sludge deposits | Accumulations of settled, usually rapidly decomposing organic material in the aquatic system. |
| physical weathering | breaking down of parent rock into bits and pieces by exposure to temperature and changes and the physical action of moving ice and water, growing roots, and human activities such as farming and construction |
| aeration tank | a chamber used to inject air into water. |
| clay liner | A layer of clay soil that is added to the bottom and sides of a pit designed for use as a disposal site for potentially dangerous wastes |
| lungworm | The common name for any of various parasitic nematodes that infect the lungs of vertebrates, principally domestic animals. |
| flow duration curve | A cumulative frequency curve that shows the percentage of time that specified discharges are equaled or exceeded. |
| geomorphology | The science that treats the general configuration of the Earth's surface; the description of landforms. |
| metasedimentary | Originally sedimentary rocks which have been subsequently affected by the process of metamorphism. |
| injection zone | A geological formation receiving fluids trough a well. |
| acre | A measure of area equal to 43,560 square feet (4,046.87 square meters) |
| altitude | In meteorology, the measure of a height of an airborne object in respect to a constant pressure surface or above mean sea level. |
| cation | A negatively charged ion, resulting from dissociation of molecules in solution. |
| chemical weathering | Dissolving of rock by exposure to rainwater, surface water, oxygen, and other gases in the atmosphere, and compounds secreted by organisms. |
| dispersion | the movement and spreading of contaminants out and down in an aquifer. |
| wetlands | (Technical) The (U.S |
| saturated air | Moist air in a state of equilibrium with a plane surface of pure water or ice at the same temperature and pressure; i.e., air whose vapor pressure is the saturation vapor pressure and its relative humidity is 100 percent. |
| bioconcentration | The increase in concentration of a chemical in an organism resulting from absorption levels exceeding the rate of metabolism and excretion. |
| meltwater | water that comes from the melting ice of a glacier or a snowbank. |
| critical low flow | low flow conditions below which some standards do not apply |
| geoponics | The art or science of cultivating the earth; husbandry. |
| backwater flooding | Flooding caused by a restriction or blocking of flow downstream |
| diversity | An assortment of species and or objects contained within a discussed environment. |
| ground water flow model | (1) A digital computer model that calculates a hydraulic head field for the modeling domain using numerical methods to arrive at an approximate solution to the differential equation of ground-water flow |
| nocturnal | Describing an animal that is active mainly or exclusively at night, rather than by day. |
| waterside | (1) Land bordering a body of water; a bank or shore |
| cloud | A visible collection of minute particle matter, such as water droplets and/or ice crystals, in the free air |
| wood treatment facility | An industrial facility which treats lumber and other wood products for outdoor use |
| municipal water system | A water system which has at least five service connections or which regularly serves 25 individuals for 60 days |
| thunderbird | (Mythology) A spirit of thunder, lightning, and rain in the form of a huge bird in the mythology of certain Native American peoples. |
| parasite | an organism that grows, feeds, and is sheltered on or in a different organism (host) while contributing nothing to the survival of the host |
| urban stormwater management | the planning, execution and maintenance of activities related to all aspects of stormwater in urban settings. |
| packer | A device lowered into a well to produce a fluid-tight seal. |
| crop | (1) Plants, seeds, flowers and root tubers that are grown to be used as food or to be sold for profit |
| standard permeability | The permeability corresponding to a temperature of 60F. |
| eluviation | (1) The removal of soil material in suspension (or in solution) from a layer or layers of a soil |
| aeration | Any active or passive process by which intimate contact between air and liquid is assured, generally by spraying liquid in the air, bubbling air through water, or mechanical agitation of the liquid to promote surface absorption of air. |
| precipitation | any or all forms of water particles that fall from the atmosphere, such as rain, snow, hail, and sleet |
| hepa | high-efficiency particle absorbing |
| alkalinity | Refers to the quantity and kinds of compounds present (usually bicarbonates, carbonates, and hydroxides) that collectively shift the pH below 7. |
| old growth | Forests that either have never been cut or have not been cut for many decades |
| anthropogenic | having to do with or caused by humans. |
| hydraulics | (1) The study of liquids, particularly water, under all conditions of rest and motion |
| mortality | Refers to death rate |
| sediments | (see hydrophyllic). |
| secchi disc | A circular plate, generally about 10-12 inches (25.4-30.5 cm) in diameter, used to measure the transparency or clarity of water by noting the greatest depth at which it can be visually detected |
| harbor | A sheltered anchorage for ships and boats |
| upwelling | The process by which water rises from a lower to a higher depth, usually as a result of divergence and offshore currents |
| surface collecting agents | Chemical additives spread on oil spills in an aquatic environment to control the thickness of the oil layer. |
| active groups | Really fixed ions bolted on to the matrix of an ion exchanger |
| water table | See groundwater table. |
| ridge | An elongated area of high atmospheric pressure that is associated with an area of maximum anticyclonic circulation |
| abandoned well | A well which is no longer used or a well removed from service; a well whose use has been permanently discontinued or which is in a state of such disrepair that it cannot be used for its intended purpose |
| hydrostatics | The branch of physics that deals with fluids at rest and under pressure. |
| darcy's law | An empirically derived equation for the flow of fluids through porous media |
| udometer | A Rain Gauge. |
| posterior | Pertaining to the rear. |
| rip tide | See Rip Current. |
| easement | A legal instrument enabling the giving, selling, or taking or certain land or water rights without transfer of title, such as for the passage of utility lines |
| risk analysis | classical risk analysis, as used in engineering applications for example, is a matrix analysis of type of impact by frequency of occurrence |
| supratympanal | Positioned above the tympanum (external eardrum). |
| talus | A steep, concave, downward sloping formation, formed by the accumulation of coarse, angular rock debris at the base of the cliff or slope. |
| pelagic | Referring to the open sea at all depths (pelagic animals live in the open sea and are not limited to the ocean bottom). |
| hydraulic model | a computer model of a segment of river used to evaluate hydraulic conditions |
| forecast | (Statistics) A forecast is a quantitative estimate (or set of estimates) about the likelihood of future events based on past and current information |
| game fish | a species such as trout, salmon, or bass, caught for sport. |
| extinct | a species that no longer exists |
| recalcitrant | Of a substance that is degraded at an extremely slow rate if at all when released into the environment |
| alluvial | Deposited by running water. |
| public water use | Water supplied from a Public Water Supply System and used for such purposes as fire fighting, street washing, and municipal parks and swimming pools |
| abutment | the end of a dam, or other structure, consisting of a wall of natural formation |
| slue | See Slough. |
| hvac | heating, ventilation and air -conditioning |
| wasteload allocation | A system designed to limit the total discharge of pollutant materials into a receiving body of water |
| soft water | Water that contains low concentrations of metal ions such as calcium and magnesium |
| quaternary | The most recent interval of Earth history, extending from 1.8 million years ago through to the present day |
| snow fence | A fence of slat and wire or other material used in winter to intercept drifting snow, thus protecting roads, railways, and other areas from snowdrifts |
| economic demand | The consumer's willingness and ability to purchase some quantity of a commodity based on the price of that commodity. |
| rate control | Rate control refers to controlling the rate of runoff using structures to simulate pre-construction conditions. |
| salt | generally potassium or ammonium is the cation, used to coagulate particles in water treatment. |
| glacier | a huge mass of land ice that consists of recrystallized snow and moves slowly downslope or outward. |
| hydropneumatic | A water system, usually small, in which a water pump is automatically controlled by the pressure in a compressed air tank. |
| herbaceous | with characteristics of an herb; a plant with no persistent woody stem above ground. |
| tawny | 1 |
| soak | (1) To make thoroughly wet or saturated by or as if by placing in liquid; to immerse in liquid for a period of time |
| washoff | Materials transported from a land or soil surface by overland flow, often used to describe soil materials transported off runoff test plots. |
| transpiration | An essential physiological process in which plant tissues give off water vapor to the atmosphere. |
| escherichia coli | a common bacterium found in fecal matter; member of the coliform group evaporation - water changing into vapor and rising into the air exchange - the act of trading goods or services for those produced by people who are located elsewhere expense - something spent (such as money, time or effort) to secure a benefit or bring about a result |
| seep | a small area where water percolates slowly to the land surface. |
| eere | U.S |
| collada | A strong, steady wind blowing from the north or northwest in the upper part of the Gulf of California and from the northeast in the lower part. |
| amino acids | Components of proteins |
| endothermy | term describing the internal generation of heat by mammals |
| millibar | The standard unit of measurement for atmospheric pressure used by the National Weather Service |
| rain shadow | Also referred to as a precipitation shadow, it is the region on the lee side of a mountain or similar barrier where the precipitation is less than on the windward side |
| agribusiness | The sum of all operations involved in the production, storage, processing, and wholesale marketing of agricultural products. |
| channel control | The condition under which the stage-discharge relation of a gaging station is governed by the slope, size, geometry, and roughness of the channel. |
| immerge | To submerge or disappear in or as if in a liquid. |
| back pressure | a pressure that can cause water to Backflow into the water supply when a user's waste water system is at a higher pressure than the public system. |
| ecosphere | The mantle of earth and troposphere inhabited by living organisms; the "bio-bubble" that contains life on earth, in surface waters, and in the air |
| precipitation gage | A device used to collect and measure precipitation. |
| flood plain | relatively flat and normally dry land alongside water that is covered during a flood. |
| hydrated | Chemically combined with water, especially existing in the form of a Hydrate. |
| self-purification | The ability of a body of water to rid itself of pollutants |
| homeostasis | A relatively stable state of equilibrium between different but interdependent elements or groups of elements of an organism, population, or group. |
| breaker | a wave as it collapses on a shore. |
| laminar flow | A flow in which rapid fluctuations are absent. |
| self-produced water | A water supply (usually from wells) developed and used by an individual or entity |
| convective clouds | Clouds generated by the rising of air over a relatively warm land mass. |
| ovipositor | The hollow tube through which some insects (such as crickets) and chelicerata, lay their eggs. |
| vomerine teeth | Teeth lying on the vomer, in the palate of amphibians. |
| furrow dams | Small earth ridges or rows used to impound water in furrows. |
| acidic | The condition of water or soil in which the amount of acid substances are sufficient to lower the pH below 7.0. |
| water table decline | the regional lowering of the water table due to over pumping of wells. |
| low water | (1) The lowest level of water in a body of water, such as a river, lake, or reservoir |
| zero tillage | a production system in which there is no tillage at all |
| surface erosion | The detachment and transport of soil particles by wind, water, or gravity |
| riverine | Open-water habitats |
| thunderstorm | A storm accompanied by thunder and lightning. |
| catch basin | A catch basin is also known as a storm drain inlet |
| hogback ridge | Any ridge with a sharp summit and steep slopes of nearly equal inclination on both flanks, and resembling in outline the back of a hog. |
| solution channel | Tubular or planar channel formed by solution in carbonate-rock terrains, usually along joints and bedding planes. |
| hydrometeor | Any type of condensation or frost formed from atmospheric water vapor, as rain, snow, fog, dew, etc |
| oceanography | The study of the ocean, embracing and integrating all knowledge pertaining to the ocean's physical boundaries, the chemistry and physics of sea water, and marine biology. |
| terrestrial | land-based, or living on land |
| diatomite | See Diatomaceous Earth. |
| water contamination | Impairment of water quality to a degree which reduces the usability of the water for ordinary purposes, or which creates a hazard to public health through poisoning or spread of disease. |
| nws | See National Weather Service (NWS). |
| float | (1) To remain suspended within or on the surface of a fluid without sinking |
| normal daily temperature | The average daily mean temperature for a given date, computed for a specific 30-year period. |
| temperature | The degree of hotness or coldness. |
| biological treatment | A treatment technology that uses bacteria to consume organic wastes. |
| trade winds | a system of easterly winds that dominate most of the tropics |
| perennial streams | Streams that flow continuously. |
| water budget | (1) (Hydrology) An accounting of the inflows to, the outflows from, and the storage changes of water in a hydrologic unit or system |
| cultured pearl | a pearl that was purposely developed through human intervention |
| water budget | an accounting of the inflow to, outflow from, and storage changes of water in a hydrologic unit. |
| river basin plan | A plan for the development of water and related land resources to make the best use of such resources to meet the basin needs and make the greatest long-term contribution to the economic growth and social well-being of the people of the basin and the nation. |
| in-situ vitrification | technology that treats contaminated soil in place at high temperatures, at 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit or more. |
| eq | Indoor Environmental Quality section |
| turbidity | reduced water clarity resulting from the presence of suspended material in the water. |
| top of dam | The elevation of the uppermost surface of a dam excluding any parapet wall, railings, etc. |
| no-till | The practice of leaving the soil undisturbed from harvest to planting except for nutrient injection |
| runoff | that portion of precipitation not immediately absorbed into or detained upon the soil and which thus becomes a surface flow |
| water sample | A representative part of a portion used to determine quality of a larger body of water. |
| calgon | Trademark product used for a water softener. |
| ecosystem services | the role played by organisms and environmental processes in creating a healthy environment for human beings, from production of oxygen to soil formation and maintenance of water quality |
| chironomids | Minute, long-legged nonbiting two-winged flies with piercing mouthparts; the aquatic larvae of various species are green, blue, yellow, colorless, or red type called bloodworms. |
| thermal pollution | an increase in air or water temperature that disturbs the climate or ecology of an area. |
| bgs | Balanced Groundwater Scenario. |
| glacial period | (Geology) The period of time encompassing the Glacial Epochs. |
| trophic composition | that portion of an Index of Biotic Integrity that is a metric measuring the proportion of species and proportions of omnivores, insectivores, and omnivores. |
| field | (1) A broad, level, open expanse of land; a meadow |
| intrasexual competition | competition between the sexes |
| catalytic converter | A reaction chamber typically containing a finely divided platinum-iridium Catalyst into which exhaust gases from an automotive engine are passed together with excess air so that carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon pollutants are oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. |
| reduced tillage | a soil management system in which tillage is avoided as much as possible |
| mean annual precipitation | The average of all annual precipitation values known, or an estimated equivalent value derived by such methods as regional indexes or Isohyetal maps. |
| river | A river is a large, flowing body of water that usually empties into a sea or ocean. |
| connecting stream | A stream connecting a lake with another lake or stream. |
| source | A source is the beginning of a river. |
| bioaccumulation | The biological sequestering of a substance at a higher concentration than that at which it occurs in the surrounding environment or medium |
| hydrologic cycle | Often called the water cycle, it is the vertical and horizontal transport of water in all its states between the earth, the atmosphere, and the seas. |
| coliform index | An index of the bacteriological quality of water, based on a count of the numbers of coliform bacteria. |
| ergs | 1 joule is about 0.7375 foot-pounds. |
| dropper | A small tube with a suction bulb at one end for drawing in a liquid and releasing it in drops. |
| licensee | the individual or organization to whom a licence is issued or assigned Metal |
| regeneration | The young tree crop replacing older trees removed by harvest or disaster; the process of replacing old trees with young. |
| benefit-cost ratio | The relationship of the economic benefits of an action to its total costs. |
| overburden | material that must be removed to gain access to an ore, particularly at a surface (open pit) mine Oxidation |
| mgd | Million gallons per day |
| wet line | The length of sounding line below the water surface. |
| follicular vitellogenesis | The development of the yolk in the eggs. |
| abrasion | Hydraulic wear or scour on the wall of a sewer, through-flow channel or manhole wall. |
| floodproofing | Any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes, or adjustments to structures that reduce or eliminate flood damage. |
| rcra | See Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. |
| transition zone | The intervening area between distinct environments. |
| meander bend | a winding or bending in the river |
| routing parameters | coefficients that, along with mathematical routing equations, can be used to estimate the attenuation and lag (time delay) associated with the movement of flow through a length of stream channel. |
| wet digestion | A solid waste stabilization process in which mixed solid organic wastes are placed in an open digestion pond to decompose anaerobically. |
| mechanical aeration | Use of mechanical energy to inject air into water to cause a waste stream to absorb oxygen. |
| pipeline | A conduit of pipe, especially one used for the conveyance of water, gas, or petroleum products. |
| graminoids | Grasses |
| medithermal | (Climatology) The present period of climatological conditions, beginning approximately 4,500 years ago and following the warmer Altithermal period |
| density | The weight of a certain amount of water |
| suspension | A dispersion of solid particles which are large enough to be seen and will settle out on standing |
| hail suppression | Any method of reducing the damaging effects of hailstorms by modifying the characteristics of the hail-producing cloud |
| environmental analysis | (1) An analysis of alternative actions and their predictable short and long-term environmental effects, which may include physical, biological, economic, social and environmental design factors and their interaction |
| wmo | Watershed Management Organization |
| usgs | United States Geological Survey |
| tundra | A type of Ecosystem or Biome dominated by lichens, mosses, grasses, and woody plants |
| herding agent | A chemical applied to the surface of water to control the spread of a floating oil spill. |
| monitoring | Sampling and analysis of air, water, soil, wildlife, and other conditions, to determine the concentrations of contaminants. |
| guttation | The loss of water in liquid form from the uninjured leaf or stem of the plant, principally through water stomata (the microscopic opening in the epidermis of plants, surrounded by guard cells and serving for gaseous exchange); the exudation of water from leaves as a result of root pressure. |
| land voiding | The process of damaging land by gully action causing this land to be unproductive for agricultural uses and relegating its use primarily to wildlife and recreation. |
| total toxicity | Toxicity as determined by exposing aquatic organisms to samples or dilutions of instream water or treated effluent. |
| fishpond | A small body of water managed for fish. |
| sewage treatment | The processing of wastewater for the removal or reduction of contained solids or other undesirable constituents. |
| water table | The water table is the natural level of water in a soil or rock |
| confining bed or unit | a body of impermeable or distinctly less permeable material stratigraphically adjacent to one or more aquifers. |
| ph | An expression of both acidity and alkalinity on a scale of 0 to 14, with 7 representing neutrality; numbers less than 7 indicate increasing acidity and numbers greater than 7 indicate increasing alkalinity. |
| classes | Classifications of the U.S |
| sag pipe | A section of a sewer line that is placed deeper in the ground than normal in order to pass under utility piping, waterways, rail lines, highways, or other obstacles |
| underdrain | a concealed drain with openings through which the water enters when the water table reaches the level of the drain. |
| atom | The smallest unit of matter that is unique to a particular element |
| mist | Liquid particles measuring 40 to 500 micrometers, are formed by condensation of vapour |
