Simple rootless plants that grow in bodies of water (e.g. estuaries) at rates dependent on the amounts of plant nutrients (e.g. nitrogen and phosphorus) available in water.
anaerobic
Not containing oxygen or not requiring oxygen.
bathymetry
Of or relating to measurements of the depths of water bodies, such as oceans or lakes.
beach berms
mound or bank of earth, used especially as a barrier.
brackish
mixture of fresh and saltwater typically found in estuarine areas; water that is saline but not as salty as seawater.
buffer
designated area along the perimeter of a stream or wetland that is regulated to control (resist, absorb, or otherwise preclude) the negative effects of adjacent development from intruding into the natural area beyond the buffer.
channelization
straightening of rivers or streams by means of an artificial channel.
culverts
clay or cement piping placed in wetland areas to channel water. Culverts alter the naturally existing movement of water through the area.
ditching
a path for water that drains the surrounding land and alters naturally existing water flow through the area.
ecosystem
community of organisms and their physical environment that interact as an ecological unit.
eelgrass
common name for a group or genus of plants called Zostera that grow under water in estuaries and in shallow coastal areas.
estuarine
relating to, or found in an estuary.
estuary
semi-enclosed coastal body of water which has a free connection with the open sea and where fresh water derived from land drainage (usually mouths of rivers) is mixed with seawater; often subject to tidal action and cyclic fluctuations in salinity. In estuaries, the fresh river water is blocked from streaming into the open ocean by surrounding mainland, peninsulas, barrier islands, or fringing salt marshes. This mixing of fresh and salt water creates a unique environment that brims with life of all kinds.
groundwater
water that penetrates the earth's surface from precipitation and from infiltration from streams; water present below ground from ponds and lakes; water that flows or ponds underground.
hydrology
study of the properties, distribution and circulation of water, specifically water on the surface or land, in the soil and underlying rocks, and in the atmosphere. Also used to refer to the characteristics of water flow in or on a given site.
lagoon
shallow, coastal body of water separated from the ocean by a sand bar, which may periodically breach, opening the lagoon to the ocean for a time. Lagoons can form where a river meets the ocean (an estuarine lagoon), or without the influence of a river.
levee
barrier constructed to contain the flow of water, prevent flooding, or to keep out the sea.
marsh
common term applied to describe treeless wetlands characterized by shallow water and abundant emergent, floating, and submerged wetland flora. Typically found in shallow basins, on lake margins, along low gradient rivers, and in calm tidal areas. Marshes may be fresh, brackish or saline, depending on their water source(s). The ecosystem of a marsh contains continuously waterlogged soil dominated by immersed herbaceous plants but without a surface accumulation of peat. A marsh differs from a swamp in that it is dominated by rushes, reeds, cattails, and sedges, with few if any woody plants, and differs from a bog in having soil rather than peat as its base.
mudflat
un-vegetated wetlands on the edge of the saltwater subject to periodic flooding and minor wave action. Provides habitat for invertebrates, fish, and shorebirds.
nonpoint source
diffuse source of pollution that cannot be attributed to a clearly identifiable, specific physical location or a defined discharge channel. This includes the nutrients that run off the ground from any land use (croplands, feedlots, lawns, parking lots, streets, forests, etc.) and enter waterways. It also includes nutrients that enter through air pollution, through the groundwater, or from septic systems.
old-growth
an ecosystem or community, particularly a forest, which has not experienced intense or widespread disturbance for a long time relative to the lifespans of the dominant species and has entered a late successional stage.
pH
the acidity or alkalinity (basicity) of water. pH 7 is neutral; increasing values indicate alkalinity and decreasing value indicate acidity.
salinity
measure of the salt concentration of water; higher salinity means more dissolved salts. The salinity of ocean water is in the range 33-38 parts per thousand.
salt marsh
coastal habitat consisting of salt-resistant plants residing in an organic-rich sediment.
shrub-scrub wetland
type of wetland includes woody plants such as shrubs and small trees under 20 feet in height. They may represent a successional stage to a forested wetland.
shoreline armoring
structures which alter natural shoreline e.g. bulkheads and docks. Natural shoreline slope and bluff erosion supply sediments to beaches. Armoring may increase erosion of adjacent beaches.
stormwater
rainwater as well as water from car washing, watering lawns, and other sources that is not treated prior to discharge into water bodies.
subtidal
portion of a tidal-flat environment that lies below the level of mean low water for spring tides. Normally it is covered by water at all stages of the tide.
tidal flushing
action of saltwater entering an estuary twice a day during the high tides. It renews the salinity and nutrients to the estuary and removes artificially introduced toxins in the environment.
tidegate
opening through which water may flow freely when the tide sets in one direction, but which closes automatically and prevents the water from flowing in the other direction.
tributary
branch that flows into the main stream.
turbidity
relative clarity of water, which depends in part on the material in suspension in the water.
watershed
area of land where all of the ground water and surface water drains to the same water body (typically a river or creek).
wetland
general term applied to land areas which are seasonally or permanently waterlogged, including lakes, rivers, estuaries, and freshwater marshes; an area of low-lying land submerged or inundated periodically by fresh or saline water.
