Alluvial Soil. Sediments (clay, silt, sand, gravel, cobbles, and boulders) deposited by running water, ordinarily occurring on floodplains and at the base of ridges and slopes.
Anaerobic. Condition in which molecular oxygen is absent from the environment. This commonly occurs in wetlands where soils experience prolonged saturation by water.
Aquatic. Growing or living in or upon water, especially referring to organisms living in fresh water. Aquatic environments include stream channels, lakes, ponds, and the like as well as submergent and emergent vegetation, and related animal life.
Bankfull. The condition in which the water in a stream channel is just at the top of the vertical bank and ready to overflow out of the channel and onto the floodplain.
Bars (Alluvial). Sediment accumulations along waterways deposited by moving water. Examples include: 1) point bars bars that are formed on the inside of a meander channel, 2) side bars bars that are formed along the edges of relatively straight sections of a river, 3) mid-channel bars these are found within the channel and generally become more noticeable during low flow periods, and 4) delta bars formed immediately downstream of the confluences of a tributary and the main river.
Biotic. Having to do with life or living organisms.
Bog. A sphagnum moss-dominated community whose only water source is rainwater. Bogs are extremely low in nutrients, form acidic peats, and are a northern phenomenon generally associated with low temperatures and short growing seasons.
Browsing. Consumption of woody forage (from trees and shrubs) by wildlife or livestock. In contrast, consumption of herbaceous plants is referred to as grazing.
Channel. A natural or artificial waterway that periodically or continuously contains moving water. It has a definite bed and banks which confine the water.
Coarse-textured (soils). Consisting predominately of gravels larger than 2.5 inches in diameter, cobbles, or boulders.
Community (Plant Community). An assembly of plants living together, reflecting no particular ecological status.
Confinement. The relationship of a channel to the valley walls or terraces. It describes how resistant the valley's walls are to the channel's lateral movement.
Critical area. An area that has exceptional resource values or that is particularly sensitive to alteration, or one which has special importance for ecological or management reasons and thus requires special attention.
Debris. Materials which accumulate along and within a body of water, including logs, branches, etc.
Degradation. Scouring of sediment or substrate on the channel bottom causing a lowering of the channel's base level.
Dewatering. The process of taking water out of a stream channel for such purposes as irrigation, water storage, etc.
Diversity. The kind and amount of plant and animal species in a community per unit area.
Downcutting. The process whereby a stream cuts deeper into its streambed and thus moves away from its floodplain. Downcutting can lead to incisement.
Ecosystem. The complex of a community of organisms and its environment functioning together.
Emergent vegetation. Deep-rooted plant species whose roots are in the substrate, but the upper part of which extends above a water surface.
Entrenchment. The vertical containment of a stream and the degree to which it is incised into the valley floor. The relationship of the channel to the valley floor or floodplain.
Ephemeral Stream. A stream or stretch of a stream that flows only in direct response to precipitation. It receives no water from springs and no long-continued supply from melting snow or other surface source. Its stream channel is at all times above the water table. These streams do not normally flow for 30 consecutive days.
Fen. A non-acidic peat-forming wetland that receives nutrients from sources other than precipitation, usually through groundwater movement.
Fine sediments (Fine-textured soils). Soil particles less than .062 millimeters in diameter at the middle axis; silts and clay particles and organic debris parts.
Flood. A situation in which water in a stream channel overflows its banks and moves onto the floodplain.
Flooded. A condition in which the soil surface is temporarily covered with flowing water from any source, such as streams overflowing their banks and runoff from adjacent or surrounding slopes, or any combination of sources.
Floodplain. A strip of relatively smooth, flat land bordering a stream, which is subjected to flooding at a one- to two-year interval. Most floodplains are accompanied by a series of alluvial terraces of varying levels.
Forb. A herbaceous or non-woody plant that is not a grass or grass-like plant.
Functional wetlands. Wetlands which do not meet all three criteria established for jurisdictional classification, but which serve some of the ecological functions attached to wetlands. Generally, functional wetlands need meet only one of the three wetland criteria.
Gaining stream. One in which water seeps from the groundwater into the stream channel. Generally, in such a system the groundwater table is higher than the streambed.
