Stream Words 



Aquifer 



Saturated zones of sand, gravel, fractured 

 bedrock, or other material under the surface 

 that has space between particles to hold water. 



Bankfull width 



Distance between average high water mark 

 (HWM) on each side of stream. HWM is 

 associated with slope or vegetation changes. 



Channel 



Stream bed. 



Channel shape 

 Cross-section of a channel. 



Deivatering 

 Removal of part or all of the water from 

 streams or other bodies of water. 



Ephemeral stream 

 Flows for brief periods of time as a result of 

 snowmelt or rainstorms. 



Floodplain 

 Land next to stream where water overflows 

 during floods. 



Gradient 



Steepness or fall of slope. 



Habitat 



Food, water, shelter, and space that an animal 

 requires. 



Intermittent stream 

 Flows only certain times of the year with 

 water from springs or rimoff. 



Lateral erosion 

 Where a stream erodes its banks and ultimately 

 widens the stream channel. 



Meandering 

 Highly sinuous stream, frequently winding 

 back and forth across the valley floor. 



Non-point source pollution Water pollutants 

 originating from dispersed areas, such as 

 erosion of disturbed soils. 



Perennial stream 

 Flows all year. 



Point bar 

 Deposit formed on the inside bene 



stream. 



Ota 



Point source pollution 



Water pollutants originating from a 

 known point, such as a discharge pipe. 



Pool 

 Deeper portions of the stream channel 

 caused by increased scouring on the 

 outside of turns. 



Reach 



Length of stream with similar 

 characteristics, selected for study or 

 observation. 



Revetment 

 Installation of materials such as trees, 

 boards, etc., that dissipate or deflect the 

 stream's energy and protect banks from 

 lateral erosion. 



Riffle 



Shallow water with rapid current and 

 flow broken by a substrate of gravel. 



Riparian areas 

 Lands adjacent to streams and rivers 

 where the vegetation is influenced by the 

 greater availability of water. 



Runoff 

 Movement of water over 

 earth's surface. 



I 



Sinuosity 

 Amount of curvature in stream channel. 



Watershed 

 Total land area that drains water to a 

 given point; includes all area drained 

 by one stream. 



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