💧Key Terms - Watersheds💧

Aerobic

Containing oxygen; describes conditions, organisms, or processes that require oxygen to survive.

Algae

Primarily aquatic organisms containing chlorophyll that can photosynthesize but lack true roots, stems, or leaves.

Algal Bloom

The rapid growth of algae in a system due to excessive nutrient availability.

Anaerobic

Lacking oxygen; refers to conditions, organisms, or processes that occur without oxygen.

Aquifer

A layer of rock or soil that contains groundwater.

Bed Load

Sediments and organic matter that move along the bottom of a stream during high flow periods.

Benthic Macro Invertebrates

Animals without backbones that live on or near the bottom of a water body, indicating water quality.

Benthos

All organisms living at or near the bottom of an aquatic habitat.

Confluence

The point where two rivers or streams flow together.

Decomposition

The breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms.

Delta

A geographic feature formed at the mouth of a river, created by the deposition of sediment.

Dissolved Oxygen

Measure of the amount of oxygen present in water, essential for aquatic life.

Dissolved Load

All soluble materials carried to the ocean by a stream or river.

Ecosystem

A network of a biological community and its surrounding environmental components.

Erosion

The movement of weathered materials by natural forces such as gravity, wind, and water.

Estuary

A coastal area where freshwater mixes with saltwater.

Ephemeral Stream

A stream that flows during and shortly after precipitation events but is dry during dry spells.

Eutrophication

An increase in nutrients in a water body, often causing algal blooms and low oxygen.

Floodplain

Land adjacent to a stream that is inundated by floodwaters.

Groundwater

Water located beneath the earth's surface, in aquifers, crucial for drinking water.

Habitat

An area with specific conditions in which a particular plant or animal lives.

Hydrology

The study of the movement and distribution of water in a system.

Hypoxia

Low concentrations of dissolved oxygen in water.

Impervious Surface

A surface that does not allow water to penetrate, like asphalt or concrete.

Infiltration

The process by which liquids seep into the earth.

Meander

A curve in a river or stream.

Nutrients

Substances necessary for growth, such as nitrogen and phosphorous.

Oxbow Meander

An extreme meander in a river, indicative of a mature river basin.

Oxbow Lake

A lake formed adjacent to an old river when meanders are breached.

Perennial Stream

A stream that flows continuously throughout the year.

Pools

Sections of a stream with slow-moving, deep water.

Riffle

Sections of a stream with fast-moving and shallow water.

Riparian

Pertaining to areas along the banks of a watercourse.

River Basin

The area drained by streams flowing into a major river.

Runoff

Water flowing over land that drains into surface water bodies.

Suspended Load

Organic and inorganic particles carried by swiftly moving water.

Transpiration

Water vapor released from plants into the atmosphere.

Tributary

A stream or river that feeds into a larger body of water.

Water Cycle

The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Water Table

The depth at which the ground is saturated with water.

Watershed

The land surface that drains into a particular body of water.

Weathering

The wearing away of rock and soil due to various physical and chemical processes.

Wetlands

Areas frequently saturated with water, including bogs, swamps, and marshes.