| River Restoration Roundtable: Glossary
bank stabilization
Adding materials to a streambank to prevent erosion
biodegradable
Able to break down through natural means, such as water and sun.
biomass
Vegetation—plants and trees.
bush-hogging
Using a large circular blade behind a tractor to remove brush and large
weeds.
canopy
The stretch of tree branches over a stream.
exotics
Plants and trees that are not natural to an area, but have been planted
by humans. Exotic trees and plants may detract from the health of a stream
or river.
geomorphic
Related to the physical properties of the rock, soil, and water in
and around the stream.
geomorphologist
A person who studies landforms and the natural processes responsible
for their formation. Geomorphic topics include river processes, glaciers,
landslides, beach processes and wind processes.
GPS unit
Global Positioning System unit—a receiver that allows you to interact
with the GPS satellite system for navigation and other applications.
hydrology
The distribution and flow of water.
invasives
Plants which encroach on other species, taking over a streambank.
macroinvertebrates
Stream-dwelling organisms without vertebrae that can be seen with the
naked eye. Most macroinvertebrates are aquatic insects or the aquatic stages
of insects. Because macroinvertebrates have varying degrees of resistance
to pollution and other conditions, collecting macroinvertebrates is an
indication of various factors involved in stream health.
monoculture
Composed solely of a single species.
morphology
The form and structure of the stream or river.
photo-degradable
Able to break down gradually in response to sunlight.
riparian buffer
The trees and other vegetation that grow along the edges of a waterway.
These plants provide a buffer that protects the stream and can stabilize
the stream channel.
stream morphology
The form and structure of the stream or river.
streambank restoration
Rebuilding or restoring the structure of a streambank using a variety
of methods.
water monitoring
Measuring macroinvertebrates, water temperature, and other factors
to assess the health of a stream.
water table
The upper limit of the portion of the ground that is saturated with
water.
watershed
A region or area in which all the water drains into a specific river,
stream, or body of water. |
