Aquifer 

 Saturated zones of sand, gravel, fractured 

 bedrock, or other material under the surface 

 that has space between particles to hold 

 water. 



Bankftill 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 aU 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 runoff. 



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 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. 



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. 



jj^ 



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