| activated sludge | Oxygen dependent biological process that serves to convert soluble organic matter to solid biomass, that is removable by gravity or filtration. |
| triple point | The point at which any three atmospheric boundaries meet |
| rheotaxis | Movement of an organism in response to a current of water or air. |
| hypo chlorite | An anion that forms products such as calcium and sodium hypo chlorite |
| left abutment | That part of the left-hand side of a valley side wall against which a dam is constructed |
| bioaccumulation | A term used to describe a process that occurs when levels of toxic substances increase in an organism over time, due to continued exposure. |
| british thermal unit | A unit of heat energy equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit |
| oocyst | An egg-like structure found in feces that is used to transport a parasite to a new host |
| unionid | refers to freshwater mussels in the order Unionoida |
| conjunctive use | The operation of a groundwater basin in combination with a surface water storage and conveyance system |
| exempted | (Water Quality) A state (with Primacy) may exempt a Public Water System (PWS) from a requirement involving a Minimum Contaminant Level (MCL), treatment technique, or both, if the system cannot comply due to compelling economic or other factors, or because the system was in operation before the requirement or MCL was instituted, and the exemption will not create a public health risk. |
| rainleaders | Rooftop drains are also called rainleaders |
| subsoil | Soil material underlying the surface soil. |
| wave attack | Impact of waves on a stream bank. |
| bedload | Sediment grains transported at the base of a river etc where the grains are moving by either rolling, sliding or saltation (bouncing). |
| annular space | the space between two concentric cylindrical objects, one of which surrounds the other, such as the space between the walls of a drilled hole and a casing. |
| bubble | (1) A thin, usually spherical or hemispherical film of liquid filled with air or gas, as a soap bubble |
| clean water act | The federal law, enacted in 1972 as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, and amended in 1977 as the Clean Water Act, that established the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States |
| dropsonde | A radiosonde dropped with a parachute from an aircraft rather than lifted by a balloon to measure the atmosphere below. |
| level of development | In a planning study, the practice of holding constant the population, irrigated acreage, industry, and wildlife so that hydrologic variability can be studied to determine adequacy of supplies. |
| intermountain high | An area of high pressure that occurs during the winter between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra-Cascade ranges |
| recharge | The processes involved in the addition of water to the zone of saturation; also the amount of water added. |
| streamflow | the discharge that occurs in a natural channel. |
| technical advisory sub-committee | in LEED for Homes, a group of specialists who rule on credit interpretation requests and innovative design requests. |
| ovisac | membranous capsule containing glochidia |
| geological age | (Archeology) A period of time, earlier than the present postglacial period, which can only be effectively dated geologically, that is by its rock formations and fossilized matter within those rock formations. |
| species diversity | An ecological concept that incorporates both the number of species in a particular sampling area and the evenness with which individuals are distributed among the various species. |
| cirque basin | A half-amphitheater formed by alpine Glaciation with three steep sides |
| potable | suitable, safe, or prepared for drinking |
| residuum | (Geology) Soil material formed from rock weathering in place. |
| maelstrom | A whirlpool of extraordinary size or violence. |
| classical inference | (Statistics) Statistical inference is based on two basic premises: (1) The sample data constitute the only relevant information; and (2) The construction and assessment of the different procedures for inference are based on long-run behavior under essentially similar circumstances |
| fishing waters | Waters used for angling or for commercial fishing. |
| viscosity | A measure of the resistance of a fluid to flow |
| biodiversity | the variety of plant, animal, and microorganism species present in the ecosystem and the community structures the form. |
| ground rupture | The movement of the ground along one side of a Fault relative to the other side, caused by an earthquake. |
| thalweg | the line of maximum depth in a stream |
| landslide | A mass of material that has slipped downhill under the influence of gravity, frequently occurring when the material is saturated with water. |
| atp | Adenosine TriPhosphate. |
| leachate | Water or other liquid that has washed (leached) from a solid material, such as a layer of soil or debris |
| snag | Any standing dead, partially dead, or defective (cull) tree at least 10 inches in diameter at breast height and at least 6 feet tall. |
| canal automation | The implementation of a control system that upgrades the conventional method of canal system operation. |
| grain | A unit of weight equivalent to 1/7000th pound |
| balanced groundwater scenario | A term referring to the development of a scenario exploring changes in cropping patterns such that long-term ground water withdrawals do not exceed long-term groundwater recharge rates |
| latitude | The location north or south in reference to the equator, which is designated at zero (0) degrees |
| doc | See Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC). |
| viruses | The smallest life forms known, that are not cellular in nature |
| freezing drizzle | Drizzle, falling as a liquid, but freezing on impact with the colder ground or other exposed surfaces |
| backshore | The part of a shore between the Foreshore and the landward edge that is above high water except in the most severe storms. |
| aquifer | A geologic formation, a group of formations, or a part of a formation that is water bearing |
| uplift | (Hydraulics) The upward pressure of water on the base of a structure or the upward pressure in the pores of a material, i.e., Interstitial Pressure. |
| oxygen saturation capacity | The maximum quantity of dissolved oxygen that a liquid exposed to the atmosphere can contain at a given temperature and pressure. |
| urbanization | To become a developed city, or changing from rural to an urban state. |
| coulee | (1) (Western U.S.) A deep gulch or ravine with sloping sides, often dry in summer |
| protozoa | Large microrganisms, which consume bacteria. |
| reclaimed material | building components that have been recovered from a demolition site and are reused in their original state (i.e., not recycled) |
| pyrite | A very common iron sulphide mineral (FeS2). |
| overwintering | to pass through or wait out the winter season, or to pass through that period of the year when "winter" conditions (cold temperatures, ice, snow, limited food supplies) make normal activity or survival difficult or impossible. |
| naturalised | an exotic species that, once introduced into an area, has the capacity to adapt to the new environment, survive in competition with the endemic floral and faunal populations, reproduce itself and establish itself as a persistent part of the plant community in one or more habitat (see also exotic species) |
| compensation level | The level in a body of water, usually occurring at the depth of 1 percent light penetration, which forms the lower boundary of the Zone of Net Metabolic Production |
| siltation | deposition of fine mineral particles (silt) on the beds of streams or lakes |
| mineralization | The conversion of humus and soil organic matter into inorganic substances by microbial breakdown. |
| postglacial | Relating to or occurring during the time following a glacial period. |
| leaching requirement | (1) The amount of excess irrigation water passing through the Root Zone to reduce the salt concentration in the soil for reclamation purposes |
| fata morgana | See Mirage. |
| ecosphere | total of all the ecosystems on the planet, along with their interactions; the sphere of air, water, and land in which all life is found. |
| steady-state or apparent plateau | (Biology) In testing chemical substances for their Bioconcentration Potential in fish, the situation in which the amount of chemical substance taken into the test fish from the water is equal to the amount being eliminated from the test fish |
| reach | A continuous part of a stream between two specified points. |
| diffusion | The movement of gas molecules or aerosols into liquids, caused by a concentration gradient. |
| stormwater discharge | precipitation that does not infiltrate into the ground or evaporate due to impervious land surfaces but instead flows onto adjacent land or water areas and is routed into drain/sewer systems. |
| snow shower | Frozen precipitation in the form of snow, characterized by its sudden beginning and ending |
| aerobic | pertaining to or caused by the presence of oxygen. |
| study unit | A major hydrologic system of the United States in which NAWQA studies are focused |
| bathysphere | A reinforced spherical deep-diving chamber in which persons are lowered by a cable to study the oceans |
| stage-discharge curve | A graph showing the relation between the gage height, usually plotted as the ordinate, and the amount of water flowing in a channel, expressed as volume per unit of time and plotted as the abscissa. |
| mist | A collection of microscopic water droplets suspended in the atmosphere |
| crown | The top part of the head. |
| spring melt/thaw | the process whereby warm temperatures melt winter snow and ice |
| partial duration flood series | A list of all flood peaks that exceed a chosen base stage or discharge, without regard for the number occurring in a year |
| topography | The general configuration of a land surface or any part of the Earth's surface, including its relief and the position of its natural and man-made features. |
| electrolysis | Process where electrical energy will change in chemical energy |
| activated carbon | A material produced by heating coal or wood in such a manner as to yield a porous structure, creating a very large internal surface area |
| acidity | A measure of how acid a solution may be |
| packed tower | (Air Quality) An air pollution control device in which contaminated air is passed through a tower containing substances (packing) possessing large surface area |
| boiling point | The temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid is equal to the pressure exerted on the liquid |
| watershed | The area of land from which rainfall (and/or snow melt) drains into a single point |
| weed | a plant species growing where it is not wanted by humans, generally in relation to agricultural production or conservation of endemic biodiversity |
| salts | minerals that cause salinity |
| radial velocity | A type of velocity that expresses motion toward or away from a given location |
| monte carlo method | (Statistics) A method that produces a statistical estimate of a quantity by taking many random samples from an assumed probability distribution, such as a normal distribution |
| cave | A cave is a large hole in the ground or in the side of a hill or mountain. |
| heat of vaporization | The heat energy (calories) required to convert one gram of liquid to vapor without a change in temperature of the substance which is being vaporized |
| watershed | An area of land surface defined by a topographic divide that collects precipitation into a stream |
| nucleating agent | In cloud physics, any substance that serves to accelerate the Nucleation of cloud particles |
| infiltration rate | the quantity of water that can enter the soil in a specified time interval. |
| activated sludge process | A method of Secondary Wastewater Treatment in which the waste is treated by microorganisms in a well-aerated tank to degrade the organic material |
| statistical tests of significance | (Statistics) Mathematical methods of stating the probability that two data sets are not from the same Population; specifically, that there is an actual difference in some characteristic between the two groups |
| naturalized conditions | an estimate of natural conditions obtained by attempting to remove effects of human activities from a set of measured conditions. |
| groundwater | water within the earth that supplies wells and springs; water in the zone of saturation where all openings in rocks and soil are filled, the upper surface of which forms the water table. |
| nonconsumptive use | using water in a way that does not reduce the supply |
| important fish habitat | habitat that is used by fish for feeding, growth, and migration, but is not deemed to be critical |
| chronic toxicity | Any harmful effects to organisms in controlled toxicity tests with long-term exposure during a sensitive period of the life cycle to specific substances or mixtures |
| slip | (1) (Nautical) A docking place for a ship or boat between two piers; a Slipway |
| sewer service condition | Assessment of the service condition of the sewer, reflecting the sewer conduit's capacity, potential for blockage, and water tightness. |
| eddy viscosity | a model parameter that reproduces the effects of turbulent mixing in fluid flow. |
| noble metal | A chemically inactive metal such as gold; does not corrode (oxidize) easily. |
| worker protection standards | Standards designed to reduce the risks of illness or injury resulting from workers' and handlers' occupational exposures to pesticides used in the production of agricultural plants on farms or in nurseries, greenhouses, and forests and also from the accidental exposure of workers and other persons to such pesticides |
| silver iodide generator | Any of several devices used to generate a smoke of Silver Iodide crystals for Cloud Seeding. |
| open river channel | A navigation channel in a natural river with improvements limited to removal of obstructions and dredging to obtain adequate depths. |
| conservation | The process or means of achieving recovery of viable populations. |
| particulate matter | very small, separate particles Permafrost |
| backwater pool | A pool that formed as a result of an obstruction like a large tree, weir, dam, or boulder. |
| stream bank | The side slopes of an active channel between which the streamflow is normally confined. |
| narghile | A water pipe that originated in the Near East. |
| well | a bored, drilled, or driven shaft or a dug hole whose depth is greater than the largest surface dimension and whose purpose is to reach underground water supplies or oil or to store or bury fluids below ground. |
| topography | the general configuration of a land surface or any part of the Earth's surface, including its relief and the position of its natural and man-made features. |
| stream bank | The side slopes of a channel between which the stream flow is normally confined. |
| water table | the level below where the ground is saturated with water Water Use |
| fry | A recently hatched fish. |
| droplet | A small airborne liquid particle that is larger than liquid aerosol and therefore settles out of the atmosphere relatively quickly. |
| snow field | An area, usually at high elevation or in polar latitudes, where snow accumulates and remains on the ground throughout the entire year. |
| swamp | a type of wetland dominated by woody vegetation but without appreciable peat deposits |
| emergent hydrophytes | Erect, rooted, herbaceous Angiosperms that may be temporarily to permanently flooded at the base but do not tolerate prolonged inundation of the entire stem or plant |
| rare species | A species of plant or animal which, although not presently threatened with extinction, is in such small numbers throughout its range that it may be endangered if its environment worsens. |
| audubon society | A national environmental organization founded in 1905 and dedicated to the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems with a focus on birds and other wildlife species for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity |
| newton | The unit of force giving a mass of about one kilogram (2.205 pounds) an acceleration of about one meter (1 yard) per second per second. |
| central vacuum system | a network of tubing with inlets throughout the house designed to remove dust and debris to a remote receptacle |
| dead end | The end of a water main which is not connected to other parts of the distribution system. |
| scansorial | Animals living in rocky terrains. |
| inundate | (1) To cover with water, especially floodwaters |
| shower | A brief fall of precipitation, such as rain, hail, sleet, or snow. |
| station pressure | The atmospheric pressure with respect to the station elevation. |
| fresh:salt water interface | the region where fresh water and salt water meet |
| rock | A naturally formed mass of minerals. |
| frontage | Land adjacent to something, such as a body of water. |
| radius of influence | The radial distance from the center of a well bore to the point where there is no lowering of the water table or Potentiometric Surface (the edge of its Cone of Depression). |
| standards | Norms that impose limits on the amount of pollutants or emissions produced by an activity |
| gpm | gallons per minute |
| vaporize | Conversion of a liquid into vapour. |
| back pressure | Pressure that can cause water to backflow into the water supply when a user's waste water system is at a higher pressure than the public system. |
| bernoulli's equation | Under conditions of steady flow of water, the sum of the velocity head, the pressure head, and the head due to elevation at any given point is equal to the sum of these heads at any other point plus or minus the head losses between the points due to friction or other causes. |
| cae | combined annual efficiency |
| cryptic coloration | A pattern of colors that makes an animal hard to see |
| posterior slope | the area along the dorsal part of the shell between the posterior ridges of the valves |
| stream gaging | The quantitative determination of stream flow using Gages, Current Meters, Weirs, or other measuring instruments at selected locations. |
| gene | Unit of heredity that determines the characteristics of the offspring. |
| calcium carbonate | (CaCO3) The principal hardness and scale-causing compound in water |
| gregarious | Living in herds or flock. |
| key species | species that are targeted for instream flow assessment or more generally taxa of interest; may include lotic-adapted species, imperiled species, sport fishes, or other species related to study objectives. |
| dynamic head | (Irrigation) The total of the following factors: (1) the total static head, including suction lift; (2) friction head in the discharge pipeline; (3) head losses in fittings, elbows, and valves; and (4) pressure required to operate lateral lines. |
| miscible displacement | Mutual mixing and movement of two fluids that are soluble in each other |
| btu | British Thermal Unit. |
| joint planting | The insertion of live stakes in the spaces or joints, between previously placed rock riprap |
| evaporation | the change by which any substance is converted from a liquid state and carried of in vapor |
| hydrostatic pressure | the pressure exerted by the water at any given point in a body of water at rest |
| pams | See Polyacrylamides (PAMs). |
| herpetile | Reptiles and amphibians together. |
| endangered species act | regulation that protects species of animal or plant that has been identified as in danger of becoming extinct because of harmful human activity or environmental factors. |
| peak load | The maximum load in a stated period of time |
| inguinal amplexus | Sexual embrace of anurans; the grasping of the female's body by the male's forelimbs from a dorsal position just above the hind legs |
| interception | The process of storing rain or snow on leaves and branches which eventually evaporates back to the air |
| brim | The upper surface of a body of water. |
| hurricane warning | A formal advisory issued by forecasters at the National Hurricane Center when they have determined that hurricane conditions are expected in a coastal area or group of islands within a 24 hour period |
| slough | An inlet or backwater, sometimes an alternate branch of a river. |
| dissolved load | All the material transported by a stream or river in solution, as contrasted with Bed Load and Suspended Load. |
| nutrient depletion | Detrimental changes at a site in the total amount of nutrients and/or their rates of input, uptake, release, movement, transformation, or export. |
| stream piracy | the tendency of one stream to capture the flow of another by eroding a channel that intercepts the other stream's flow. |
| secondary drinking water regulations | Non-enforceable regulations applying to public water systems and specifying the maximum contamination levels that, in the judgement of the U.S |
| chlorine demand | the difference between the amount of chlorine added to water, sewage, or industrial wastes and the amount of residual chlorine remaining at the end of a specific contact period |
| yard | Lowland area with dense coniferous cover in areas. |
| rangelands | areas of native grasslands, shrublands and woodlands that cover a large proportion of the arid and semi-arid regions, including tropical savanna woodlands: regular cropping is not practised and the predominant agricultural use, if any, is grazing of sheep and cattle on native vegetation |
| chilile | Inshore lake bottom. |
| distilled water | water that has been treated by boiling and condensation to remove solids, inorganics, and some organic chemicals. |
| fish passage | means by which fish in a stream are able to pass by or through in both upstream and downstream directions. |
| aquifer | A body of rock that is sufficiently permeable to conduct groundwater and to yield economically significant quantities of water to wells and springs. |
| limnology hydrobiologist | A person who undertakes the biological study of bodies of water. |
| caa | Clean Air Act (EPA) |
| c-horizon | a layer of unconsolidated material, relatively little affected by the influence of organisms and presumed to be similar in chemical, physical, and mineralogical composition to the material from which at least a portion of the overlying Solum has developed. |
| mesozoic | 1 |
| habitat diversity | The number of different types of habitat within a given area. |
| condemnation | Taking private property for public use, with compensation to the owner, under the right of Eminent Domain. |
| kinetic energy | energy possessed by a moving object or water body. |
| biological integrity | the ability to support and maintain balanced, integrated functionality in the natural habitat of a given region |
| slough | A shallow backwater inlet that is commonly exposed at low tide. |
