Glossary

Algae:

minute floating plants distributed throughout a lake/pond as deep as light penetrates.

Algal blooms:

overgrowth of algae in a body of water caused by excessive nutrient inputs; turns water a greenish colour and reduces clarity; can cause fish to die.

Aquifers:

water-bearing layers of permeable (absorbing) rock, sand, or gravel capable of yielding considerable quantities of water to wells or springs.

Ecosystems:

an interactive community of animals, plants and microorganisms and the physical and chemical environments in which they live.

Erosion:

the wearing away of the land surface by running water, wind, ice or other geological agents.

Eutrophic Lake:

a lake that is rich in nutrients and organic materials, therefore, highly productive for plant growth, often with reduced dissolved oxygen levels.

Eutrophication:

the process by which dissolved nutrients like phosphorus or nitrogen fertilize a water body, increasing its productivity (often to undesirable levels where the dissolved oxygen level is depleted).

Food chain:

a sequence of organisms in a community in which each member is consumed by the one above.

Fungicides:

chemicals designed to kill fungi.

Groundcover:

dense low growing plants often planted to reduce erosion.

Groundwater:

subsurface water found in the zone of saturation.

Habitat:

the place where an animal or plant lives; its living or non-living surroundings.

Herbicides:

chemicals designed to kill a variety of undesirable plant species.

Insecticides:

chemicals designed to kill a variety of undesirable insect species.

Nonpoint source pollution:

contaminated runoff from many diffuse and/or small-scale sources.

Point source pollution:

pollution discharged directly from a specific site such as a municipal septic treatment plant or industrial outfall pipe.

Riprap:

a foundation or sustaining wall of stones thrown together without order.

Rodenticides:

chemicals designed to poison unwanted rodents, such as rats and mice.

Runoff:

the portion of rainfall, melted snow or irrigation water that flows across the surface or through underground zones and eventually runs into streams.

Secchi Disc:

a metal disc painted in black and white quarters used to measure water clarity. The disc is lowered into the water until it disappears from view.

Watercourse:

any drainage swale, ditch, creek, brook, stream or river that is part of a watershed.

Watershed:

the land area that drains into a given body of water.

Wetlands:

low-lying land in which the soil is saturated with water at some time during the year (e.g., swamps, marshes and bogs).