Wats final

Aquitard

A geologic formation in the subsurface that stores and transmits water.

Artesian Wells

Wells that tap into a confined aquifer where groundwater is under natural pressure, causing the water to rise on its own.

Benthic Zone

Ecological zone encompassing the sediment surface and shallow subsurface.

Beaver Dam Analogue

A human constructed and engineered structure to mimic the function of a natural beaver dam.

CA: LA Ratio

Can be an indicator of lake productivity, reflecting the amount of biological activity in the ecosystem.

High: turbid waters, high productivity; Utah Lake.

Low: clear waters, low productivity; Lake Tahoe

Climate

Long term patterns of precipitation, temperature, wind, etc.

Clean Water Act

Federal law aiming to restore and maintain the integrity of the Nation's waters, regulating pollutant discharge.

Cone of Depression

The conical shape that forms around a well when water is being pumped out faster than it can naturally recharge.

Factors that influence cone of depression

include well pumping rates, aquifer properties, and nearby water sources.

Confined Aquifer

A layer of groundwater sandwiched between impermeable layers, under pressure.

Controls on Biodiversity

species dispersal, environmental factors, and species interactions.

Consumer

Organism that consumes primary producers.

Competitive Exclusion

The principle stating that two species cannot occupy the same niche.

Darcy’s Law

Equation used to describe groundwater flow through porous media. It states that the discharge (flow rate) of groundwater is proportional to the hydraulic gradient and the conductivity of the material.

Effects of Groundwater Pumping

Includes lowering the water table, creating a cone of depression, reduced stream flow, ground sinking and potential aquifer depletion.

Epilimnion

The upper layer of water in a lake, typically warm and well-mixed.

Hypolimnion

The deeper layer of water, usually cold and dense, located beneath the thermocline. It is typically isolated from surface mixing

Thermocline

The transition zone between the warm epilimnion and cold hypolimnion. Here, the temperature changes rapidly with depth, forming a boundary that separates the warmer and cooler water layers.

Eutrophication

Excessive nutrient enrichment in water bodies leading to algae overgrowth and poor ecosystem health.

Endangered fish species in Utah

Colorado pikeminnow, Razorback Sucker, Bonytail, Virgin River Chub, and Woundfin

Endangered Species Act

Federal law that protects listed species and their habitats.

Food Web

A visual representation of all trophic interactions within an ecosystem.

Food Chain

Only follows a specific energy pathway

Gaining Stream

A stream or river where water levels increase due to groundwater input.

Genetic Diversity

The variety of genes within a particular species, essential for health and adaptability.

Hybridization

The breeding of two species to create hybrids, which can affect ecosystems.

Hyporheic Exchange

Mixing of surface and groundwater in the sediment around a river.

Hydraulic Head

Measure of water height and potential energy contained.

Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis

Suggests species diversity is highest at intermediate disturbance levels.

Invasive species

Non-native species introduced by humans that can harm ecosystems.

Lake Origin

Determines how a lake is formed and predicts its biological and chemical characteristics.

Lake mixing regimes: Meromictic

No mixing

Lake mixing regimes: Monomitic

Mixes once per year

Lake Mixing Regimes: Dimictic

Mixes twice per year

Lake Mixing Regimes: Polymictic

Mixes multiple times per year

Littoral Zone

Shallow, down-sloping vegetated shelf of a lake or wetland. Vegetated with benthic plants

Limnetic Zone

Open water area of a lake that is well-lit.

Losing Stream

A stream that loses water to the surrounding groundwater system.

Point Source Pollution

Pollution from a single identifiable source, such as pipes or ditches.

Non-point source

Comes from many different sources. Urban and agricultural runoff. Non regulated

Pollution

Introduction of harmful substances into a watershed that degrades water quality.

Porosity

Measure of the void spaces in a material, important for water storage.

Permeability

How easily water can move between the pores

Potentiometric Surface

The height to which water would rise in a well in a confined aquifer.

Phosphorus and Nitrogen Cycling

Natural movement of these nutrients through the environment.

Primary producers

Organisms that gain energy through photosynthesis.

Recharge Zone

Area where water enters the ground.

Discharge Zone

Water comes out of the ground

Restoration and 5 motivations for it

Process of assisting ecosystem recovery after degradation.

1. Technocratic

2. Biotic

3. Heuristic

4. Idealistic

5. Pragmatic

Technocratic

 Institutional mandate to recover social values of ecosystems prior to degradation. EX: east canyon creek, UT. Funding provided by the state via federal money

Biotic

To recover lost aspects of biodiversity

Heuristic

To test and demonstrate biological and physiological principles.

Idealistic:

For personal or cultural concerns and a desire to reconnect to the land.

Pragmatic

For the recovery of ecosystem services upon which communities and economies rely.

River profile characteristics

Shows how a river's shape and features change from source to mouth.

River Continuum Concept

Describes physical and biotic gradients in river systems.

Trophic Cascade

A chain reaction in an ecosystem initiated by changes at the top of the food chain.

Species Diversity

The variety and abundance of different species in an ecosystem.

Shear Stress

Force per unit area exerted parallel to a surface, like flowing water against a riverbed.

Shifting Baseline Syndrome

Gradual change in the accepted norms for nature's state due to lack of historical knowledge.

Stationary Data vs Non Stationary

Data whose statistical properties do not change over time. vs data whose statistical properties change over time.

Stream Hydrograph

Graph showing water flow in a river or stream over time.

Tragedy of the Commons

Overuse of a shared resource for personal gain, depleting it.

Unconfined Aquifer

An aquifer not under pressure.

Water Quality Parameters

Factors such as temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen that assess water quality.

Waters of the United States

Surface water bodies protected under the Clean Water Act. Navigable waterways, permanent adjacent wetlands and tributaries, reservoirs, beaver ponds, lakes

Weather

Short-term atmospheric conditions like precipitation and temperature.

Wetland types

Marshes, swamps, fens, bogs, wet meadows

Wetland definiton

Areas where water covers the soil or is present near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods during the year

Marshes

Dominated by grasses, standing water

Swamps

Dominated by woody plants, standing water

Fens

Herbaceous, groundwater fed wetlands

Bogs

Moss dominated, acidic, oxygen poor

Wet Meadow

Woody or herbaceous, no standing water