| turbidimeter | A device used to measure the degree of turbidity, or the density of suspended solids in a sample. |
| best management practice | A conservation measure intended to minimize or mitigate impacts from a variety of land use activities. |
| topside | (Nautical) The surface of a ship's hull above the water line. |
| effluent seepage | Diffuse discharge of ground water to the ground surface. |
| heterogenic aquifer | an aquifer that has a variety of forms or characteristics, such as differering permeabilities |
| pathogenic | Causing or capable of causing disease. |
| environmental impact statement | A formal document to be filed with the U.S |
| dry dam | A dam that has an outlet positioned so that essentially all stored water will be drained from the reservoir by gravity |
| electrofishing | a technique used by researchers and managers to immobilize and collect freshwater fish |
| rated power | the nameplate power on a piece of equipment, representing the capacity of the unit and the maximum wattage it will draw. |
| evapotranspiration | The processes by which plants take in water through their roots and then give it off through their leaves as a by-product of respiration. |
| disinfectant by-product | A compound formed by the reaction of a Disinfectant such as Chlorine with organic material in the water supply |
| tailings | portions of washed or milled ore that are regarded as too poor to be treated further, as distinguished from concentrates, or material of value Toxic |
| endangered species conservation act | Passed in 1969, this act superseded the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 and would eventually be replaced by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 |
| eurybathic | Capable of living in a wide range of water depths |
| lodes | A vein or fracture in which commercially valuable minerals have been deposited. |
| superfund list | A list of the hazardous waste disposal sites most in need of cleanup |
| wet scrubber | An air cleaning device that literally washes out the dust |
| discharge velocity | An apparent velocity, calculated by Darcy's Law, which represents the flow rate at which water would move through an aquifer if the aquifer were an open conduit |
| linear | (Statistics) Indicating a constant (straight-line) relationship between two Variables |
| photodegrade | The decomposition of chemicals by the action of light (radiant energy). |
| drench | To wet through and through; soak. |
| meander length | The distance in the general course of the meanders between corresponding points of successive meanders of the same phase. |
| inchoate water right | An unperfected water right |
| iecc | International Energy Conservation Code |
| density | This is a term used to describe populations |
| microbiota | The plants, animals, and microorganisms that can only be seen with the aid of a microscope. |
| critical habitat | Under the Endangered Species Act, critical habitat is defined as (1) the specific areas within the geographic area occupied by a federally listed species on which are found physical and biological features essential to the conservation of the species and that may require special management considerations or protections; (2) specific areas outside the geographic area occupied by a listed species, when it is determined that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species. |
| sedentary | a lifestyle characterized by little or no movement, thus remaining in one area |
| supercooling | The reduction of the temperature of any liquid below the melting point of that substance's solid phase |
| assembly recycled content | the weight of recycled material, including both postconsumer and preconsumer (postindustrial) material, divided by the overall weight of the assembly. |
| attenuate | reduce in significance or concentration Backfilling |
| trade secret | Any confidential formula, pattern, process, device, information, or set of data that is used in a business to give the owner a competitive advantage |
| milligrams per liter | The weight in milligrams of any substance dissolved in 1 liter of liquid; nearly the same as parts per million by weight. |
| public scoping | The process of soliciting public comments on the issues to be examined in environmental documents such as an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) |
| fen | a type of wetland that accumulates peat deposits, but not as much as a bog |
| organelles | in eukaryotic cells that carry out photosynthesis, where the chlorophyll pigments and related enzymes are located, specialized structures that carry out photosynthesis in plants and algae. |
| subsidence | sinking down of part of the earth's crust due to underground excavation, such as removal groundwater. |
| sustainable development | Describes those efforts to guide economic growth, especially in less-developed countries, in an environmentally sound manner, with an emphasis on natural resource conservation. |
| drought | Generally, the term is applied to periods of less than average or normal precipitation over a certain period of time sufficiently prolonged to cause a serious hydrological imbalance resulting in biological losses (impact flora and fauna ecosystems) and/or economic losses (affecting man) |
| hydathode | (Botany) A water-excreting microscopic epidermal structure in many plants. |
| sequestering agent | (Water Quality) A chemical compound such as EDTA or certain polymers that chemically tie up (sequester) other compounds or ions so they cannot be involved in chemical reactions. |
| tillage | mechanical disturbance of the soil by using various implements to alter the soil structure; usually done to create a seedbed, kill weeds or increase water entry (see reduced (or minimum) tillage) |
| closed low | A region of low pressure distinguished by a center of counterclockwise circulation (in the Northern Hemisphere), and is surrounded by one or more isobars or height contours |
| crown cover | The degree to which the crowns of trees are nearing general contact with one another. |
| goal | The desired state or condition that a resource management policy or program is designed to achieve. |
| artificial redds | An artificial egg basket fabricated of extruded PVC netting and placed in a constructed egg pocket |
| hydrogen sulfide | A gas emitted during organic decomposition by a select group of bacteria, which strongly smells like rotten eggs. |
| direct run-off | Water that flows from the ground surface directly into streams, rivers, and lakes. |
| route of exposure | The way a chemical enters an organism after contact (e.g., ingestion, inhalation, or dermal absorption). |
| range line | In the generally recognized U.S |
| threshold odor number | A value indicative of the maximum dilution which can be made of a sample with its odor remaining detectable |
| diversity | The distribution and abundance of different plant and animal communities. |
| holotype | The specimen of an animal (or plant) which is designated in the publication when the organism is named, as representing what is meant by the new name |
| terrain | physical features of a tract of land. |
| lithology | (Geology) (1) The scientific study of rocks, usually with the unaided eye or with little magnification |
| salts | nutrients, pesticide chemicals or contaminants, are washed into a lower layer of soil or are dissolved and carried away by water. |
| flash flood | A flood that rises and falls quite rapidly with little or no advance warning, usually as the result of intense rainfall over a relatively small area |
| cloud modification | Any process by which the natural course of development of a cloud is altered by artificial means |
| digestion | (General) The biochemical decomposition of organic matter, resulting in partial gasification, liquefaction, and mineralization of pollutants |
| trough | An elongated area of low atmospheric pressure that is associated with an area of minimum cyclonic circulation |
| translocate | to displace or cause to move from one location to another |
| permeability | the capacity of a rock for transmitting a fluid; a measure of the relative ease with which a porous medium can transmit a liquid. |
| molar | A solution containing the indicated number of Moles of solute per liter of solution. |
| chalk | A mineral composed mainly of the calcareous shells of various marine microorganisms, but whose matrix consists of fine particles of calcium carbonate, some of which may have been chemically precipitated. |
| ozone layer | A region of the upper atmosphere, between about 15 and 30 kilometers (10 and 20 miles) in altitude, containing a relatively high concentration of ozone that absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation in a wavelength range not screened by other atmospheric components |
| hemihydrate | A hydrate in which the molecular ratio of water molecules to anhydrous compound is 1:2. |
| inflow | entry of rainwater into a sewer system from sources other than infiltration, such as basement drains, manholes, storm drains, and street washing. |
| flood abatement | See Flood Control. |
| co | carbon monoxide |
| grab sample | a sample taken at a given place and time |
| incubate | To maintain environmental conditions that are optimum for the growth of bacteria |
| bmp | Best Management Practice |
| coastal woodland | area of coastal trees and large shrubs located behind the beach, also referred to as coastal forest zone. |
| intersection | A place where two streets cross. |
| squall line | A narrow band or line of active thunderstorms that is not associated with a cold front |
| broad-leaved evergreen | Woody Angiosperms (trees or shrubs) with relatively wide, flat leaves that generally remain green and are usually persistent for a year or more; e.g., red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle). |
| conditioned space | interior area that utilizes any method of air-conditioning or heating to control temperature and/or humidity levels, usually measured in cubic feet. |
| acre | A measure of area equal to 43,560 ft2 (4,046.87 m2); one square mile equals 640 acres. |
| ball valve | A valve regulated by the position of a free-floating ball that moves in response to fluid or mechanical pressure. |
| mcwd | Minnehaha Creek Watershed District |
| ept richness index | An index based on the sum of the number of taxa in three insect orders, Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies), that are composed primarily of species considered to be relatively intolerant to environmental alterations. |
| silt | Slightly cohesive to noncohesive soil composed of particles that are finer than sand but coarser than clay; commonly in the range of 0.004 to 0.0625 mm, silt will crumble when rolled into a ball. |
| technology-based standards | Effluent standards developed by considering the effluent quality that can be achieved using various process or treatment technologies, rather than by considering the environmental effects of different loadings of pollutants. |
| xeric shrubs | Shrubs that are adapted to survive in areas of low precipitation |
| habitat restoration | the treatment or cleanup of fish habitat that has been altered, disrupted, or degraded for the purpose of increasing its capability to sustain fish production. |
| denitrification | The removal of nitrate ions (NO3-) from soil or water; involves the Anaerobic biological reduction of nitrate to nitrogen gas |
| mass spectrometry | An analytical technique wherein ions are separate according to their ratio of charge to mass |
| isohyetal line | A line drawn on a map or chart joining points that receive the same amount of precipitation |
| thermograph | Essentially, a self-recording thermometer |
| old-growth forests | forests dominated by mature trees and with little or no evidence of any disturbance such as logging, road building or clearing |
| bwr | Boiling Water Reactor. |
| dysentery | A disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by severe diarrhea with blood and pus in the feces |
| coefficient of discharge | The ratio of the observed to theoretical discharge. |
| electrical charge | The charge on an ion, declared by its number of electrons |
| combustion exhaust gases | the most common gases resulting from fossil fuel combustion, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides |
| gale warning | A warning for marine interests for impending winds from 28 to 47 knots (32 to 54 miles per hour). |
| braiding | Successive division and rejoining of riverflow with accompanying islands. |
| incised river | A river that erodes its channel by a process of degradation to a lower base level than existed previously or is consistent with the current hydrology. |
| earth day | Earth Day is an annual event to raise awareness of taking care of the environment |
| mesoscale convective complex | A large mesoscale convective system (MCS) which is about the size of the state of Ohio or Iowa and lasts at least 6 hours |
| wolframite | The major ore mineral of tungsten ((Fe,Mn)WO4). |
| biological wastewater treatment | The use of bacteria to degrade and decompose organic materials in wastewater. |
| constrictor | A snake that kills its prey by grabbing the animal and throwing two or three coils around it |
| threatened | a species that is designated by COSEWIC as likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed. |
| food chain | generally, but not always, occurs due to a contaminant being soluble in fatty tissues and not in water, (see bioaccumulation, bioconcentration). |
| categorical exclusion | A class of actions which either individually or cumulatively would not have a significant effect on the human environment and therefore would not require preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). |
| toxic | Poisonous, carcinogenic, or otherwise directly harmful to life. |
| midge | A small fly in the family Chironomidae |
| clay | Substrate particles that are smaller than silt and generally less than 0.004 mm in diameter. |
| swimmer's itch | Swimmer's itch is an unpleasant, itchy rash caused by the larval stage of flatworms parasites, called schistosomes (Shiss-toe-soams) |
| pioneer plant | herbaceous annual and perennial seedling plants that colonize bare areas as a first stage in secondary succession. |
| crick | (Inland Northern U.S |
| impervious surface | A surface such as pavement that cannot be easily penetrated by water. |
| vector | a disease carrier |
| ripple | (1) A specific undulated bed form found in sand bed streams |
| fret | To gnaw or wear away; erode |
| oceans | The oceans of the world include the North and South Atlantic Oceans, the North and South Pacific Oceans, the Arctic Ocean, the Antarctic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean |
| tarsal spur | A spur found on the back of the rear feet on male Veiled chameleons for use in breeding. |
| invert | The internal elevation at the bottom of the sewer. |
| landcare | a voluntary and cooperative movement that brings together rural people, government agencies and others with an interest in the long-term health of the land; the term was first used in Victoria in 1986 but spread nationally after 1988 when the Australian Conservation Foundation and the National Farmers' Federation persuaded the Commonwealth Government to provide significant financial support |
| formaldehyde | a naturally occurring volatile organic compound used as a preservative |
| jackson turbidity unit | The JTU is a measurement of the turbidity, or lack of transparency, of water |
| manhole structure | Reference to and all activities relevant to manhole structures throughout the text shall also be taken to include junction boxes, inspection chambers, drop shafts, sumps, and all other auxiliary structures appurtenant to the sewerage system. |
| conservation | The political/social/economic process by which the environment is protected and resources are used wisely. |
| sapwood | Newly formed outer wood that lies just inside the cambium of a tree trunk and is usually lighter in color and more active in water conduction than the heartwood. |
| desert | A barren or desolate area, especially one characterized by dry, often sandy conditions of little rainfall, typically less than 10 inches of rain per year, extreme temperatures, and sparse vegetation |
| infiltration | Penetration of water into a medium, for instance the soil. |
| hydrogen | colorless, highly flammable element, exists as a gas; most abundant element in the universe |
| endangered | a species faced with the danger of extinction |
| aqueous solubility | the maximum concentration of a chemical that will dissolve in pure water at a reference temperature. |
| coefficient of roughness | Factor in fluid flow determination expressing the character of a surface and its fractional resistance to flow |
| trace | The amount of rainfall or other form of precipitation which occurs when the quantity is so small that it cannot be measured in the rain gage. |
| swell | (1) To rise or extend above the surrounding level, as clouds |
| vapor trail | A visible trail of streaks of condensed water vapor or ice crystals sometimes forming in the wake of an aircraft |
| arsenopyrite | The main ore mineral for arsenic (FeAsS). |
| hazardous waste | Waste that poses a risk to human health or the environment and requires special disposal techniques to make it harmless or less dangerous. |
| watershed | same as drainage basin. |
| nomadic | A way of life in which there is no permanent residence site and the group moves from place to place according to the season, the available of food supply and other such factors; the route of travel often follows a traditional pattern. |
| frass | Debris or excrement produced by insects |
| night | The period of the day between dusk and dawn. |
| mussel | a marine or freshwater species with an elongated shell; common name frequently used to refer to freshwater mussels |
| municipal wastewater facility | Refers to those facilities that receive or dispose of wastewater derived principally from residential dwellings, business or commercial buildings, institutions, and the like |
| persistent emergent | Emergent Hydrophytes that normally remain standing at least until the beginning of the next growing season; e.g., cattails (Typha spp.) or bulrushes (Scirpus spp.). |
| moderate flood hazard areas | Areas between the 100-year and the 500-year flood boundaries are termed Moderate Flood Hazard Areas |
| development | the homes and building lots that surround the new LEED home project that is to be built |
| confluence | (1) The act of flowing together; the meeting or junction of two or more streams; also, the place where these streams meet |
| impermeable | material that does not permit fluids to pass through. |
| off-site impacts | consequences of an action or decision that occur beyond the area (e.g |
| wash | A dry stream bed |
| biodegradable | Capable of being decomposed by biological agents, especially bacteria |
| shale | a fine-grained sedimentary rock formed by the consolidation of clay, silt, or mud. |
| convex | Curving outward; the opposite of concave. |
| naris | The openings of the nasal cavity. |
| storet | a national U.S |
| dry proofing | A flood-proofing method used to design and construct buildings so as to prevent the entrance of floodwaters. |
| conservative substances | Non- interacting substances, undergoing no kinetic reactions; chloride and sodium are approximate examples. |
| reclaimed water | domestic wastewater that is under the direct control of a treatment plant owner/operator which has been treated to a quality suitable for a beneficial use. |
| detection limit | the lowest level that can be determined by a specific analytical procedure or test method. |
| saline water | water containing more than 1,000 parts per million (ppm) of dissolved solids of any type |
| rivulet | A small stream or brook; a streamlet. |
| succession | (Biology) Directional, orderly process of change in a living community in which the community modifies the physical environment to eventually establish an ecosystem which is as stable as possible at the site in question. |
| secondary porosity | The porosity that results from fractures and solution channels. |
| offset | (Irrigation) The difference between the controlled variable and the referenced input, for example, in a canal system, the difference between the actual water level in the canal and the water level at design flow. |
| submerged aquatic vegetation | Vegetation rooted in the substrate of a body of water (usually no deeper than 10 feet), that does not characteristically extend above the water surface and usually grows in associations or beds |
| off-channel area | Any relatively calm portion of a stream outside of the main flow. |
| sacramento-san joaquin delta [california] | See Bay-Delta [California]. |
| failure | Collapse or slippage of a large mass of bank material into a stream. |
| adsorber | A solid or liquid that can hold molecules of another substance on its surface. |
| denitrification | Reduction of nitrate-yielding gaseous nitrogen. |
| corona | A pastel halo around the moon or sun created by the diffraction of water droplets |
| annual vegetation | vegetation that completes its growth cycle in one year (e.g., grasses). |
| dissolved gas concentrations | The amount of chemicals normally occurring as gases, such as nitrogen and oxygen, that are held in solution in water, expressed in units such as milligrams of the gas per liter of liquid |
| maximum | The greatest value attained by a function, for example, temperature, pressure, or wind speed |
| abyssal plain | The flat, gently sloping or nearly level region of the sea floor. |
| tectonic activity | movement of the Earth's crust resulting in the formation of ocean basins, continents, plateaus, and mountain ranges. |
| volatile | Describes a substance that evaporates or vaporizes rapidly at room temperature, as a volatile liquid. |
| carnivorous | Of animals, meat eating |
| live stake | Live branch cuttings that are tamped or inserted into the earth to take root and produce vegetative growth. |
| design capacity | The average daily flow that a water or wastewater treatment plant or other facility is designed to accommodate. |
| aridity | The quality or state of being arid, dry, or barren. |
| area-capacity curve | A graph showing the relation between the surface area of the water in a reservoir and the corresponding volume. |
| cambium | In vascular plants, a layer of meristematic tissue that gives rise to the xylem, phloem and (in woody plants) bark. |
| anaerobic | a life or process that occurs in, or is not destroyed by, the absence of oxygen. |
| prey | An animal taken by a predator as food. |
| disposal | The transference of unwanted material, such as wastes, to a new entity, a new place, or a new form. |
| runoff | the water that falls as precipitation in a watershed and runs off into rivers and streams. May be stored in lakes and reservoirs and contributes to recharge where it infiltrates into the soil. In Phoenix, runoff enters sewers to wastewater plants for treatment and further use as reclaimed water. |