Geomorphology. The study of the forms, characteristics, and processes related to landforms on the earth.
Gradient. The amount a stream drops in elevation over a given distance; also referred to as "slope."
Graminoid. Grass or grass-like plant, such as grasses, sedges, and rushes.
Groundwater. Water occupying the interconnected pore spaces in the soil or geologic material below the water table; this water has a positive pressure.
Groundwater table. The level below which water occupies the interconnected pore spaces in the soil.
Habitat. A place where a plant or animal naturally or normally grows and lives.
Head cut. A steep drop in the stream bed caused by flowing water seeking to reduce its gradient and establish itself at the lower level which exists below the drop. Creates a "waterfall" effect which may work its way upchannel.
Herbaceous. Non-woody vegetation, such as graminoids and forbs.
Hydric Soil. A soil that is saturated, flooded, or ponded long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part of the soil profile.
Hydrology. The science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water.
Hydrophytic Vegetation. Plant life growing in water or on a substrate that is at least potentially deficient in oxygen as a result of excessive water content.
Incisement. The vertical erosion (downcutting) of a stream channel. A stream is considered "incised" when the normal two-year high water flow cannot reach the floodplain.
Inherent stability. The natural ability of a stream channel to resist changes caused by a variety of sources.
Intermittent Stream. A stream or reach of stream which flows only at certain times of the year when it receives water from springs or from some surface source (e.g., melting snow). These streams generally flow continuously during periods of at least one month or more during the year. Such streams are usually divided with respect to the source of their water into spring-fed or surface-fed intermittent streams.
Inundation. A condition in which water temporarily or permanently covers a land surface.
Jurisdictional wetlands. Those wetlands which meet specific criteria defined by the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency relating to water, soil, and vegetation characteristics and which are protected by law.
Key area. An area selected for monitoring because it is representative of the grazing unit (riparian area) as a whole, reflects the situation of the grazing unit (riparian area), and should reflect changes based on management actions.
Lake. A natural topographic depression collecting a body of water covering at least 8 ha (20 acres) with surface water.
Landform. A distinctive type of landscape expression differentiated by three criteria: (1) distinctive yet uniform enough for consistent application; (2) large enough to map at the scales used in soil surveys; (3) have sets of properties, such as shapes, slope gradients, drainage, and soil patterns, that are important for mapping.
Lateral cutting. The erosion of a streambank as the water channel moves sideways across the landscape.
Lateral instability. A condition in which a stream channel is prone to short-term, side-to-side migration across a floodplain.
Lentic wetland system. Wetlands located beside still bodies of water, such as ponds, lakes, and man-made reservoirs. (See Riparian areas.)
Litter. Dead organic material lying on the soil surface from past seasons' growth.
Losing stream. One in which water seeps from the stream channel into the groundwater, the table of which is generally lower than the stream bed.
Lotic wetland system. Wetlands associated with running water systems found along rivers, streams, and drainways. Lotic wetlands (also called riparian systems) contain a defined channel and floodplain. (See Riparian areas.)
Marsh. A frequently or continually inundated wetland often developing in shallow ponds, depressions, and river margins. Marshes are dominated by herbaceous plants, such as grasses, sedges, cattails, and bulrushes. Waters are usually neutral to basic.
Meander pattern. A sinuous channel alignment that results from floodplain structure amenable to channel lengthening. In other words, the stream tends to loop back and forth a lot.
Overbank Flooding. Any situation in which inundation occurs as a result of the water level of a river or stream rising above bank level.
Overflow Channel. An abandoned channel in a floodplain that may carry water during periods of high stream or river flows.
Oxbow. A meander channel of a stream or river that is formed by breaching of a meander loop during flood stage. The ends of the cut-off meander are blocked by bank sediments.
Pattern (Channel). The winding of a stream channel as seen if viewed from above.
Perennial Stream. A stream or reach of a stream that flows continuously. Such streams are generally fed in part by springs. Surface water elevations are commonly lower than groundwater table elevations in adjacent soils.
Permeability. The quality of the soil that enables water to move downward through the profile, measured as the number of cm (in) per hour that water moves downward through the saturated soil.
