very fine soil particles that remain in suspension in water for a considerable period of time without contact with the bottom. Such material remains in suspension due to the upward components of turbulence and currents and/or by suspension. Perlman, U. … Continue reading →
Heavy stones used to protect soil from the action of fast-moving water. True restoration tries to eliminate or minimize the use of riprap, using plants with strong root systems to anchor soil instead (e.g. willows). The use of riprap can … Continue reading →
Part of federal water quality requirements. Calls for all existing uses to be protected, for deterioration to be avoided or at least minimized when water quality meets or exceeds standards, and for outstanding waters to be strictly protected. Glossary of … Continue reading →
large, visible masses of algae that develop in bodies of water during warm weather. Algal blooms are the result of excessive levels of nutrients (generally phosphorus or nitrogen) in water. A Glossary of Water-Related Terms. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2017, … Continue reading →
Strip of natural vegetation growing parallel to a stream that provides wildlife habitat and an erosion and flood buffer zone. This strip of vegetation also retards rainfall runoff down the bank slope and provides a root system that binds soil … Continue reading →
The use of natural methods to control creek bank erosion, and to restore natural stream habitat. Also referred to as, “biotechnical slope protection,” soil-bioengineering involves the use of live and dead woody cuttings and poles or posts collected from native … Continue reading →
Land next to a stream or river that is vegetated, usually with trees and shrubs, that serves as a protective filter for streams. A buffer helps to stabilize stream banks from washing away and to reduce the impact of upland … Continue reading →
the point at which the flow just begins to enter the active floodplain. Accurate measurements have been conducted on gaged streams, however, in absence of historical hydrological records there are a number of field indicators that can be used to … Continue reading →
the rights of an owner whose land abuts water. They differ from state to state and often depend on whether the water is a river, lake, or ocean. The doctrine of riparian rights is an old one, having its origins … Continue reading →
In its simplest concept discharge means outflow; therefore, the use of this term is not restricted as to course or location, and it can be applied to describe the flow of water from a pipe or from a drainage basin. … Continue reading →