Riparian, water and watershed related terms
algal bloom
sudden, massive growths of microscopic and macroscopic plant life, such as green or bluegreen algae, which develop in lakes and reservoirs
aquatic ecosystem
a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit within water
aquifer
an underground layer of rock and sand that contains water
armouring
the natural (or artificial) process of forming a layer of various materials on the surface of the stream bed or banks that strengthens it against erosion
bankfull
the level of water that fills the channel without overflowing onto the flood plain
biodiversity
the number and variety of living organisms in a given area or region; includes genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecological diversity
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
cattail
a plant in the Typhaceae family; typically found in wetlands, spreading from rhizomes; flowers form a dense, brown cigar-shape and leaves are long and strap like
channelization
the process of changing (usually straightening) the natural path of a waterway
contour farming
a method of farming in which farming operations (e.g. tillage and planting) are performed across (rather than up and down) the slope
deposition
the settlement of materials out of moving water and onto the channel bed, banks, and flood plains that occurs when the flowing water is unable to transport the sediment load
downcutting
a process that deepens the channel of a stream by eroding material from the stream bed
downstream
in the direction of or nearer to the mouth of a stream
drainage
a technique to improve the productivity of some agricultural land by removing excess water from the soil; surface drainage is accomplished with open ditches; subsurface drainage uses porous conduits (drain tile) buried beneath the soil surface
drought
periods of less than average or normal precipitation over a period of time that is sufficiently prolonged to cause a serious hydrological imbalance resulting in biological losses (impact flora and fauna ecosystems) and/or economic losses (affecting people)
evaporation
the process by which water or other liquid becomes a gas; water from land areas, bodies of water, and all other moist surfaces is absorbed into the atmosphere as a vapour
fecal coliform bacteria
bacteria found in the intestinal tracts of animals; their presence in water or sludge is an indicator of pollution and possible contamination by pathogens
floodplain
the lowland that borders a stream and is inundated periodically by its waters
forb
a flowering herbaceous plant that is not a graminoid; sometimes referred to as a wildflower or broadleaf plant
graminoid
a grass or grass-like plant such as a sedge
groundwater
subsurface water and underground streams that can be collected with wells or that flow naturally to the earth’s surface through springs
headwaters
the origin or source of a stream, which are the uppermost portion of a watershed
infiltration
the gradual flow or movement of water into and through (to percolate or pass through) the pores of the soil
intermittent stream
a stream that has interrupted flow or does not flow continuously
meander
a curve or bend in a winding, flowing water body
mulch
any substance spread or allowed to remain on the soil surface to conserve soil moisture and shield soil particles from the erosive forces of raindrops and runoff
off-site watering system
water provided to livestock such that animals have an alternate water supply other than watering directly from the wetland, creek, river, lake or water body
pathogens
microorganisms that can cause disease in other organisms or in humans, animals and plants
pesticide
a substance formulated to kill or control plant or animal pests
reservoir
a natural or artificial holding area used to store, regulate, or control water
run-off
water from precipitation, snow melt, or irrigation that runs over the land into streams or other surface water
sedimentation
the deposition or settling of soil particles suspended in water
spring
ground water seeping out of the earth where the water table intersects the ground surface
stream bank
the side slopes of a channel between which the stream flow is normally confined
surface water
all waters whose surface is naturally exposed to the atmosphere, for example, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, streams, impoundments, seas, estuaries, etc., and all springs, wells, or other collectors directly influenced by surface water
topography
the arrangement of hills and valleys in a geographic area
tributary
a stream that feeds into a larger stream
turbid
having a cloudy or muddy appearance
understory
vegetation such as small trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses that grow below the canopy in a forest
water table
the level of ground water. The upper surface of the zone of saturation of groundwater above an impermeable layer of soil or rock (through which water cannot move) as in an unconfined aquifer. This level can be very near the surface of the ground or far below it.
watershed or drainage basin
all the land area that drains into a particular body of water
wildlife corridor
an area of land that facilitates movement of wildlife over the landscape
woody-debris
fallen trees, limbs, branches, stumps and logs