| first draw | The water that comes out when the tap is first opened, likely to contain the highest level of lead contamination from plumbing fixtures and materials. |
| non-contact recreation | Recreational pursuits not involving a significant risk of water ingestion, including fishing, commercial and recreational boating, and limited body contact incidental to shoreline activity. |
| stratosphere | The region of atmosphere above the troposphere and below the mesosphere; the portion of the atmosphere approximately 10 to 25 miles above the earth's surface. |
| sleet | (1) A form of precipitation consisting of frozen raindrops cooled to the ice stage while falling through air at subfreezing temperatures |
| acidity | a measure of the capacity of a solution to neutralize bases Adit |
| litmus | A water-soluble blue powder derived from certain lichens that changes to red with increasing Acidity and to blue with increasing Basicity. |
| trachea | The air tube supported by cartilaginous rings that stretches from the pharynx into the the thorax, where it divides into the bronchial tubes. |
| vertical wind profile | A series of wind direction and wind speed measurements taken at various levels in the atmosphere that show the wind structure of the atmosphere over a specific location |
| euphotic zone | An area, particularly in regard to lakes, where there is sufficient light for Photosynthesis to take place |
| cholophyte | Green algae, algae of the division Chlorophyta. |
| groundwater table | The upper surface of the zone of saturation, except where the surface is formed by an impermeable body. |
| bank failure | Collapse of a mass of bank material. |
| flux | the rate at which heat (energy, radiation, carbon dioxide, water vapour etc) flows across unit area (e.g |
| backwater valve | A backwater valve is a backflow prevention valve designed to prevent sanitary sewage from backing up through your floor drain from the sanitary system into a building. |
| conservation easement | Easement restricting a landowner to land uses that that are compatible with long-term conservation and environmental values. |
| undertow | the current beneath the surface that sets seaward or along the beach when waves are breaking on the shore. |
| bend | A change in the direction of a stream channel in plan view. |
| effective porosity | the portion of pore space in saturated permeable material where the movement of water takes place. |
| hair hygrometer | An instrument for measuring humidity which makes use of the fact that the length of hair varies with relative humidity. |
| saurophagous | Said of an animal that eats lizards. |
| benthos | Collectively, all organisms living in, on, or near the bottom substrate in aquatic habitats (examples are oysters, clams, burrowing worms). |
| conductivity | The amount of electricity the water can conduct |
| vapor | The gaseous state of a substance which under ordinary conditions exists as a liquid or solid. |
| air pollution | Process of making the air unclean, such as, burning wood or coal and putting its smoke into the atmosphere or gasoline burning in cars engine and expelling the by products out the exhaust pipe. |
| tsunami | A huge sea wave caused by a great disturbance under an ocean, as a strong earthquake or volcanic eruption |
| progenesis | Accelerated development of reproductive organs relative to somatic tissue, leading to paedomorphosis. |
| water bloom | An accumulation of algae and especially of blue-green algae at or near the surface of a body of water |
| roosting | the act of using a shelter with perches for fowl or other birds. |
| redox | Shortened term for reduction/ oxidation reactions |
| microgram | 1 x 10-6 grams |
| rainband | (Physics and Meteorology) A dark band in the yellow portion of the solar spectrum near the sodium lines, caused by watery vapor in the atmosphere, and hence sometimes used in weather predictions. |
| swamp | A term frequently associated with Wetlands |
| antecedent precipitation index | An index of moisture stored in a basin before a storm, calculated as a weighted summation of past daily precipitation amounts |
| ammonification | One-way reaction in which organisms break down amino acids and produce ammonia. |
| purgeable organics | volatile organic chemicals which can be forced out of the water sample with relative ease through purging. |
| pathogen | An agent such as a virus, bacterium, or fungus that can cause diseases in humans |
| autocorrelation | The correlation between adjacent observations in time or space. |
| overland flow | a land application technique that cleanses wastewater by allowing it to flow over a sloped surface |
| salinity | amount of dissolved salts in a given volume of water. |
| ultrafiltration | Filtration through a medium (as a semipermeable capillary wall) which allows small molecules (as of water) to pass but holds back larger ones (as of protein). |
| leaching | The flushing of minerals or pollutants from soil or other material by the percolation of applied water. |
| precipitation process | The altering of dissolved compounds to insoluble or badly soluble compounds, in order to be able to remove the compounds by means of filtration. |
| transpiration | The process by which water vapour is released into the atmosphere after transpiring of living plants. |
| drip | To fall in drops; to shed drops; to ooze or become saturated with or as if with liquid. |
| discount rate | The interest rate used in evaluating water (and other) projects to calculate the present value of future benefits and future costs or to convert benefits and costs to a common time basis (e.g., current dollars). |
| gravid coloration | Bright markings found in gravid females in some species of lizards |
| spur | A ridge of land that extends partly across a valley. |
| bed material | The sediment mixture that a stream bed is composed of. |
| qp | Qualified Professional |
| langelier index | An index reflecting the equilibrium pH of a water with respect to calcium and alkalinity; used in stabilizing water to control both corrosion and scale deposition. |
| kilowatt | The electrical unit of power which equals 1,000 watts or 1.341 horsepower |
| front | (1) Land bordering a lake or river |
| suspended load | specific sediment particles maintained in the water column by turbulence and carried with the flow of water. |
| phenols | organic compounds that are byproducts of petroleum refining; tanning; and textile, dye, and resin manufacturing |
| consolidated formation | Geological formations which occur naturally and have been turned to stone |
| colvin algorithm | A canal flow control structure technique that operates the gates based on the rate of deviation of the water surface level from the setpoint. |
| sample | bacterial colonies on laboratory media resulting from filtering and culturing bacteria from a water sample, each colony in the laboratory culture is presumed to have arisen from the multiplication of a single bacterium in the original sample. |
| matter | Anything which is solid, liquid, or gas and has mass. |
| rain shadow | a dry region on the lee side of a topographic obstacle, usually a mountain range, where rainfall is noticeably less than on the windward side. |
| bell | A hollow, usually inverted vessel, such as one used for diving deep below the surface of a body of water. |
| standard | A pre-mixed solution with a known amount of material to be tested; can be used for calibration of equipment, but also to check monitoring accuracy of tests and procedures. |
| tidemark | A line or an artificial indicator marking the high-water or low-water limit of the tides. |
| aerobic | (1) Characterizing organisms able to live only in the presence of air or free oxygen, and conditions that exist only in the presence of air or free oxygen |
| pack ice | Floating ice that has been driven together into a single mass. |
| thermoregulate | To regulate body temperature |
| maxillary teeth | Teeth located on the two principal dermal bones of the upper jaw in reptiles and amphibians. |
| niverous | Resembling snow; snowy. |
| sonar | A system using transmitted and reflected underwater sound waves to detect and locate submerged objects or measure the distance to the floor of a body of water. |
| biota | All living organisms of a region, as in a stream or other body of water. |
| habitat | The place where a population (e.g |
| best management practices | management or construction practices designed to be effective and reduce the impact on the environment Bioaccumulation |
| hypothesis | (Statistics) A statement made about the condition or behavior of a variable or event which lends itself to rigorous testing for validity |
| dust | Small particles of earth or other matter suspended in the air |
| epiphyte | A plant that grows on another plant but is not a parasite and produces its own food by photosynthesis, as certain orchids, mosses, and lichens; an air plant. |
| irrigation efficiency | the percentage of water applied, and which can be accounted for, in the soil moisture increase for consumptive use. |
| diffusion coefficient | (1) The rate at which solutes are transported at the microscopic level due to variations in the solute concentrations within the fluid phases |
| hogshead | Any of various units of volume or capacity ranging from 63 to 140 gallons (238 to 530 liters), especially a unit of capacity used in liquid measure in the United States equal to 63 gallons (238 liters). |
| one hundred-year flood | Having the same meaning as Base Flood, 1 percent Flood, or Hundred-Year Flood |
| national municipal plan | A policy created in 1984 by the U.S |
| ore | a mineral or solid material containing a precious or useful substance in a quantity and form that makes its extraction/mining profitable Overburden |
| minimum | The least value attained by a function, for example, temperature, pressure, or wind speed |
| mud slide | Fast moving soil, rocks and water that flow down mountain slopes and canyons during a heavy a downpour of rain. |
| groundwater reservoir | an aquifer or aquifer system in which ground water is stored |
| index model | A hydrologic computer model based on empirical, statistical relationships. |
| water table | the top water surface of an unconfined aquifer at atmospheric pressure. |
| mole | (Chemistry) The mass of a compound in grams numerically equal to its molecular weight |
| pressure change | The net difference between the barometric pressure at the beginning and ending of a specified interval of time, usually the three hour period preceding an observation. |
| circulation cells | Large areas of air movement created by the rotation of the earth and the transfer of heat from the equator toward the poles |
| heat exchanger | A component that is utilized to remove heat from or ad heat to a liquid. |
| assimilation | The ability of a body of water to purify itself of pollutants. |
| unit density | A density of one gram per cubic centimeter or one gram per milliliter; the density of water at 4°C (39.2°F). |
| breakwater | A barrier that protects a harbor or shore from the full impact of waves. |
| environmentalism | Advocacy for or work toward protecting the natural environment from destruction or pollution. |
| soil core | A sample of soil taken by forcing a cylindrical device into the ground perpendicular to the horizontal |
| impervious surface | A surface that does not allow water or other liquids to pass through it (for example, pavement). |
| semi-arid zone | lands where rainfall is so low and unreliable that crops cannot be grown with any reliability (see arid zone) |
| gill | (1) A unit of volume or capacity in the U.S |
| thundershower | A shower accompanied by thunder and lightning. |
| fecal streptococcus | A group of bacteria normally present in large numbers in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals other than humans |
| advanced wastewater treatment | any treatment of sewage that goes beyond the secondary or biological water treatment stage and includes the removal of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen and a high percentage of suspended solids. |
| magma | (Geology) Molten rock found in the mantle, beneath the cruse of the earth |
| antarctic ocean | Although not officially recognized as a separate ocean body, it is commonly applied to those portions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans that reach the Antarctic continent on their southern extremes. |
| benthos | All plants and animals living on or closely associated with the bottom of a body of water. |
| clearing | removing vegetation, particularly trees and shrubs, from a landscape, often with the intention of replacing it with plants regarded to be more directly useful to humans |
| pool/riffle ratio | The ratio of surface area or length of pools to the surface area or length of riffles in a given stream reach; frequently expressed as the relative percentage of each category |
| interstices | the void or empty portion of rock or soil occupied by air or water. |
| hypolimnion | bottom layer of cold water in a lake |
| vomer | The narrow bone forming the lower and posterior half of the nasal septum. |
| substrate | The surface with which an organism is associated; often refers to lake or stream beds. |
| overexploitation | excessive consumption of a renewable natural resource at a rate that cannot be maintained due to a dwindling reproductive population |
| unclassified waters | those waters for which no classification has been assigned and which have not been identified in Appendix A of 31 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 307.10 of Title 31 (relating to definitions). |
| hoarfrost | A silvery-white deposit of ice needles formed by direct condensation at temperatures below freezing due to nocturnal radiation |
| heat exhaustion | The effect of excessive heat, particularly when combined with high humidity, on a human being |
| brine mud | Waste material, often associated with well-drilling or mining, composed of mineral salts or other inorganic compounds. |
| albedo | surface reflectivity |
| polar air mass | An air mass that forms over a high latitude region |
| hookah | An Eastern smoking pipe designed with a long tube passing through an urn of water that cools the smoke as it is drawn through |
| gore-tex | A trademark used for a water-repellant, breathable laminated fabric used primarily in outerwear and shoes. |
| phycology | The study of algae. |
| ground water | or aquifer, storage from surface water supplies such as irrigation water, reclaimed wastewater or induced infiltration from streams or wells. |
| best management practice | Conservation measures intended to minimize or mitigate impacts from a variety of land-use activities. |
| drain | (1) To draw of (a liquid) by a gradual process |
| stalactite | An icicle-shaped mineral deposit, usually calcite or aragonite, hanging from the roof of a cavern, formed from the dripping of mineral-rich water |
| irrigated crop acreage | The total amount of land area that is irrigated, including acreage that is double cropped. |
| water-related organizations | See Appendix W-1 for a listing of organizations directly involved in water-related issues. |
| ephemeral stream | A stream that flows only in direct response to precipitation, and thus discontinues its flow during dry seasons |
| public water use | from a public water supply, used for firefighting, municipal parks and pools, and landscaping and other public city uses. |
| tuberculation | development or formation of small mounds of corrosion products on the inside of iron pipe |
| acid | (1) Corrosive substances with pH of less than 7.0; acidity is caused by high concentrations of hydrogen ions |
| void | the pore space or other openings in rock |
| diversion | The transfer of water from a stream, lake, aquifer, or other conduit to another watercourse or to the land, as in the case of an irrigation system. |
| unit storm | A net rainfall one-inch deep which occurs over all parts of a drainage area at a uniform rate during a specified unit period of time. |
| perennial | Happening throughout the year or over a period of many years. |
| tss | Total Suspended Solids |
| flush | to open a cold-water tap to clear out all the water which may have been sitting for a long time in the pipes; to force large amounts of water through a system to clean out piping or tubing and storage or process tanks. |
| time-series analysis | (Statistics) Techniques that attempt to predict the future by using historical data rather than by building cause-and-effect models |
| sheen | a glistening brightness |
| acreage | (1) An area of land or water measured in acres |
| elliptical | having the form of an ellipse, or oval |
| water quality criteria | A specific level or range of levels of water quality necessary for the protection of a water use; levels of water quality expected to render a body of water suitable for its designated use |
| noggin | A unit of liquid measure equal to one quarter of a pint. |
| dam | a structure of earth, rock, or concrete designed to form a basin and hold water back to make a pond, lake, or reservoir. |
| channel capacity | The maximum rate of flow that may occur in a stream without causing overbank flooding. |
| thermocline | Zone of rapid temperature and density change in a stratified water body; marks the transition zone between the epilimnion and the hypolimnion |
| consolidated aquifer | An aquifer made up of consolidated rock that has undergone solidification or lithification. |
| sedimentation | Settling of solid particles in a liquid system due to gravity. |
| water column | A hypothetical cylinder of water from the surface to the bottom of a stream, lake, or ocean within which the physical and/or chemical properties can be measured. |
| integrated drainage | drainage developed during maturity in an arid region, characterized by coalescence of drainage basins as a result of headward erosion in the lower basins or spilling over from the upper basins. |
| whey | The clear fluid that separates from the solid curd when milk is allowed to coagulate, or sour |
| meander belt width | The distance between lines drawn tangential to the extreme limits of fully developed meanders |
| coefficient of viscosity | The degree to which a fluid resists flow under an applied force, measured by the tangential friction force per unit area divided by the velocity gradient under conditions of streamline flow. |
| climate | generalized weather at a given place on earth over a fairly long period; a long term average of weather |
| human ecology | (1) A branch of sociology dealing particularly with the spatial and temporal interrelationships between humans and their economic, social, and political organization; (2) The ecology of human communities and populations, especially as concerned with preservation of environmental quality (as of air or water) through proper application of conservation and civil engineering practices. |
| ceiling light | An instrument consisting of a drum and an optical system that projects a narrow vertical beam of light onto a cloud base. |
| potential | (1) (Hydrology and Hydraulics) Any of several scalar variables, each involving energy as a function of position or condition; of relevance here is the fluid potential of ground water |
| hoarfrost | Another name for frost |
| crud | (Sports) Heavy, sticky snow that is unsuitable for skiing. |
| subglacial | Formed or deposited beneath a glacier. |
| consumers | Organisms that obtain their energy by eating other organisms; generally divided into primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores), and microconsumers (decomposers). |
| periglacial | The term periglacial refers to the conditions, processes and landforms associated with cold, nonglacial environments. |
| silt | the fine-particulate fraction of sediment with particle size between 0.05 and 0.002 mm. |
| acre | A measure of area equal to 43,560 ft2 (4,046.87 m2) |
| clam | A mollusk with a hinged shell in two parts(bi-valve) and a soft body |
| altocumulus castellanus | A middle cloud with vertical development that forms from altocumulus clouds |
| dispersion | The spreading and mixing of chemical constituents in both surface and ground waters caused by diffusion and mixing due to microscopic variations in densities and velocities. |
| soft water | any water that does not contain a significant amount of dissolved minerals such as salts of calcium or magnesium. |
| canyon | A canyon is a deep valley with very steep sides - often carved from the Earth by a river. |
| germinate | the action of sprouting, budding or shooting from a seed, spore or bud |
| reduction | Gain of an electron by an atom, ion, or molecule; a decrease in the oxidation state. |
| calcite | (Geology) Calcium carbonate (CaCO3), with hexagonal crystallization, a mineral found in the form of limestone, chalk, and marble. |
| septum | A partition or wall. |
| sanitary sewer | A sanitary sewer is a pipe located in a street or easement that is designed to transport wastewater away from sanitary fixtures inside your house or place of business. |
| anterioventral | Pertains to the front of the lower surface |
| saprophyte | An organism, especially a fungus or bacterium, that grows on and derives its nourishment from dead or decaying organic matter that help natural decomposition of organic matter in water. |
| cohesion | A molecular attraction by which the particles of a body are united throughout the mass whether like of unlike |
| minimal flood hazard areas | Areas between the 100-year and the 500-year flood boundaries are termed Moderate Flood Hazard Areas |
| submergible | That which can be immersed in or can remain under water. |
| backfilling | the return of wastes or other material underground for disposal Bedrock |
| agglomeration | A process of bringing smaller particles together to form a larger mass. |
| air curtain | A method for mechanical containment of oils spills in which air is bubbled through a perforated pipe, causing an upward water flow that retards the spreading of oil; also used as barriers to prevent fish from entering a polluted body of water. |
| resolution | In relation to radar, it is the ability to read two distinct targets separately |
| lake effect snow | Snow showers that are created when cold dry air passes over a large warmer lake, such as one of the Great Lakes, and picks up moisture and heat. |
| watershed management organization | Watershed Management Organizations are creations of the state, and are appointed by the cities in which they are located |
| filter | porous material through which a liquid or gas is passed in order to separate out suspended particulate matter. (FILTRATION-act of filtering.) |
| brine | highly salty and heavily mineralized water containing heavy metal and organic contaminants. |
| derelict | (Legal) Land left dry by a permanent recession of the water line. |