Point bar. Collection of deposited silt/soil/gravel found on the inside of meander bends in streams or rivers.
Pond. Bodies of water encircled by wetland vegetation. Wave action is minimal, allowing emergent vegetation to establish.
Ponded. A condition in which free water covers the soil surface, for example, in a closed depression. The water is removed by percolation, evaporation, or transpiration and not by movement across the soil surface or in a channel.
Pothole. A depressional wetland community caused by glaciation and common to portions of the Northern Great Plains. The body of water is generally less than 8 ha (20 acres) in size.
Profile (Channel). The shape of the stream channel looking along its longitudinal axis. A stream attribute which describes the nature and amount of change in elevation in a given stream reach. The total amount of elevational change represents the potential energy of the channel system.
Reach. (See Stream reach.)
Rehabilitation. The process of artificially returning part of an altered or disturbed ecosystem to a state of good condition or operating capacity, although not restoring the area to its original, unaltered condition.
Representative area. A portion of a designated stream reach characteristic of the overall reach and used for sampling or monitoring. (See Key area).
Reservoir. An artificial (dammed) water body with at least 8 ha (20 acres) covered by surface water.
Restoration. The human-caused re-establishment of a disturbed or altered ecosystem to a state which mimics its original, natural condition, including structure, function, and diversity.
Rhizome. A horizontal underground stem that often sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. The dense underground mat created by rhizomes serves to hold soil together.
Riparian. adj. Of, on, or relating to the banks of a natural course of water (Latin riparius, from ripa, bank).
Riparian Plant Association. A plant community representing the latest successional stage attainable on a specific, hydrologically influenced surface (equivalent to potential natural community type).
Riparian Areas. Riparian areas are the vegetative areas immediately adjacent to streams, springs, rivers, ponds, and lakes.
Riparian or Wetland Ecosystem. The ecosystem located between aquatic and terrestrial environments. Identified by hydric soil characteristics and riparian or wetland plant species that require or tolerate free water conditions of varying duration.
Riparian or Wetland Species. Plant species occurring within the riparian or wetland zone. Obligate riparian or wetland species require the environmental conditions associated with the riparian or wetland zone. Facultative riparian or wetland species are tolerant of these environmental conditions, but also occur in uplands.
Riparian zone. Technically, a geographically delineated portion of the riparian ecosystem based on management concerns. For purposes of this course, the term is synonymous with Riparian area.
River. Rivers are usually larger than streams. They flow year-round in years of normal precipitation and when significant amounts of water are not being diverted out of them.
Saturated. A soil condition in which all voids (pore spaces) between soil particles are filled with water.
Sediment(s). Solid material, both mineral and organic, that is in suspension, is being transported or has been moved from its site of origin by water and has come, or will come, to rest on the Earth's surface,
Seep. Groundwater discharge area. In general, seeps have less flow than springs.
Shape (Channel). The configuration of a channel when viewed "face-on" into the channel (for example, narrow and deep; wide and shallow).
Shrub. A multi-stemmed woody plant generally shorter than 4.8 m (16 ft).
Sinuosity. The amount of curvature in a stream channel. The ratio of the channel length to the valley length. The more curves in the channel over a given piece of land, the greater the sinuosity.
Slope (Channel). The amount a stream drops in elevation over a given distance; also referred to as "gradient."
Slough. A sluggish channel of water, such as a side channel of a stream or a section of an abandoned stream channel containing water most or all of the year, but with flow only at high water.
Spring. Groundwater discharge area. In general, springs are considered to have more flow than seeps.
Soil texture. Refers to the relative proportions of particles of various sizes (for example, gravel, sand, silt/clay) in a given soil.
Stability. The ability of the channel banks and bottom to resist the erosive powers of moving water.
Stabilization. In riparian areas, refers to the cessation of deteriorating conditions. A riparian system is considered stabilized when alterations to the system are within the normal range of variation. The process of stabilization lies at one end of a continuum with the process of rehabilitation in the middle and restoration at the other end.
Stand. A plant community that is relatively uniform in composition, structure, and habitat conditions; a sample unit.
