Watershed Terms to Learn #4

estuary

A body of water that is a mix of fresh water and salt water. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the U.S.

reservoir

man made lakes that store water for household, industrial and agricultural use

water quality

The chemical, biological, and physical status of a body of water

habitat

the natural home or environment of an organism

turbidity

a test of water quality which measures the amount of sediment suspended in the water. Measured in JTUs, Jackson turbidity units

ecosystem

all the living and nonliving things that interact in an area

abiotic factors

nonliving parts of an ecosystem

biotic factors

living or once living parts of an ecosystem

point source pollution

pollution that comes from one specific site

non point source pollution

pollution that comes from many sources over a wide area