| froth | A mass of bubbles in or on a liquid; foam. |
| windward | side facing the wind. |
| hydroseeding | the application of a slurry of water, wood fiber mulch, seed and fertilizer to prevent soil erosion and provide an environment conducive to plant growth. |
| cold low | A low pressure system that has its coldest temperatures at or near the center of circulation, and is thermally barotropic with respect to a horizontal plane |
| chlorophyll | the green pigment in plants that functions in photosynthesis by absorbing light from the sun |
| glacier | A glacier is a long-lasting, slowly-moving river of ice on land. |
| loess | A fine-grained, yellowish-brown, extremely fertile loam deposited mainly by the wind and found widely in North America, Asia, and Europe |
| embeddedness | a measure of the degree that gravel and larger substrates are surrounded by fine particles (silt and sand). |
| penultimate phalange | Next to last digit. |
| reaeration | the replenishment of oxygen in water from which oxygen has been removed. |
| gully washer | A heavy rain shower that occurs suddenly, possibly creating a flash flood. |
| gaging station | A particular site on a stream, canal, lake, or reservoir where systematic observations of Gage Height or discharge are obtained. |
| mitigation | Measures taken to reduce adverse impacts on the environment. |
| tree | A woody plant which at maturity is usually 6 meters (20 feet) or more in height and generally has a single trunk, unbranched for 1 m or more above the ground, and a more or less definite crown; e.g., red maple (Acer rubrum), northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis). |
| endogenous | (Geology) Derived from within; geologic processes originating from internal causes within the earth or magma. |
| substrate | the surface beneath a wetland in which organisms grow or to which organisms are attached. |
| exotic species | A non-native species that is introduced into an area. |
| flocculation | large scale treatment process involving gentle stirring whereby small particles in flocs are collected into larger particles so their weight causes them to settle to the bottom of the treatment tank. |
| siltation | The deposition or accumulation of fine soil particles. |
| federal disaster area | Before a community is eligible for disaster assistance from the federal government, it must be declared a Federal Disaster Area |
| tragedy of the commons | The concept that no one takes responsibility for things theat everybody owns. |
| sinter | A chemical sedimentary rock deposited as a hard incrustation on rocks or on the ground by precipitation from hot or cold mineral waters of springs, lakes, or streams. |
| well injection | the subsurface placement of fluids into a well. |
| scuba | A portable apparatus containing compressed air and used for breathing under water |
| invasive species | "an alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health" (Executive Order 13112) |
| roll cloud | A relatively rare, low-level, horizontal, tube-shaped cloud |
| ambient medium | material surrounding or contacting an organism (e.g., outdoor air, indoor air, water, or soil through which chemicals or pollutants can reach the organism. |
| salt water intrusion | the invasion of fresh surface or ground water by salt water |
| gestation | The period of time between mating and the birth of the young. |
| eurythermic | Capable of tolerating a wide range in temperature. |
| cascade | A short, steep drop in stream bed elevation often marked by boulders and agitated white water. |
| limicolous | Living in mud. |
| pseudomorphs | (Geology) A mineral whose outward crystal form is that of another mineral species, typically as a result of Hydrothermal alteration. |
| hydrographic study area | An area of hydrological and climatological similarity so subdivided for study purposes. |
| halo | A circular band of colored light around a light source, as around the sun or moon, caused by the refraction and reflection of light by ice particles suspended in the intervening atmosphere |
| profiler | A type of Doppler radar that typically measures both wind speed and direction from the surface to 55,000 feet in the atmosphere. |
| habitat conservation plan | An agreement between the Secretary of the Interior and either a private entity or a state that specifies conservation measures that will be implemented in exchange for a permit that would allow taking of a threatened or endangered species. |
| charrette | an intensive, collaborative session in which a project team discusses design options related to all aspects of a building construction. |
| seepage bed | A trench or bed more than 36 inches (0.91 meter) wide containing at least 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) of clean, coarse aggregate and a system of distribution piping through which treated sewage may seep into the surrounding soil. |
| bottom material | See Bed Material. |
| non-irrigated cropland | Those non-irrigated cultivated lands that are used for the production of grain crops (harvested and/or grazed), orchard, and field crops. |
| solid waste disposal facilities | the area and associated structures designed to contain solid wastes Solubility |
| melting | The change of a solid into a liquid. |
| genus | A grouping by kind or class |
| chlorophyll mapping | Showing the variation of chlorophyll over the surface of a water body on a map. |
| leakiness | horizontal and vertical leaching of cations from the soil profile into the water table and where it intercepts the ground surface |
| location | A place where something can be found. |
| organic compound | a ring molecule of six carbons and six hydrogens with three shared or resonant double carbon-to-carbon bonds, known as an aromatic compound. |
| dissolve | the process by which solid particles mix molecule by molecule with a liquid and appear to become part of the liquid. |
| benthic zone | The lower region of a body of water including the bottom. |
| dew point | The temperature at which a gas or vapor condenses to form a liquid; the point at which dew begins to form. |
| response action | (Environmental) A generic term used to describe actions taken in response to actual or potential health-threatening environmental events such as spills, sudden releases, and similar such events. |
| isotach | A line connecting equal wind speeds. |
| sediment | Particles of rock covering a size range from clay to boulders. |
| base | An alkaline substance that has a pH that exceeds 7,5. |
| fluidized | A mass of solid particles that is made to flow like a liquid by injection of water or gas is said to have been fluidized |
| periphyton | micro-organisms that coat rocks, plants, and other surfaces on lake bottoms. |
| design flood | The flood magnitude selected for use as a criterion in designing flood control works |
| snowpack | A field of naturally packed snow that ordinarily melts slowly during the early summer months. |
| sun dog | Either of two colored luminous spots that appear at roughly 22° on both sides of the sun at the same elevation |
| right-of-way | a legally defined strip of land to provide access for maintenance. |
| conjunctive management | integrated management and use of two or more water resources, such as an aquifer and a surface water body. |
| artesian | Water held under pressure in porous rock or soil confined by impermeable geological formations. |
| free ground water | water in interconnected pore spaces in the zone of saturation down to the first impervious barrier, moving under the control of the water table slope. |
| stakeholders | Anyone who lives in the watershed or has land management responsibilities in it |
| spring melt/thaw | The process whereby warm temperatures melt winter snow and ice |
| radon | a radioactive gas that naturally vents from the ground |
| administrative order | a legal document signed by U.S |
| dehydratase | (Biochemistry) An Enzyme that catalyzes the removal of oxygen and hydrogen from organic compounds in the form of water. |
| environmental impact statement | a report submitted by a company to describe a project or development, the possible positive or negative impacts of its actions, and its plans to reduce, mitigate or avoid these impacts; the information in the report is based on studies that have been carried out; the report is reviewed by the Nunavut Water Board, Nunavut Impact Review Board, appropriate government agencies and the public Erosion |
| riparian zone | a stream and all the vegetation on its banks. |
| crystallization | The process of a substance going directly from a vapor form (water vapor) to a solid (ice) at the same temperature, without going through the liquid phase (water) |
| s-hydrograph | The direct surface discharge hydrograph resulting from a continuous succession of Unit Storms. |
| gallon | A unit that is now almost entirely out of date |
| tray tower | (Air Quality) An air pollution control device in which contaminated air is passed through a tower containing substances (packing) possessing large surface area |
| foreshore | part of the shore between the upper limit of wave-wash at high tide and the ordinary low water mark. |
| artesian aquifer | a geologic formation in which water is under sufficient hydrostatic pressure to rise above the top of the aquifer in the subsurface |
| best uses | Designated uses for a water body which include aquatic life propagation and maintenance (including fishing, fish and functioning primary nursery areas), wildlife, secondary recreation, water supply (fresh waters), and shellfishing (salt waters). |
| kame terrace | a terrace of stratified sand and and gravel deposited by streams between a glacier and an adjacent valley wall. |
| decomposable waste | waste that under suitable natural conditions can be transformed through biological and chemical processes into compounds that do not impair water quality. |
| cumulus fractus | Cumulus clouds that appear in irregular fragments, as if they had been shred or torn |
| seiche | An oscillation of the water surface of a lake or other body of water due to variations of atmospheric pressure, wind, or minor earthquakes |
| eutrophic conditions | When water becomes very nutrient-rich (through sewage release etc), there is a sudden increase in the growth of micro organisms (e.g |
| sediment | soil particles, sand, and minerals washed from the land into aquatic systems as a result of natural and human activities. |
| rain forest | A tropical woodland that has an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches (254 centimeters) and often much more, typically restricted to certain lowland areas. |
| cdi | Capacitive Deionization |
| cumulative impact | The environmental impacts of a proposed action in combination with the impacts of other past, existing and proposed actions |
| ecology | the scientific study of living organisms and their relationships to one another and their environment |
| electrons | Negatively charged building blocks of an atom that circle around the nucleus. |
| bank-full channel width | The top surface width of a stream channel when flowing at a bank-full discharge. |
| collection site | A stream, lake, reservoir, or other body of water fed by water drained from a watershed. |
| minister | an appointed official in various levels of government, provincial or federal. |
| functional equivalent | A term used to describe the U.S |
| glochidium | the larva of a freshwater mussel (Superfamily Unionoidea) that generally lives as a temporary parasite on a host fish; a mussel larva that is microscopic, many species require a fish as a host for development to a juvenile |
| potable water | Water that is safe for drinking or cooking. |
| hydrologic unit | A distinct watershed or river basin defined by an eight-digit code. |
| blowout | A sudden escape of a confined gas or liquid, as from a well. |
| water resources sub-area | An approximation of a Water Resources Sub-Region using county boundaries |
| glacial | (1) Characterized or dominated by the existence of Glaciers |
| land use planning | The process of inventorying and assessing the status, potentials, and limitations of a particular geographic area and its resources, interacting with the populations associated and/or concerned with the area to determine their needs, wants, and aspirations for the future. |
| cold-water | Lacking modern plumbing or heating facilities, as a cold-water residence. |
| mesa | A mesa is a land formation with a flat area on top and steep walls - usually occurring in dry areas. |
| regional response team | An organization under the joint leadership of the U.S |
| husbandry | (Agriculture) The act or practice of cultivating crops and breeding and raising livestock |
| microclimate | The local climate conditions, brought about by the modification of general climatic conditions by local differences in elevation and exposure |
| feature | Something tangible that provides a service to society in one form or another or, more simply, benefits certain aspects of society by its very existence |
| dorsolateral | Pertaining to the side and the back. |
| equilibrium constant | A value which describes the relationship between chemical species in a system at equilibrium |
| aground | Onto or on a shore, reef, or the bottom of a body of water. |
| avalanche | A fall or slide of a large mass, as of snow or rock, down a mountainside. |
| vadose | Of, relating to, or being water that is located in the Zone of Aeration in the earth's crust above the ground water level. |
| alkalinity | The capacity of water for neutralizing an acid solution |
| bow echo | A radar echo signature often associated with severe thunderstorms, especially those that produce wind damage |
| lithometeor | Solid material, except ice (water), suspended in the atmosphere, as dust, smoke, or pollen |
| soft hail | See Snow Pellet. |
| freshwater marsh | Open wetlands that occur along rivers and lakes. |
| flood plain | Level land that may be submerged by flood waters. |
| quantitative precipitation forecast | A forecast of rainfall, snowfall or liquid equivalent of snowfall. |
| probability distribution | The frequency distribution divided by the total number of occurrences (observations), provided that the latter tends to infinity. |
| aeration | the mixing or turbulent exposure of water to air and oxygen to dissipate volatile contaminants and other pollutants into the air. |
| state revolving funds | a program, capitalized in part by federal funds, that provides low-interest loans for construction of publicly owned wastewater treatment and water recycling facilities, for implementation of nonpoint source and storm drainage pollution control management programs, and for the development and implementation of estuary conservation and management programs. |
| large woody debris | Pieces of naturally occurring wood larger than 10 ft long and 6 in |
| exotic species | plants or animals not native to the area. |
| bioengineering | See Soil Bioengineering. |
| annular space | The space between two cylindrical objects, one of which surrounds the other, such as the space between the wall of the drilled hole and the casing, or between a permanent casing and the borehole. |
| hydric | Characterized by, relating to, or requiring an abundance of moisture; referring to a habitat characterized by wet or moist conditions rather than Mesic (moderate moisture conditions) or Xeric (dry conditions). |
| surfacewater | ground water). |
| afforestation | The artificial establishment of forest crops by planting or sowing on land that has not previously, or recently, grown trees. |
| aquifer | A water-bearing rock or rock formation. |
| strip mining | The process of removing mineral deposits that are found close enough to the surface so that the construction of tunnels (underground mining) is not necessary |
| mollusk | a member of the phylum Mollusca, a group of marine and freshwater invertebrates with soft tissues that are protected by a hard shell composed of one or more parts |
| gobbet | A small amount of liquid; a drop. |
| ozonator | A device that applies Ozone to water for disinfection or for taste and odor control. |
| run | The straight fast-moving section of a stream between riffles. |
| silt | Substrate particles smaller than sand and larger than clay. |
| ecosystem | Interrelated and interdependent parts of a biological system. |
| duff | A general, non-specific term referring to the more or less firm organic layer on top of mineral soil, consisting of fallen vegetative matter in the process of decomposition, including everything from litter on the surface to pure humus. |
| delta | A fan-shaped area of sediment built up at the mouth of a river. |
| intrinsic permeability | Pertaining to the relative ease with which a porous medium can transmit a liquid under a hydraulic or potential gradient |
| dewater | the process of permanently closing a facility/site; includes rehabilitation and plans for future maintenance of affected land and water Diamond Drill |
| insulated concrete form | foam forms that are filled with reinforced concrete to create insulated structural walls. |
| asexual reproduction | Plants reproducing without the sexual process by fragmentation, turions, tubers, and/or other vegetative structures. |
| peak flow | The maximum flow that occurs over a specific length of time (i.e.: daily, hourly, instantaneous) |
| tensiometer | An instrument used for measuring the suction or negative pressure of soil water. |
| ovate | egg-shaped |
| steady flow | Flow in which the rate remains constant with respect to time at a given cross-section. |
| rockfill dam | An Embankment Dam in which more than 50 percent of the total volume comprises compacted or dumped pervious natural or crushed rock |
| direct development | development in terrestrial salamanders in which the hatchling resembles the adult in body form; no larval stage occurs |
| leakage | A species of ions in the feed of an ion exchanger present in the effluent. |
| bog | a nutrient-poor, acidic wetland dominated by a waterlogged spongy mat of sphagum moss that ultimately forms a thick layer of acidic peat; generally has no inflow or outflow; fed primarily by rain water. |
| resolution | The breaking of an emulsion into its individual components. |
| fluid | continuous, amorphous state of matter in which molecules move freely past one another; has the tendency to assume the shape of its container. |
| daylight | In the restoration field, a verb that denotes the excavation and restoration of a stream channel from an underground culvert, covering, or pipe. |
| saturation point | That point at which a soil or an aquifer will no longer absorb any amount of water without losing an equal amount. |
| bias | An error in data gathering or analysis caused by faulty program design, mistakes on the part of personnel, or limitations imposed by available instrumentation or data sources. |
| nursery habitat | habitat where juvenile fish feed or take refuge (e.g., backwater areas, shallow creek margins). |
| absorption | The process in which incident radiant energy is retained by a substance |
| age | An approximation of the time between the water's penetration of the land surface at one location and its later presence at another location. |
| precipitable water | The total water vapor contained in an atmospheric column of unit cross-sectional area; expressed in terms of water of the same cross-sectional area. |
| biota | Collectively, the plants, microorganisms, and animals of a certain area or region. |
| implantation | the embedding of a fertilized ovum (blastocyst) into the endometrium. |
| cost-benefit analysis | Analysis technique which compares the cost of a project with the benefits derived from it |
| water ice | A dessert made of finely crushed ice that has been sweetened and flavored. |
| pressure gradient | The change in pressure with distance, from lower to higher pressure, or vice versa. |
| revetment | Facing of stone or other material either permanent or temporary, placed along the edge of a body of water to stabilize the bank and/or protect it from erosion. |
| gravid | Describing a female that is carrying developing offspring within its body. |
| mitigation | actions taken for the purpose of reducing the negative impacts on the environment of a particular land use or activity Neutralization |
| erosion | Wearing away of rock or soil by the gradual detachment of soil or rock fragments by water, wind, ice, and other mechanical, chemical, or biological forces. |
| owner | a person entitled to possession of any land, mine or undertaking in British Columbia, and includes a person who has a substantial interest in the land, mine or undertaking. |
| presumptive test | (Water Quality) The first of three steps in the analysis of water or wastewater for the presence of bacteria of fecal origin |
| crypto oocyst | The hard shell in which the parasite, Cryptosporidium parvum, resides |
| waterflood | The process of waterflooding an oil well; to pump water into the ground around an oil well nearing depletion in order to loosen and force out additional oil. |
| trihalomethanes | chemical compounds in which three of the four hydrogen atoms of methane (CH4) are replaced by halogen atoms |
| heat transfer agent | A liquid or gas that functions in a Heat Exchanger to facilitate the movement of heat from one location to another |
| restoration | the renewing or repairing of a natural system so that its functions and qualities are comparable to those of its original, unaltered state Runoff |
| creel census survey | The collection of data concerning the number of fish caught by sport fishers on a particular stream or in a particular area. |
| seepage | slow movement of water through small cracks or pores in rocks and soil. |
| souse | (1) To plunge into a liquid |
| uv | Ultra Violet |
| chemical oxygen demand | Quantitative measure of the strength of contamination by organic and inorganic carbon materials. |
| substrate | (1) The composition of a stream bed, including either mineral or organic materials |
| head deposits | A term for sediments formed through a range of slope processes under periglacial conditions first used by De La Beche in 1839 for deposits in SW England |
| cobble | Substrate particles that are smaller than boulders and are generally 64-256 mm in diameter |
| biological contaminants | Living organisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mammal and bird antigens that can cause harmful health effects to humans. |
| fresh water | water containing less than 1,000 parts per million (ppm) of dissolved solids of any type |
| bioavailability | The capacity of a chemical constituent to be taken up by living organisms either through physical contact or by ingestion. |
| membrane filter | Filter made of plastic or modified cellulose and having a known pore diameter |
| leaching | a process where soluble materials such as nutrients or salts in the soil (as well as contaminants) are washed into lower layers of soil or are dissolved and carried away by water. |