Still Water Wetlands (Lentic Wetlands). These wetlands occur in basins and lack a defined channel and floodplain. Included are permanent (e.g., perennial) or intermittent bodies of water such as lakes, reservoirs, potholes, marshes, ponds, and stockponds. Other examples include fens, bogs, wet meadows, and seeps not associated with a defined channel.
Stockpond. An artificial (dammed) body of water of less than 8 ha (20 acres) covered by surface water.
Stream. A body of running water flowing on the earth's surface that is described by the relative position it has in a river system. (See stream order.)
Streambank. That portion of the channel bank cross-section that controls the lateral movement of water.
Stream Order. A classification of streams according to the number of tributaries. Order 1 streams have no tributaries; a stream of order 2 or higher has 2 or more tributaries of the next lower order. The Mississippi River near its mouth is considered a 12th order river.
Stream reach. A length of stream with uniform characteristics selected for study or observation. These characteristics include gradient, sinuosity, width/depth ratio, particle size of channel materials, channel entrenchment, landforms, and vegetation.
Stream type. A stream classification system based on a combination of stream entrenchment, sinuosity, gradient, width/depth ratio, confinement, and soil/land form.
Submergent vegetation. Plant species which root in soil beneath a body of water and which do not extend beyond the surface of the water under normal conditions.
Substrate. A generic term for a substance that underlies another; soil is the substrate for plants, while bedrock is the substrate for soil. The particles making up the channel bottom. Stream substrates can range from fine sediments to bedrock.
Subterranean Stream. A stream that flows underground for part of the stream reach.
Surface runoff. Water that travels downhill overland until entering a defined channel.
Terrace. A raised embankment with the top leveled; an abandoned floodplain, usually the result of stream downcutting.
Texture. See Soil texture.
Tree. A single-stemmed woody plant generally taller than 4.8 m (16 ft).
Understory. Vegetation that occurs below the top layer of a multi-storied plant community. Under a tree-dominated canopy, the understory could consist of both shrubs and herbaceous plants. Under a shrub community, the understory would be herbaceous plants.
Ungulate. A mammal having hooves.
Upland. Any area that does not qualify as a wetland because the associated hydrologic regime is not sufficiently wet to elicit development of vegetation, soils, and/or hydrologic characteristics associated with wetlands. Such areas occurring in floodplains are more appropriately termed nonwetlands.
Vertical cutting. The cutting or lowering of the streambed deeper into the channel with the result that the stream bed moves farther down from the top of the channel banks.
Vertical instability. A condition in which a stream channel has a tendency to downcut and abandon its floodplain; a situation in which erosion is progressing faster than deposition.
Water Mark. A line on vegetation or other upright structures that represents the maximum height reached during a flood, ponding, or inundation event.
Water Table. The upper limit of the zone of saturation within the soil or geologic material. Synonymous with groundwater table.
Watershed. The total land area that drains water to a given point; includes all areas drained by a specific stream or river.
Wet Meadow. A herbaceous wetland on mineral soil. Generally, wet meadows occur in seasonally flooded basins and flats. Soils are usually dry for part of the growing season.
Wetlands. Areas that under normal circumstances have hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, and wetland hydrology. They include landscape units such as bogs, fens, marshes, and lowlands covered with shallow, and sometimes ephemeral or intermittent waters. Wetlands are also potholes, sloughs, wet meadows, riparian zones, overflow areas, and shallow lakes and ponds having submerged and emergent vegetation. Permanent waters of streams and water deeper than 3 m (approximately 10 ft) in lakes and reservoirs are not considered wetlands.
Wetland Hydrology. Permanent or periodic inundation or prolonged soil saturation sufficient to create anaerobic conditions in the soil.
Woody draws. Wooded lowland corridors that transport flowing water in response to climatic changes (for example, spring runoff and heavy rainfall) or which collect groundwater due to the topography and soil textures of an area. The presence of either surface water or groundwater enables woody draws to maintain plant communities significantly different from surrounding uplands.
Woody plants (species). Plants that do not die back to the ground surface each year, but maintain a live stem which remains erect above the ground surface year-round; includes both shrubs and trees.