Restoration Glossary
Restoration, conservation, and watershed ecosystems include complex processes that can be challenging to understand. Below is a restoration glossary, complete with definitions of keywords that we often use to describe the watershed restoration we do.
Anadromous
adj. Fish such as salmon, trout, or lamprey that migrate up rivers from the sea to spawn.
Aquifer
n. An underground body of groundwater between soil & rock pore spaces. (watch a video)
Basin
n. An area of land drained by a river and all of its tributaries
CFS
AKA "Cubic Feet per Second"; 1 CFS ≈ 8 gallons/second
This is a common measurement unit used to describe water flow that includes volume and speed.
Ecological Restoration
n. The process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.
Floodplain
n. An area of land adjacent to a river. Floodplains stretch from the banks of a river channel to the base of the enclosing valley, and experience flooding during periods of high flow.
Fluvial
adj. relating to a stream or river
Gravel Push-up Dam
n. Gravel pushup dams are a historical water diversion practice that allows landowners to divert water from the stream for use on their property. These dams can be more than six feet tall, and span the entire stream channel, presenting a barrier to fish passage and aquatic organism movement.
Hyporheic Flow
Active exchange between the main stream channel water and groundwater within the hyporheic zone (usually underground).
Hyporheic Zone
The saturated sediment-filled space under the streambed and adjacent riverbanks where there is an exchange between the main stream channel water and groundwater.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Integrated pest management (IPM) combines the use of water-safe chemical and mechanical practices to control noxious weeds.
Large Wood Structure
Complexes comprised of multiple large and medium-sized logs and trees that are installed into rivers and streams using machinery, according to designs developed by engineers.
Redd
n. A nest for salmonid eggs.
Release & Recruit
Our strategy for riparian restoration. This approach involves controlling weeds with chemical and mechanical methods (Release) while preserving the existing native plant community. Once the competition between noxious weeds and native plants for light and nutrients is minimized, those native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers can thrive again (Recruit).
Riparian
adj. A riparian zone/area is the interface between land and a river or stream or body of water.
River Mile (RM)
A river mile is a measure of distance in miles along a river from its mouth. River mile numbers begin at zero and increase further upstream. We use RMs to name projects and protect landowner anonymity.
Salmonid
The shortened name of the family Salmonidae which includes over 200 species collectively. Among salmonids, are salmon, trout, and steelhead.
Steward/Stewardship
v/n. To steward is to carefully manage resources. Stewardship is the responsible use and protection of natural resources.
TMDL
n. AKA "Total Maximum Daily Load"
This regulatory term is the calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant allowed to enter a water body. The term originates from the Clean Water Act.
Tributary
n. A river or stream that flows into a larger river or body of water.
Watershed
n. An area of land that drains all the streams and rainfall to a common outlet.