| underground injection control | A program required in each state by a provision of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) for the regulation of Injection Wells, including a permit system |
| spray irrigation | application of finely divided water droplets to crops using artificial means. |
| detergent | synthetic washing agent that helps remove dirt and oil |
| combined available chlorine | Concentration of chlorine which is combined with ammonia as chloramine or as other chloro-derivatives yet is still available to oxidize organic matter. |
| asc | Atmospheric Sciences Center (DRI). |
| clr | Classical Linear Regression Model. |
| plain | Plains are flat lands that have only small changes in elevation. |
| continental drift | The theory that continents slowly shift their positions as a result of currents in the molten rocks of the earth's mantle. |
| stage-capacity curve | A graph showing the relation of the surface elevation of the water in a reservoir, usually plotted as the ordinate, to the volume below that elevation, plotted as the abscissa. |
| casing | a tubular structure intended to be watertight installed in the excavated or drilled hole to maintain the well opening and, along with cementing, to confine the ground waters to their zones of origin and prevent the entrance of surface pollutants. |
| alevin | another name for juvenile fish that have recently hatched from the egg |
| crustaceans | An arthropod belonging to the class Crustacea, having a hard external shell. |
| sheet erosion | The removal by surface runoff of a fairly uniform layer of soil from a bank slope from "sheet flow" or runoff that flows over the ground surface as a thin, even layer not concentrated in a channel. |
| total kjeldahl nitrogen | An oxidative procedure that converts organic nitrogen forms to ammonia by digestion with an acid, catalyst, and heat. |
| anaerobic | also refers to metabolic activities, glycolysis, in the absence of oxygen which occurs in some microorganisms. |
| intrusive | Where a fluid (e.g., magma) has penetrated into or between other rocks, but has solidified before reaching the surface. |
| clam-flat | (New England) A level stretch of soft tidal mud where clams burrow. |
| season | A period of time characterized by some distinguishable occurrence or feature, such as growing season, harvest season, winter season, dry season, etc |
| anomalous propagation | This refers to the non-standard propagation of a beam of energy, radio or radar, under certain atmospheric conditions, appearing as false (non-precipitation) echoes |
| aqualung | Equipment used by a person to breath underwater. |
| lot | the individual building lot where the qualifying LEED Home is to be built. |
| placer deposits | Naturally occurring localised concentrations of economically important ore minerals |
| air pollution | The soiling of the atmosphere by contaminants to the point that may cause injury to health, property, plant, or animal life, or prevent the use and enjoyment of the outdoors. |
| epa indoor airplus | a certification program that recognizes homes with systems to ensure high standards of indoor air quality that is also an ENERGY STAR Qualified Home. |
| background level | the concentration of a substance in an environmental media (water or soil) that occurs naturally or is not the result of human activities. |
| environmental stress | the damaging influence of human activities on the environment (for example, through pollution or consumption of natural resources) or that generated by natural events such as storms or droughts |
| midden | an accumulation of visually dead mussel shells that suggests a prior living community |
| meniscus | The curved surface of the liquid at the open end of a capillary column. |
| colorimetry | Process of measuring the concentration of a known solution constituent by comparison with colors of standard solutions of that constituent. |
| air mass thunderstorm | A thunderstorm that is produced by convection within an unstable air mass through an instability mechanism |
| isallobar | The line of equal change in atmospheric pressure during a certain time period |
| ozone hole | A large area over Antarctica recently discovered to have a seasonal drop in stratospheric ozone concentration of as much as 50 percent |
| leaf area index | The area of one side of leaves per unit area of soil surface. |
| soil creep | The slow mass movement of soil materials down slopes primarily under the influence of gravity, but facilitated by saturation with water and/or by alternating freezing and thawing. |
| check gate | A gate located at a check structure used to control flow. |
| lateral | (1) A branch canal or pipeline that diverges from the main canal or other branches |
| water treatment lagoon | An impound for liquid wastes designed to accomplish some degree of biochemical treatment |
| skin diving | The sport of swimming under water with a face mask and flippers and especially without a portable breathing device. |
| ammonia stripping | A process for the removal of ammonia from wastewater |
| state wellhead protection program | A program established to protect wellhead protection areas within a State's jurisdiction from contaminants that may have any adverse effects on the health of persons (Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), subsection 1428[a]) |
| pathogens | Any viruses, bacteria, or fungi that cause disease. |
| salination | The process whereby soluble salts accumulate in the soil. |
| hemiptera | The true bugs, a large order of insects including bedbugs, cicadas, and aphids, with mouth parts adapted for piercing and sucking and with mandibles in the form of long stylets lying in a trough-like labium. |
| altitude | The vertical distance of a level, a point, or an object considered as a point, measured from Mean Sea Level (MSL). |
| water softening | Any process, but most usually involving ion exchange, for removing from water, in whole or in part, those Cations which produce hardness (primarily calcium and magnesium) |
| hhwm | High high water mark |
| infill site | a lot in an existing community |
| tceq | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. |
| holding tank | A prefabricated structure of concrete or steel or like materials constructed to store liquid manure from animals. |
| fluorine | A pale-yellow, highly corrosive, poisonous, gaseous halogen element, the most electronegative and most reactive of all the elements, used in a wide variety of industrially important compounds |
| burn | (Chiefly Scottish) (1) A brook; a rivulet |
| hydrodynamic dispersion | (1) Spreading (at the macroscopic level) of the solute front during transport resulting from both mechanical dispersion and molecular diffusion |
| cesspool | An underground catch basin for combined liquid and solid waste, such as household sewage, so designed as to retain the organic matter and solids but permitting the liquids to seep through the bottom and sides |
| water-cooled reactor | A nuclear reactor that employs water to cool the reactor core |
| lead | (Statistics) The difference in time units of a series value and a subsequent series value |
| bankfull discharge | The bankfull stage corresponds to the discharge at which channel maintenance is most effective |
| stilling well | A device used to allow monitoring of water levels in turbulent flow. |
| alluvial | relating to, composed of, or found in alluvium. |
| cycling | The recurring reproductive phase, triggered by hormonal changes triggered by environmental cues |
| municipal discharge | discharge of effluent from treatment plants that receive wastewater from households, commercial establishments, and industries. |
| coliform bacteria | that are not in themselves harmful but whose presence is indicative of possible pollution or the presence of other more harmful microorganisms which, through its population size or condition, mirrors environmental conditions within an ecosystem. |
| oligotrophic | having a low supply of plant nutrients |
| resource | something valuable that can be used to support life or make it easier |
| butt | A large cask especially for wine, beer, or water. |
| low-lying | Lying close to water or ground level as low-lying coastal areas. |
| chemodynamics | The study of the transport, conversion, and fate of chemical substances in air, water, or soil, including their movement from one medium to another. |
| transient flow | Unsteady flow during a change from a steady-flow state to another steady-flow state. |
| heath | a vegetation dominated by small shrubs with small hard leaves |
| pluvial | Of rain, formed by the action of rain, for example a body of water. |
| inorganic compounds | mineral-based compounds such as metals or nitrates |
| volatile solids | The quantity of solids in a sample which is lost by ignition of the dry solids at 600°C. |
| immobilize | to hold by a strong chemical attraction. |
| nitrate | An ion consisting of nitrogen and oxygen (NO3-) |
| tragedy of the commons | the idea that no one takes responsibility for things that everybody owns. |
| sludge digester | A tank in which complex organic substances like sewage sludges are biologically dredged |
| adiabatic process | A change involving no gain or loss of heat. |
| active channel | see Active floodplain. |
| flowage | (1) The act of flowing or overflowing |
| seasonal adjustment factors | (Data Analysis) Mathematical indexes used to adjust for the intra-year normal seasonal fluctuations in time-series data |
| flashiness | a measure of a river or stream's tendency to carry a high percentage of its flow volume in large, infrequent events rather than more moderate flows that occur frequently. |
| field capacity | the amount of water held in soil against the pull of gravity. |
| baumà | Being, calibrated in accordance with, or according to either of two arbitrary hydrometer scales for liquids lighter than water or for liquids heavier than water that indicate specific gravity in degrees. |
| ph | a measure of the acidity (less than 7) or alkalinity (greater than 7) of a solution; a pH of 7 is considered neutral. |
| species richness | The number of species (taxa) present in a defined area or sampling unit. |
| aeration | A process which promotes biological degradation of organic matter in water |
| humidification | The addition of water vapour to air. |
| condense | (1) To cause a gas or vapor to change to a liquid |
| dry bulb thermometer | A thermometer used to measure the ambient temperature |
| specific humidity | The mass of water vapor per unit mass of moist air. |
| recessive | A gene that affects an animal's appearance if it's present in the homozygous state |
| omnivorous | An omnivore is a species of animal that eats both plants and animals as its primary food source. |
| lek | Communal courtship grounds. |
| rainfall duration | The period of time during which rainfall occurs, exceeds a given intensity, or maintains a given intensity. |
| rotation | The spinning of a body, such as the earth, about its axis. |
| stage | Height of the water surface above an established datum plane, such as in a river above a predetermined point that may (or may not) be at the channel floor. |
| subsurface irrigation system | Irrigation by means of underground porous tile or its equivalent. |
| septic tank | underground receptacle for wastewater from a home |
| muskeg | 1 |
| lining | Application of an internal lining material to the wall of an existing sewer for structural and/or protective reasons |
| composite wood | a product consisting of wood or plant particles or fibers bonded together by a synthetic resin or binder |
| posterioventral | Pertaining to the rear portion of the lower surface. |
| sustainable use | Conserved use of a resource such that it may be used in the present and by future generations. |
| class a pan | The U.S |
| fairfield-hardy digester | (Water Quality) A machine that decomposes garbage, sewage sludge, industrial and other organic wastes by a controlled continuous Aerobic-Thermophilic Process. |
| unconsolidated deposits | Sediment not cemented together; may consist of sand, silt, clay, and organic material. |
| conservation | The process or means of achieving recovery of variable populations. |
| dewlap | A fold of skin hanging from the neck of some bovines, reptiles, and birds. |
| firm yield | The maximum annual supply of a given water development that is expected to be available on demand, with the understanding that lower yields will occur in accordance with a predetermined schedule or probability |
| residual chlorine | the available chlorine which remains in solution after the demand has been satisfied |
| domestic water | Water supplied to individual dwellings and other land uses which is suitable for drinking. |
| underground storage tank | A tank and any underground piping connected to the tank that has 10% or more of its volume (including pipe volume) beneath the surface of the ground |
| guttural | Produced in the throat; harsh, rasping, etc.: said of sounds. |
| few | The amount of sky cover for a cloud layer between 1/8th and 2/8ths, based on the summation layer amount for that layer. |
| landscape | A heterogenous land area with interacting ecosystems that are repeated in similar form throughout. |
| suction pump | A pump for drawing up a liquid by means of suction produced by a piston drawn through a cylinder. |
| well logs | A record that is kept during well drilling of the various formations and rock materials and the depths at which they are encountered |
| tide gate | A swinging gate on the outside of a drainage conduit from a diked field that excludes water at high tide and permits drainage at low tide. |
| mesotidal | Tidal ranges can be defined as the difference between mean high and mean low spring tides |
| symbiosis | An association between two organisms of different species |
| envelope | see thermal envelope. |
| water of crystallization | Water in chemical combination with a crystal, necessary for the maintenance of crystalline properties but capable of being removed by sufficient heat. |
| degree-day | the difference between the mean outdoor temperature on a given day and a reference temperature, used to estimate heating and cooling requirements. |
| benthic zone | The bottom zone of a lake. |
| sanitary sewers | underground pipes that carry off only domestic or industrial waste, not storm water. |
| amc | Antecedent Moisture Condition |
| chemical weathering | attack and dissolving of parent rock by exposure to rainwater, surface water, oxygen, and other gases in the atmosphere, and compounds secreted by organisms |
| catchment | the area determined by topographic features within which rainfall will contribute to runoff at a particular point under consideration |
| terminal moraine | Constitutes the material (Glacial Till) left behind by the farthest advance of a Glacier's toe |
| mare clausum | A navigable body of water, such as a sea, that is under the jurisdiction of one national and closed to all others. |
| fallow | (1) Allowing cropland, either tilled or untilled, to lie idle during the whole or greater portion of the growing season |
| biodegradable | material that will decompose under natural, biological conditions and processes Biodiversity |
| headward erosion | Erosion which occurs in the upstream end of the valley of a stream, causing it to lengthen its course in that direction. |
| lakes | ponds and reservoirs, (see lotic). |
| deleterious substance | a substance is deleterious if it is harmful to fish, if it limits the use of fish by humans (for example contamination of fish by dioxins or shellfish by E |
| slaked lime | Calcium hydroxide which is formed by the addition of water to quicklime; a process termed Slaking. |
| gumbo | A fine, silty soil, common in the southern and western United States, that forms an unusually sticky mud when wet. |
| municipal sewage | sewage from a community which may be composed of domestic sewage, industrial wastes or both. |
| hydrologic | cycle the circulation of the Earth's waters from ocean to atmosphere to land and back to ocean Hydrology |
| township line | In the generally recognized U.S |
| low tide | (1) The lowest level of the tide |
| usace | U.S |
| smoke | Small particles produced by combustion that are suspended in the air |
| suspended solids | any solid substance present in water in an undissolved state, usually contributing directly to turbidity |
| ectothermic | Animals that cannot regulate body temperature internally, but have to regulate temperature through their environment, such as seeking shade, burrowing or hibernating and basking for heat. |
| carriage losses | A term used to describe the operational losses associated with conveying water from its point of diversion to its point of use |
| vale | A valley, often coursed by a stream; a dale. |
| catalyst | A substance that alters the speed of a reaction, but does not change the form or amount of product |
| glide | A section of stream that has little or no turbulence. |
| towering cumulus | Another name for cumulus congestus, it is a rapidly growing cumulus or an individual dome-shaped clouds whose height exceeds its width |
| acca | Air Conditioning Contractors of America |
| shrubland | land covered predominantly with shrubs. |
| physiographic province | A region in which the landforms are distinctive and differ significantly from those of adjacent regions. |
| kimberlite | a type of rock (produced by volcanic activity) that can contain diamonds Kimberlite Pipe |
| cfcs | synthetic products, which do not occur naturally and contain chlorine and fluorine; commonly used in various industrial processes and as refrigerants and, prior to 1990, as a propellant gas for sprays; deplete ozone in the stratosphere and are powerful greenhouse gases |
| rainfall frequency | The frequency, usually expressed in years, at which a given rainfall intensity and duration can be expected to be equaled or exceeded. |
| voc | Volatile Organic Compound |
| nitrogen narcosis | A state of euphoria and exhilaration that occurs when nitrogen in normal air enters the bloodstream at approximately seven times atmospheric pressure (as in deep-water diving) |
| conservation recommendations | Suggestions by conservation agencies regarding discretionary measures to minimize or avoid adverse effects on a proposed action of federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat. |
| doe | U.S |
| dilution ratio | the critical low flow of the receiving water at the point of recycled water discharge divided by the flow of the discharge. Is used in the biomonitoring test to simulate in-stream conditions that organisms will be exposed to during critical low-flow times. |
| waterspout | (1) A tornado or lesser whirlwind occurring over water and resulting in a funnel-shaped whirling column of air and spray |
| berm | (1) A narrow ledge or path as at the top or bottom of a slope, stream bank, or along a beach |
| cloaca | common passage or cavity of the digestive, reproductive, and excretory systems |
| certificated water right [nevada] | The right to put surface or ground water to beneficial use that is identified by a recorded document issued by the Nevada State Engineer after satisfactory proof of "perfection of application" for a permitted water right has been filed in accordance with Nevada Revised Statues Chapter 533. |
| moisture content | the amount of water lost from soil upon drying to a constant weight, expressed as the weight per unit of dry soil or as the volume of water per unit bulk volume of the soil. |
| reservoir | A constructed impoundment or natural body of freshwater of considerable size, whose open-water and deep-bottom zones (no light penetration to bottom) are large compared to the shallow-water (shoreline) zone, which has light penetration to its bottom. |
| fix a sample | A sample is "fixed" in the field by adding chemicals that prevent water quality indicators of interest in the sample from changing before laboratory measurements are made. |
| high water | (1) High tide |
| hydro | The prefix denoting water or hydrogen. |
| arctic | Referring to the region of the earth between the North Pole and Arctic Circle. |
| cellulose | The fibrous part of plants used in making paper and textiles, which in turn may be made into building products. |
| prescriptive water rights | Water rights which are acquired by diverting water and putting it to use in accordance with specified procedures, e.g., filing a request with a state agency to use unused water in a stream, river, or lake. |
| obsidian hydration studies | A method of determining the approximate age of an obsidian artifact by the measurement of the thickness of a microscopically visible "rind" on a flaked edge, resulting from the absorption of water. |
| soft detergents | Cleaning agents that break down in nature. |
| marsh | a water-saturated, poorly drained area, intermittently or permanently water covered, having aquatic and grasslike vegetation. |
| vortex | A revolving mass of water which forms a Whirlpool |
| operable unit | a term used by the Superfund program to describe a discrete action that comprises an incremental step toward comprehensively addressing site problems |
| forest land | Land bearing forest growth. |
| mouth | the point at which a river empties into another body of water |
| montane alkali lakes | Lakes with a water pH greater than 7 found in cool, upland habitats below the timber line. |
| bathyal zone | The ocean stratum beneath the Euphotic Zone and above the Abyssal Zone, or to the bottom of the Continental Shelf |
| buffer | A substance that reacts with hydrogen or hydroxyl ions in a solution, in order to prevent a change in pH. |
| isopleth | A line connecting equal points of value |
| flood-base discharge | A value of high flow usually computed during the first 5 years of station operation that, on the average, is exceeded about three times per year. |
| kcfs | A measurement of water flow equivalent to 1,000 cubic feet of water passing a given point for an entire second. |
| prior appropriation doctrine | The system for allocating water to private individuals used in most Western states |
| normal distribution | (Statistics) A fundamental underpinning of statistical and econometric analysis: that if repeated samples are drawn (observed) from a population, that as the sample size grows then the observed values will centralize around a non-random value, termed the expected value |
| mineral | Any naturally occurring inorganic material with an orderly internal arrangement of atoms and specific physical and chemical properties. |
| endangered species | one having so few individual survivors that the species could soon become extinct in all or part of its region. |
| degraded | condition of the quality of water that has been made unfit for some specified purpose. |
| drainage main | A natural or artificial ditch or conduit for moving water off the land. |
| reduced-risk pesticides | These are pesticides which : (1) reduce pesticide risks to human health; (2) reduce pesticide risks to nontarget organisms; (3) reduce the potential for contamination of valued, environmental resources, or (4) broaden adoption of IPM or makes it more effective |
| permit | a permit issued by a state or the federal government to discharge effluent into waters of the state or the United States |
| quadrate | square |
| weirs | A regulating device in a sewer that permits dry weather flow in a combined sewer to enter an interceptor, but causes the storm flow to leap over for a controlled overflow. |
| geosol | (Geography) A stratigraphic unit of distinctive material, laterally traceable. |
| translucent | Not transparent, but clear enough to allow light to pass through. |
| drought | Abnormal dry weather for a specific area that is sufficiently prolonged for the lack of water to cause serious hydrological imbalance. |
| melting | the changing of a solid into a liquid. |
| bioaccumulation | The process by which a contaminant accumulates in the tissues of an organism. |
| oil spill | An accidental or intentional discharge of oil which reaches bodies of water |
| chloramines | Compounds containing nitrogen, hydrogen, and chlorine, formed by the reaction between hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and ammonia (NH3) and/or organic amines in water |
| carbonate | (1) The collective term for the natural inorganic chemical compounds related to carbon dioxide that exist in natural waterways |
| weeping | Dropping rain as in weeping clouds. |
| benthic organisms | Those organisms living at or near the bottom of a body of water. |
| salt | A chemical class of ionic compounds formed by the combination of an acid and a base |
| aerobic | life or processes that require, or are not destroyed by, the presence of oxygen. |
| sewage system | Pipelines or conduits, pumping stations, force mains, and all other structures, devices, and facilities used for collecting or conducting wastes to a point for treatment or disposal. |
| ecotone | a transition zone between two distinctly different ecosystems or communities. |
| subterranean water | Water below the surface of the ground |
| fines | Silt and clay particles. |
| oxygen demand | The need for molecular oxygen (O2) to meet the needs of biological and chemical processes in water |
| land | The entire complex of surface and near surface attributes of the solid portions of the surface of the earth, which are significant to man |
| corrosive | A substance that deteriorates material, such as pipe, through electrochemical processes. |
| polychlorinated biphenyls | A mixture of chlorinated derivatives of biphenyl, marketed under the trade name Aroclor with a number designating the chlorine content (such as Aroclor 1260) |
| unsaturated flow | Movement of water in a porous medium in which the pore spaces are not filled with water and the direction of flow is from the wetter zone of higher potential to one of lower potential. |
| artesian pressure | The pressure under which Artesian Water in an Artesian Aquifer is subjected, generally significantly greater than atmospheric. |
| correlation coefficient | (Statistics) A measure of the coincidence of change between two variables |
| interstitial | Referring to the Interstices or pore spaces in rock, soil, or other material subject to filling by water. |
| peak use rate | The maximum periodic rate of consumptive use (Evapotranspiration) of water by plants. |
| oviparous | Reproduces by laying eggs. |
| synecology | The study of different natural communities or Ecosystems. |
| ground truth | (Data Analysis and Interpretation) Verification of aerial photointerpretation by observers on the ground. |
| mode | (Statistics) In a set of observations, the most frequently occurring value |
| flood-related erosion area management | The operation of an overall program of corrective and preventive measures for reducing flood-related erosion damage, including but not limited to emergency preparedness plans, flood-related erosion control works, and floodplain management regulations. |
| annulus | For a well, the space between the pipe and the outer wall (casing) of the borehole, which may be a pipe also (the well casing). |
| variable ceiling | Occurs when the height of a ceiling layer increases and decreases rapidly, The ascribed height is the average of all the varying values. |
| permanent structure | any building or structure that was lawfully constructed, placed or erected on a secure and long lasting foundation on land in accordance with any local government bylaw or approval condition in effect at the time of construction, placement or erection. |
| geology | The science that studies the physical nature and history of the earth. |
| moutonnàe | (Geology) Rounded by glacial action into a shape resembling a sheep's back |
| bucket | (1) A cylindrical vessel used for holding or carrying water or other liquids; a pail |
| ice age | (1) A cold period marked by episodes of extensive glaciation alternating with episodes of relative warmth |
| disposal well | A deep well used for the disposal of liquid wastes. |
| bsc | Biological Sciences Center |
| fathom | The common unit of depth in the ocean for countries using the English system of measurement |
| odp | Ozone Depleting Potential |
| rain barrel | A barrel of, or for rain water, particularly a barrel placed so as to catch water dripping from eaves of a house or other buildings. |
| nonwithdrawal use | Use which does not require diversion |
| plumber | One who installs, repairs, and maintains piping, fittings, and fixtures involved in the distribution and use of water in a building. |
| capacitive deionization | A relatively simple and straight forward electrochemical reaction process made unique and highly efficient through the development of a highly-porous material called carbon aerogel that absorbs huge volumes of ions |
| reproductive potential | the number of offspring a female of a given age can be expected to produce. |
| interstitial monitoring | The continuous surveillance of the space between the walls of an underground storage tank. |
| probability of detection | The likelihood, expressed as a percentage, that a test method will correctly identify a leaking tank. |
| leaf area index | A measure of the total area of leaves, twigs, stems, etc |
| duct | An often enclosed passage or channel for conveying a substance, especially a liquid or gas. |
| fire regime | the pattern of fires at a location; includes the frequency, intensity and seasonality of the fires |
| palouser | A strong, dangerous, katabatic wind that descends from the mountains into the Palouse River valley in northern Idaho and eastern Washington |
| recording gage | A Gage which provides a continuous recording of the parameter being monitored |
| supply augmentation alternatives | Water management programs that increase supply, for example, Conjunctive Use, Water Banking, or water project facility expansion. |
| enteric viruses | A category of viruses related to human excreta found in waterways. |
| neap tide | A tide that occurs when the difference between high and low tide is least; the lowest level of high tide |
| waterborne | (1) Floating on or supported by water, as, for example, afloat |
| well development | The application of a surging or brushing process to a well in order to draw fine material from the aquifer next to the well and increase its discharge capacity. |
| whole-effluent toxicity | the aggregate toxic effect of an effluent measured directly by a toxicity test. |
| alluvium | sediments deposited by erosional processes, usually by streams. |
| facultative bacteria | Bacteria that can live under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. |
| sand filters | devices that remove suspended solids from a wastewater treatment plant effluent or water treatment plant product. |
| throughfall | In a vegetated area, the precipitation that falls directly to the ground, or the rainwater or snowmelt that drops from twigs or leaves. |
| ts | Total Solids |
| river basin | the area drained by a river and its tributaries. |
| bowels | Bowels are the interior of your reptiles body...in other words the reptiles intestine or intestines. |
| pedogenic | The process of soil formation |
| meteorology | The science that deals with the phenomenon of the atmosphere, especially weather and weather conditions. |
| armoring | the formation of an erosion-resistant layer of relatively large particles on a streambed or bank resulting from removal of finer particles by erosion. |
| plate tectonics | refers to the folding and faulting of rock and flow of molten lava involving lithospheric plates in the earth's crust and upper mantle. |
| off-piste | (Sports) Existing or taking place on snow that has not been compacted into tracks. |
| hydraulic gradient | the change of hydraulic head per unit of distance in a given direction. |
| protons | Positively charged building blocks of an atom that are centered in the nucleus. |
| duplicates | Two separate samples with separate containers taken at the same time and at the same place. |
| climate zones | the climate of a project's location can have a significant effect on environmental design and construction (particularly in terms of heating and cooling); thus the LEED for Homes rating system awards credit to projects that include sustainable goals appropriate for the local climate. |
| volumetric tank test | One of several tests to determine the physical integrity of a storage tank; the volume of fluid in the tank is measured directly or calculated from product-level changes |
| assimilative capacity | the capacity of a natural body of water to receive and dilute wastewaters or toxic materials without damage to aquatic life or humans who consume the water. |
| interstate water | according to law, interstate waters are defined as (1) rivers, lakes and other waters that flow across or form a part of state or international boundaries; (2) waters of the Great Lakes; (3) coastal waters whose scope has been defined to include ocean waters seaward to the territorial limits and waters along the coastline (including inland streams) influenced by the tide. |
| extrusive bedrock | (Geology) Those Igneous Rocks derived from volcanic lavas that cooled on the surface of the earth |
| fork | the place where two rivers meet |
| xeric | Describing an organism that requires little moisture or a habitat containing little moisture; dry environmental conditions as compared to Hydric (wet environmental conditions) and Mesic (moderate environmental conditions). |
| empirical | (Statistics) Based on experience or observations, as opposed to theory or conjecture. |
| biomass | the amount of living matter, in the form of organisms, present in a particular habitat, usually expressed as weight- per-unit area. |
| root pressure | Pressure exerted in the roots of plants as the result of Osmosis, causing exudation from cut stems and Guttation of water from leaves. |
| cf | Cubic Feet (or Foot). |
| hectare | (Abbreviation ha) A metric unit of area equal to 100 Ares (2.471 acres) and equivalent to 10,000 square meters (107,639 square feet) |
| peak flow | the maximum volume of water that is carried in the river over a certain period of time, expressed in cubic feet per second (cfs) |
| hydrocarbons | Any of a vast family of compounds originating in materials containing carbon and hydrogen in various combinations |
| mean lower low water | The average height of the lower of two unequal daily low tides over 19 years |
| suspended solids | the small solid particles in water that cause turbidity |
| photoperiod | The amount of time per day that an organism is exposed to light. |
| simulation analysis | (Statistics) A procedure or process by which an Econometric Model (Regression Analysis) is designed to test the effects on outputs of various changes (simulations) of inputs |
| ichthyology | The study of fishes. |
| suspended load | The part of the total sediment load that is carried by the water for a considerable period of time at the velocity of the flow, free from contact with the stream bed (see also Bed load). |
| grassland | areas dominated by grasses and with few or no trees |
| liner | (1) (Water Quality) A low-permeability material, such as clay or high-density polyethylene, used for the bottom and sides of a landfill |
| mitigation bank | Habitat protection or improvement actions taken expressly for the purpose of compensating for unavoidable, necessary losses from specific future development actions. |
| normal | An animal with no mutated genes - "wild type" in appearance |
| thermometer | An instrument used for measuring temperature |
| conglomerate | a coarse-grained sedimentary rock composed of fragments larger than 2 millimeters in diameter. |
| batholith | A mass of Igneous rock that forms intrusively and can rise to the surface. |
| stratification | (Statistics) The subdivision of a Population into groups or strata, each of which is more homogeneous in respect to the variable being measured than the population as a whole |
| concentrate | To make a solution or mixture less dilute, as by removing water from a solution. |
| siltation | the deposition or accumulation of silt (or small-grained material) in a body of water. |
| friction slope | The energy loss per unit of length of open or closed conduit due to friction. |
| irrigation depletion | The amount of diverted water consumptively used, beneficially and nonbeneficially, in serving a cropped area |
| aureole | (Astronomy) A faintly colored luminous ring appearing to surround a celestial body visible through a haze or thin cloud of water vapor, especially such a ring around the moon or sun, caused by the diffraction of light from suspended matter in the intervening medium |
| scuttlebutt | (1) A cask on shipboard to contain fresh water for a day's use |
| macrotidal | Tidal ranges can be defined as the difference between mean high and mean low spring tides |
| divide | An imaginary line indicating the limits of a subbasin, subwatershed, or watershed; the boundary line along a topographic ridge or high point which separates two adjacent drainage basins |
| biomass | the quantity of organic materials within an ecosystem (usually expressed as dry weight for unit area or volume) |
| ballast | Heavy material, often seawater, placed in the hold of a ship to gain stability |
| bog | Waterlogged ground or marshland (also known as a wetland). |
| glacier | A huge mass of ice, formed on land by the compaction and re-crystallization of snow, that moves very slowly downslope or outward due to its own weight. |
| activated sludge | Product that results when primary effluent is mixed with bacteria-laden sludge and then agitated and aerated to promote biological treatment, speeding the breakdown of organic matter in raw sewage undergoing secondary waste treatment. |
| turbulence | The irregular and instantaneous motions of air which is made up of a number of small of eddies that travel in the general air current |
| echolocation | the process whereby the distance and direction of objects is determined by the reception of the reflection of an ultrasonic pulse. |
| stratopause | The boundary in the Atmosphere between the Stratosphere and the next highest layer, the Mesosphere. |
| extinction | (Biology) The complete disappearance of a species because of failure to adapt to environmental change |
| in-situ flushing | introduction of large volumes of water, at times supplemented with cleaning compounds, into soil, waste, or groundwater to flush hazardous contaminants from a site. |
| benthic region | The bottom of a body of water, supporting the Benthos. |
| refraction | The bending of light or radar beam as it passes through a zone of contrasting properties, such as atmospheric density, water vapor, or temperature. |
| doldrums | (1) A region of the ocean near the equator, characterized by calm, light winds, or squalls |
| overflow | (1) To flow or run over the top, brim, or banks |
| nuclei | the central core of an object that forms the basis for its future development |
| primary succession | The development of plant and animal communities in a land area that does not contain topsoil, for example in an area covered by lava that has solidified |
| angler-day | The time spent fishing for any part of a day by one person. |
| erosion control blanket | blanket made of straw, coir, excelsior or synthetic material and enveloped in plastic or biodegradable netting. |
| buoyancy | The tendency of a body to float or rise when submerged in a fluid. |
| snow | precipitation in the form of branched hexagonal crystals, often mixed with simple ice crystals, which fall more or less continuously from a solid cloud sheet |
| robinson projection | (Geography) A compromise map projection showing the poles as lines rather than points and more accurately portraying high latitude lands and water to land ratio. |
| algal blooms | Periods of enlarged algal growths that affect water quality |
| chloramines | A chemical complex that consists of chlorine and ammonia |
| basalt aquifers | Aquifers found in basalt rock in areas of past volcanic activity, particularly in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and in Hawaii. |
| peak flow | in a wastewater treatment plant, the highest flow expected to be encoutered under any operational conditions, including periods of high rainfall and prolonged periods of wet weather. |
| blowing dust | Dust that is raised by the wind to heights of six feet or greater |
| montane | A forest Ecosystem or Biome in mountainous areas of the tropics |
| lithia water | Mineral water containing lithium salts. |
| transitional storage reserve | The quantity of water in storage in a particular groundwater aquifer that is extracted during the transition period between natural equilibrium conditions and new equilibrium conditions with groundwater pumped at perennial yield levels. |
| probing | Term used for the technique used when sexing a snakes and reptiles. |
| lake | An inland body of standing water deeper than a pond, an expanded part of a river, a reservoir behind a dam. |
| sea breeze | A diurnal coastal breeze that blows onshore, from the sea to the land |
| organochlorine pesticide | See Organochlorine insecticide. |
| advanced lighting package | This is the ENERGY STAR Advanced Lighting Package consisting of a minimum of 60% ENERGY STAR qualified hard-wired fixtures and 100% ENERGY STAR-qualified ceiling fans (if any). |
| acid aerosol | Very small liquid or solid particles that are acidic and are small enough to become airborne. |
| critical habitat | habitat used by species at risk or habitat critical to sustaining local populations of a species, because of its rareness, productivity, and sensitivity |
| detection criterion | A predetermined rule to ascertain whether a tank is leaking or not |
| atmospheric pressure | the pressure exerted by the atmosphere on any surface beneath or within it; equal to 14.7 pounds per square inch at sea level. |
| calf | A large floating chunk of ice split off from a glacier, an iceberg, or a floe. |
| nadir | Refers to a low or the lowest point, as the lowest point of a lake or other body of water attained of a certain period of time (period of record). |
| streamflow depletion | The amount of water that annually flows into a valley or onto a particular land area minus the amount that flows out of the valley or away from the particular land area |
| lining | A protective covering over all or part of the perimeter of a reservoir or a conduit to prevent seepage losses, withstand pressure, resist erosion, reduce friction, or otherwise improve conditions of flow. |
| molecule | A group of atoms held together by chemical bonds |
| pascal's law | When an external pressure is applied to any confined fluid at rest, the pressure is increased at every point in the fluid by the amount of external pressure applied |
| temperature | The degree of hotness or coldness |
| formation | (Geology) A body of rock or soil of considerable thickness that has characteristics making it distinguishable from adjacent geologic structures. |
| conduit | A natural or artificial channel through which fluids may be transported. |
| jetteau | a jet of water. |
| river | a natural stream of water of considerable volume. |
| coefficient of determination | (Statistics) A common measure of the "Goodness of Fit" in Regression Analysis used to assess the degree of causation between two variables or between one or more independent variables and a single dependent variable |
| gulf stream | (Geography) The warm ocean current of the North Atlantic |
| balancers | Lateral appendages on the heads of some larval salamanders. |
| ridge lines | Points of higher ground that separate two adjacent streams or Watersheds |
| impermeability | The incapacity of a rock to transmit a fluid. |
| contour strip farming | A kind of contour farming in which row crops are planted in strips, between alternating strips of close-growing, erosion-resistant forage crops. |
| coccidia | A single cell organism that can infest your reptiles (or other pets) intestines |
| hadd | harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat |
| arroyo | A water-carved channel or gully in an arid country which is usually rather small with steep banks and is dry much of the time due to infrequent rainfall and the shallowness of the cut, which does not penetrate below the level of permanent ground water. |
| clay | (1a) A fine-grained, firm earth material that is plastic when wet and hardens when heated, consisting primarily of hydrated silicates of aluminum and widely used in making bricks, tiles, and pottery; (1b) A hardening or non-hardening material having a consistency similar to clay and used for modeling |
| kilowatt-hour | A unit of electrical energy equal to 1,000 watt-hours or a power demand of 1,000 watts for one hour |
| lagoon | (1) A shallow lake or pond, especially one connected with a larger body of water |
| arranged delivery | Operation of a water delivery system to meet predetermined needs, generally based on user water orders |
| gray water | Wastewater from a household or small commercial establishment that specifically excludes water from a toilet, kitchen sink, dishwater, or water used for washing diapers. |
| detergent | A water-soluble cleansing agent, other than soap. |
| product water | Water that has passed through a water treatment plant and is ready to be delivered to consumers. |
| impaired water body | a water body that has been determined under state and federal law as not meeting water quality standards, or having the potential to do so in the future. |
| mclg | See Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. |
| melting point | The temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid |
| potable | suitable for drinking |
| point discharge | The instantaneous rate of discharge, in contrast to the mean rate for an interval of time. |
| lunette | A broad, low-lying, typically crescent-shaped mound of sandy or loamy matter that is formed by the wind, especially along the leeward side of a lake basin. |
| dorsolateral | Pertains to the upper sides. |
| molting | Routine shedding of skin |
| mound system | A septic tank effluent disposal system in which a mound of soil is built up and effluent distributed in the mound abut 3.3 feet (1 meter) above the normal soil surface. |
| brew | To prepare (as tea) by infusion in hot water. |
| infiltration capacity | The maximum rate at which the soil, when in a given condition, can absorb falling rain or melting snow. |
| septic system | An on-site system designed to treat and dispose of domestic sewage |
| rainfall rate | The amount of precipitation occurring in a unit of time; generally expressed in inches per hour. |
| barothermograph | An instrument which records simultaneous barometric pressure and temperature on the same chart. |
| phenolphthalein | alkalinity A measure of the bicarbonate content. |
| macronutrient | A chemical element necessary in relatively large amounts (usually more than one part per million [ppm] in the plant) for the growth of plants. |
| quaking bog | A Bog formed of Peat, wholly or partially floating, so that it shakes when trodden upon |
| earthfill dam | A dam the main section of which is composed principally of earth, gravel, sand, silt, and clay |
| soil water tension | The work that must be done per unit quantity of pure water to transport it from free water at the same elevation to soil water |
| epilimnion | Warm, oxygen-rich, upper layer of a stratified water body; usually a seasonal phenomenon. |
| easterlies | Usually applied to the broad patterns of persistent winds with an easterly component, such as the easterly trade winds. |
| aquifer system | A body of permeable and relatively impermeable materials that functions regionally as a water-yielding unit |
| phytoplankton | Minute plants, usually algae, that live suspended in bodies of water and that drift about because they are too small or too weak to swim effectively against the current. |
| fish habitat | The aquatic environment and the immediately surrounding terrestrial environment that meet the necessary biological and physical requirements of fish species during various life stages. |
| wet bulb depression | Dependent on the temperature and the humidity of the air, it is the difference between the dry bulb and the wet bulb readings. |
| pressure gage | An instrument, graduated in any units desired, for registering the pressure of solids, liquids, or gases. |
| cool pavement | a road, driveway, parking lot, sidewalk or other hard surface that has reduced absorption, retention and emittance of solar heat |
| euphotic zone | surface layer of an ocean, lake, or other body of water through which light can penetrate |
| lentic waters | Ponds or lakes (standing water). |
| line storm | A violent storm or a series of storms of rain and wind believed to take place during the equinoxes. |
| food chain | A sequence of organisms, each of which uses the next, lower member of the sequence as a food source. |
| ion exchange | The replacement of undesirable ions with a certain charge by desirable ions of the same charge in a solution, by an ion-permeable absorbent. |
| buried manhole | A manhole that is not visible at ground surface. |
| clearfelling | the removal of all trees on a specified cutting area (see coupe); in many cases some trees are retained for environmental protection or conservation reasons |
| pretreatment | (1) Under the Clean Water Act (CWA), the required alteration and/or reduction of certain water pollutants in a waste stream before the wastewater is discharged into a Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) |
| freeze | (1) To pass from the liquid to the solid state by loss of heat |
| urban runoff | Storm water from city streets and gutters that usually carries a great deal of litter and organic and bacterial wastes into the sewer systems and receiving waters. |
| lap | (1) To wash or slap against with soft liquid sounds |
| littoral | The region along the shore of a non-flowing body of water; corresponds to Riparian for a flowing body of water |
| lentic system | a nonflowing or standing body of fresh water, such as a lake or pond |
| climate | The sum total of the meteorological elements that characterize the average and extreme conditions of the atmosphere over a long period of time at any one place or region of the earth's surface |
| mesophyte | any plant growing where moisture and aeration conditions lie between the extremes of "wet" and "dry." |
| diluent | A substance used to dilute a solution or suspension. |
| bp | Barometric Pressure. |
| tied in | An expression used to indicate that a technique is constructed to prevent stream flow between the structure and the bank (see Keyed In). |
| friction losses | Total energy losses in the flow of water due to friction between the water and the walls of a conduit, channel, or porous medium, usually expressed in units of height. |
| non-fish-bearing stream | a stream that is not inhabited by fish, and provides water, food and nutrients to a downstream fish bearing stream or other water body. |
| water well | any artificial excavation constructed for the purpose of exploring for or producing ground water. |
| anthropogenic sites | Sites modified by human activities to the extent that their initial physical properties (e.g |
| cross-connection | any actual or potential connection between a drinking water system and an unapproved water supply or other source of contamination. |
| cataphoresis | The migration of charged colloidal particles (Colloids) or Molecules through a solution under the influence of an applied electric field usually provided by immersed electrodes |
| frasnian | The second to last stage of the Devonian. |
| alpine lakes | Lakes in any high mountain region, associated with snow, ice and a cold climate. |
| juvenile | the life history stage after the larval stage but before the adult stage |
| chromosphere | A thin layer of relatively transparent gases above the photosphere of the sun |
| sewerage | the entire system of sewage collection, treatment, and disposal. |
| national response center | The 24-hour a day federal operations center receives notifications of all releases of oil and hazardous substances into the environment |
| non-cohesive soil | Soil particles that have no natural resistance to being pulled apart at their point of contact, for example, silt, sand, gravel. |
| quiescent | Being at rest; quiet; still; inactive or motionless. |
| gradient | Degree of incline; slope of a stream bed |
| patagium | 1 |
| cusps | One of the protuberances on or near the masticating surface of a tooth. |
| clammy | (1) Disagreeably moist, sticky, and cold to the touch |
| dorsal | Referring to features on the back or along the spine of the animal |
| mesic | Moderately wet. |
| bentonite | A clay material that swells as it dries, filling gaps and sealing itself against a well casing |
| micron | A unit to discribe a measure of length, equal to one millionth of a metre. |
| stool | A stool is fecal matter from a bowel movemnt of your reptile. |
| bcp | Bioconcentration Potential. |
| watermaster | Often an employee of a court hired to administer a court decree |
| medic | species of the genus Medicag o, including lucerne, that have symbiotic rhizobia which fix nitrogen |
| glacial action | The resultant effects caused by the movement of a Glacier |
| clutch-mate | Individuals who hatched from the same clutch of eggs. |
| fluid | Having particles which easily move and change their relative position without a separation of the mass, and which easily yield to pressure; capable of flowing; liquid or gaseous. |
| tidal marsh | A low elevation marshy coastal area formed of mud and the root mat of Halophytic plants, regularly inundated during high tide. |
| management indicator species | (Environmental) A species selected because its welfare is presumed to be an indicator of the welfare of other species in the habitat |
| blm | Bureau of Land Management (USDI) |
| water vapor | Water in a gaseous state, especially when diffused as a vapor in the atmosphere and at a temperature below boiling point. |
| hydrothermal solution | A hot, watery solution that usually emanates from a magma in the late stages of cooling |
| loreal scale | Refers to the scales of a snake which lie between the eye and the nostril of a snake. |
| ice storm | A severe weather condition characterized by falling freezing precipitation |
| anterior end | the shorter end of the shell as measured from the umbo; also considered the front end |
| ewmp | See Efficient Water Management Practices (EWMP). |
| ashrae | American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers |
| lipophilic | Having an affinity for fatty tissues. |
| locomotion | the self-propelled movement of an organism from one location to another |
| litter | 1 |
| basking | When a reptile lays in a warm area to increase its body temperature. |
| theoretical oxygen demand | The amount of oxygen that theoretically is required to totally oxidize a substance. |
| runoff percentage | Runoff expressed as a percentage of the precipitation. |
| bed load | the particles in a stream channel that mainly move by bouncing, sliding, or rolling on or near the bottom of the stream. |
| perennial yield | The amount of usable water of a ground water reservoir that can be withdrawn and consumed economically each year for an indefinite period of time |
| freeboard | the vertical space remaining in a containment structure; the vertical distance between the surface of the water and the top of a dam or dyke Glacier |
| accretion | Accumulation of sand or other beach material due to the natural action of waves, currents and wind. |
| drought | although there is no universally accepted definition of drought, it is generally the term applied to periods of less than average precipitation over a certain period of time |
| nutrient depletion | Detrimental changes on a site in the total amount of nutrients and/or their rates of input, uptake, release, movement, transformation, or export. |
| marsupium | the portion of the gills of a female mussel that contain glochidia |
| grass/forb | Herbaceous vegetation. |
| drainage water | The water which has been collected by a drainage system |
| steam | The vapor that forms when water is heated to the boiling point |
| parapet wall | A solid wall built along the top of a dam for ornament, for the safety of vehicles and pedestrians, or to prevent overtopping. |
| pond | A small natural body of standing fresh water filling a surface depression, usually smaller than a lake. |
| granite | (Geology) A light-colored plutonic igneous rock made up of interlocking grains of glassy or milky quartz, white or pink feldspar, and specks of dark mica or hornblende |
| subdivision | the homes and building lots that immediately surround the new LEED home project that is to be built |
| metamorphosis | The developmental transition between larval and adult stages that can include extreme morphological transformations. |
| pumping test | A test that is conducted to determine aquifer or well characteristics |
| hyetography | The branch of meteorology having to do with the geographical distribution and annual variation of rainfall |
| turbid | thick or opaque with matter in suspension |
| filtration | the mechanical process which removes particulate matter by separating water from solid material, usually by passing it through sand. |
| jar test | A laboratory procedure that simulates a water treatment plant's coagulation/flocculation units with differing chemical doses, mix speeds, and settling times to estimate the minimum or ideal coagulant dose required to achieve certain water quality goals. |
| water-resistant | Synonymous with Water-Repellent. |
| conifer | A tree belonging to the order Gymnospermae, comprising a wide range of trees that are mostly evergreens |
| infiltration degree-days | the sum of the heating degree-days and the cooling degree-days. |
| adit | A tunnel driven into a hillside to facilitate access, drainage and haulage of ore to the surface from a mine. |
| water cycle | the process of water moving from a lake or ocean to the clouds and back to the earth again |
| gpd | Gallons per day, a measure of the rate of flow or the rate of water withdrawal from a well |
| catchment | the surface area of a roof that intercepts rainwater for a rainwater harvesting system. |
| storage-required frequency curve | A graph showing the frequency with which storage equal to or greater than selected amounts will be required to maintain selected rates of regulated flow. |
| posterior ridge | the ridge on the back half of the valve running from the umbo to the posterior ventral edge |
| nonflat coating | a paint or varnish that registers a gloss of 5 or greater on a 60-degree meter and a gloss of 15 or greater on an 85-degree meter. |
| growing season | the frost-free period of the year. |
| off-channel use | See Offstream Use. |
| scute | A horny, chitinous, or bony external plate or scale, as on the shell of a turtle or the underside of a snake |
| nephelococcygia | A term applied when people find familiar objects within the shape of a cloud. |
| reach | a continuous part of a stream between two specified points. |
| concern | This is a stated actual or perceived problem, raised by an individual or stakeholder |
| basin and range [nevada] | A region of north-trending mountains ranges and valleys encompassing western Utah and essentially all of Nevada |
| anticyclone | An area of relatively high pressure in which, in the northern hemisphere, the winds tend to blow spirally outward in a clockwise direction. |
| parts per million | The number of "parts" by weight of a substance per million parts of water |
| heat of vaporization | the amount of heat necessary to convert a liquid (water) into vapor. |
| anaerobic digestion | The degradation of organic matter by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen, particularly as related to the treatment of sewage sludge |
| percent saturation | The amount of a substance that is dissolved in a solution compared to the amount that could be dissolved in it. |
| exposure | The amount of pollution present in a given environment that represents a potential health threat to living organisms. |
| drainage | An area (basin) mostly bounded by ridges or other similar topographic features, encompassing part, most, or all of a watershed and enclosing some 5,000 acres. |
| mineral water | Contains large amounts of dissolved minerals such as calcium, sodium, magnesium, and iron |
| permeability soil | The quality of a soil horizon that enables water or air to move through it |
| bed load | Sediment moving on or near the stream bed and transported by jumping, rolling, or sliding on the bed layer of a stream (see also suspended load). |
| gully reclamation | use of small dams of manure and straw; earth, stone,or concrete to collect silt and gradually fill in channels of eroded soil. |
| water reactive | Describing any substance that reacts spontaneously with water to release a flammable or toxic gas, such as sodium metal. |
| lagoon | (1) A shallow pond where sunlight, bacterial action, and oxygen work to purify wastewater |
| drought | Generally, the term is applied to periods of less than average or normal precipitation over a certain period of time sufficiently prolonged to cause a serious hydrological imbalance resulting in biological losses (impact flora and fauna ecosystems) and/or economic losses (affecting people) |
| stopcock | A valve that regulates the flow of fluid through a pipe; a faucet. |
| biotransformation | Conversion of a substance into other compounds by organisms |
| lateral moraines | The ridges of Glacial Till that mark the sides of a glacier's path |
| wet scrubbing | A process that removes particles, gases, or vapors from an exhaust gas by passing the exhaust through a shower of water or water that contains an agent to react with the material to be removed. |
| heavy metals | Metals that have a density of 5.0 or higher and a high elemental weight |
| biota | The plant (flora) and animal life (fauna) of a region or ecosystem, as in a stream or other body of water. |
| aquatic ecosystems | basic ecological unit composed of living and non-living elements interacting in an aqueous environment |
| canopy angle | Generally, a measure of the openness of a stream to sunlight |
| altostratus cloud | A somewhat high level, blue to grayish blue cloud that forms a sheet or layer at an average height of 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) |
| heat pump | An apparatus for heating or cooling a building by transferring heat by mechanical means from or to a reservoir (as the ground, water, or air) outside the building. |
| inflow | The entry of extraneous rainwater into a sewer system from sources other than infiltration, such as basement drains, sewer holes, storm drains, and street washing. |
| catabolism | The biological breakdown of materials into their simpler components, i.e., decomposition |
| head loss | (1) The decrease in total head caused by friction |
| adsorbed | The attraction of compounds in solution to a mineral surface. |
| toxicity | (1) The ability of a chemical substance to cause acute or chronic adverse health effects in animals, plants, or humans |
| spongy | (1) Porous; absorbent |
| snow devil | A small, rotating wind that picks up loose snow instead of dirt (like a dust devil) or water (like a waterspout) |
| bioconcentration potential | The maximum concentration of a chemical in an organism resulting from the rate of absorption equaling the rate of metabolism and excretion. |
| soil erosion | The detachment and movement of soil from the land surface by wind or water. |
| anus | An opening at the base of the tale |
| member agency | one of 27 member public water providers associated with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, from which it purchases water and on whose board it is represented microorganism - an organism of microscopic size, such as bacterium migratory - moving from one area to another on a seasonal basis mitigation - a way in which an agency may offset negative environmental impacts of a project or make the impacts less serious mulch - material spread on the ground to reduce soil erosion and evaporation of water; include hay, plastic sheeting and wood chips municipal water district - a public water provider, owned and operated by more than one city government, which supplies water to its member cities |
| larvae | the embryonic life-cycle stages that follow the fertilization of an egg of a metamorphic animal |
| pilot report | A report of in-flight weather by an aircraft pilot or crew member |
| rar | Riparian Areas Regulation |
| acid drainage | any drainage from mine workings, waste or tailings, with a low (acidic) pH Acidity |
| technology-forcing | Describing standards or levels of pollution and effluent control called for in environmental statutes or regulations for which existing technologies are inadequate and therefore require technical advancements to achieve. |
| agua | This Spanish word for water is occasionally used in Southwestern U |
| kettle | a steep-sided hole or depression, commonly without surface drainage, formed by the melting of a large detached block of stagnant ice that had been buried in the glacial drift. |
| polychlorinated biphenyls | toxic industrial chemical compound substances that were used in the manufacture of plastics and as insulating fluids in electrical transformers and capacitors |
| dryland | Non-irrigated cropland |
| defecate | To extrude feces from the bowel. |
| bedload | Sediment or other material that slides, rolls, or bounces along the streambed or channel bed of flowing water. |
| hill | A hill is a raised area or mound of land. |
| plume | the area taken up by contaminant(s) in an aquifer. |
| voracious | If your reptile or amphibian has a voracious appetite, that means that it readily consumes its food in a greedy fashion. |
| latent heat of vaporization | The amount of heat absorbed by a unit mass of substance, without change in temperature, while passing from the liquid to the vapor state. |
| biota | All living organisms of an area. |
| mitigation | (1) (Environmental, General) Actions designed to lessen or reduce adverse impacts; frequently used in the context of environmental assessment |
| euphotic | Of, relating to, or being the uppermost layer of a body of water that receives sufficient light for Photosynthesis and the growth of green plants |
| skimming | using a machine to remove oil or scum from the surface of the water. |
| sri | solar reflectance index |
| cation exchange capacity | The total of exchangeable cations that a soil can adsorb; expressed in milliequivalents per 100 grams (g) of soil. |
| annual flood | The highest peak discharge of a stream in a Water Year. |
| buttress dam | A dam consisting of a watertight upstream face supported at intervals on the downstream side by a series of buttresses |
| toxicant | a substance or a mixture of substances within a short period of time, usually 96 hours or less, after exposure |
| coprophagy | The act of eating feces. |
| cvp | Central Valley Project (State of California). |
| kinematic viscosity | The ratio of dynamic viscosity to mass density |
| flood wave | A distinct rise in stage, culminating in a crest and followed by recession to lower stages. |
| gallery | (1) A passageway within the body of a dam or abutment; hence the terms "grouting gallery," "inspection gallery," and "drainage gallery." (2) A long and rather narrow hall; hence the following terms for a power plant: "valve gallery," "transformer gallery," and "busbar gallery." |
| recessional moraine | an end moraine built during a temporary but significant pause in the final re treat of a glacier. |
| hydraulic grade line | A line whose plotted ordinate position represents the sum of pressure head plus elevation head for the various positions along a given fluid flow path, such as a pipeline or ground-water streamline. |
| outfall | the place where a wastewater treatment plant discharges treated water into the environment. |
| mineral water | Naturally occurring or prepared water that contains dissolved mineral salts, elements, or gases, often used therapeutically |
| daylighting | the controlled admission of natural light into a space through glazing |
| visual resource | The composite of basic terrain, geologic features, hydrologic features, vegetative patterns, and land use effects that typify a land unit and influence the visual appeal that the unit may have for visitors. |
| floc | A flocculent mass that is formed in the accumulation of suspended particles |
| arable land | land that is, or has the potential to be, cultivated for crop production |
| endangered species | a species in danger of becoming extinct within all or part of its range |
| water year | A continuous 12-month period for which hydrologic records are compiled and summarized. |