Glossary of Terms

Adsorption The adhesion of one substance to the surface of another.

Aeration A process by which a water body secures oxygen directly from the atmosphere. The gas then enters into the biochemical oxidation reactions in the water.

Aerobic Life or processes that require the presence of molecular oxygen.

Anaerobic Processes that occur in the absence of molecular oxygen.

Anoxia The condition of oxygen deficiency.

Beneficial Uses Any of the various uses of water, including, but not limited to domestic water supplies, industrial and agricultural water supplies, cold water biota, recreation, wildlife habitat and aesthetics.

Chlorophyll a A photosynthetic pigment reflecting green light and imparting the typical green color to plants; chlorophyl a is found in all autotrophic plants.

Coliform Bacteria A group of bacteria predominately inhabiting the intestines of man and animals but also found in soil. Coliform bacteria is commonly used as indicators of the possible presence of pathogenic organisms.

Effluent Treated or untreated wastewater that flows out of a treatment plant, sewer or industrial outfall. Generally refers to wastes discharged into surface waters.

Epilimnion The warm, top-water zone above the thermocline in a lake.

Eutrophic A body of water of high photosynthetic activity and low transparency.

Fecal Streptococci A species of spherical bacteria including pathogenic strains found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals.

Hydrology The science dealing with the properties, distribution and circulation of water.

Hypolimnion The cold, bottom-water zone below the thermocilne in a lake.

Intergravel D.O. Dissolved oxygen found in the substrate (usually gravel) of a stream, which is needed to support fish and macro invertebrates during early life stages.

limnology Scientific study of fresh water, especially the history, geology, biology, physics and chemistry of lakes.

Mesotrophic A trophic region in which a lake or reservoir tends to be moderately productive, but nuisance algae blooms do not occur because the nutrient supply is limited.

Nonpoint Source A geographical area on which pollutants are deposited, dissolved or suspended in water applied to or incident on that area, the resultant mixture being discharged into waters of the state.

Noxious Physically or chemically harmful or destructive.

Orthophosphate A form of soluble inorganic phosphorus which is directly utilizable for algal growth.

Phytoplankton Microscopic algae and microbes that gloat freely in open water of lakes and oceans.

Point Source Pollution The type of water quality degradation resulting from the discharges into receiving waters from sewers and other identifiable "points".

Riparian Living or located on the banks of a natural watercourse.

Secchi Disc A black and white disc, 20 cm in diameter, used to measure the transparency of water.

Selective Withdrawl The ability to draft water from a reservoir from differing dam elevations.

Stagnation The absence of mixing in a waterbody.

Stratification Organization of a lake into horizontal layers due to differences in temperature.

Synclinal A folded rock structure in which the sides dip toward a common line or plane.

Thermocline A horizontal temperature discontinuity layer in a lake in which the temperature falls by at least 1ºC per meter of depth.

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) A measurement establishing the total amount of pollutant(s) allowed in a water body before the water body is considered to be below water-quality standards. In a water-quality plan, the TMDL becomes a guide for determining when a water body meets and maintains the standards set for its beneficial use.

Total Suspended Solids (TSS) The material retained on a 45 micron filter after filtration.

Trophic State Level of growth or productivity of a lake as measured by phosphorus content, chlorophyll a concentrations, amount of aquatic vegetation, algal abundance and water clarity.

Trophic State Index A system used by many states for classification of the degree of eutrophication exhibited by a lake or reservoir. The index combines measures of phosphorus, chlorophyll a levels and water clarity (transparency to provide a frame of reference for comparing measurements over time.

Trubidity A measure of the extent to which light passing through water is reduced to suspended materials.

Water Quality Modeling The input variable sets of water quality data to predict the response of a lake or stream.

Watershed A region bounded peripherally by the surrounding topography which ultimately drains to a common lake or stream.

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Adsorption	The adhesion of one substance to the surface of another.
Aeration	A process by which a water body secures oxygen directly from the atmosphere. The gas then enters into the biochemical oxidation reactions in the water.
Aerobic	Life or processes that require the presence of molecular oxygen.
Anaerobic	Processes that occur in the absence of molecular oxygen.
Anoxia	The condition of oxygen deficiency.
Beneficial Uses	Any of the various uses of water, including, but not limited to domestic water supplies, industrial and agricultural water supplies, cold water biota, recreation, wildlife habitat and aesthetics.
Chlorophyll a	A photosynthetic pigment reflecting green light and imparting the typical green color to plants; chlorophyl a is found in all autotrophic plants.
Coliform Bacteria	A group of bacteria predominately inhabiting the intestines of man and animals but also found in soil. Coliform bacteria is commonly used as indicators of the possible presence of pathogenic organisms.
Effluent	Treated or untreated wastewater that flows out of a treatment plant, sewer or industrial outfall. Generally refers to wastes discharged into surface waters.
Epilimnion	The warm, top-water zone above the thermocline in a lake.
Eutrophic	A body of water of high photosynthetic activity and low transparency.
Fecal Streptococci	A species of spherical bacteria including pathogenic strains found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals.
Hydrology	The science dealing with the properties, distribution and circulation of water.
Hypolimnion	The cold, bottom-water zone below the thermocilne in a lake.
Intergravel D.O.	Dissolved oxygen found in the substrate (usually gravel) of a stream, which is needed to support fish and macro invertebrates during early life stages.
limnology	Scientific study of fresh water, especially the history, geology, biology, physics and chemistry of lakes.
Mesotrophic	A trophic region in which a lake or reservoir tends to be moderately productive, but nuisance algae blooms do not occur because the nutrient supply is limited.
Nonpoint Source	A geographical area on which pollutants are deposited, dissolved or suspended in water applied to or incident on that area, the resultant mixture being discharged into waters of the state.
Noxious	Physically or chemically harmful or destructive.
Orthophosphate	A form of soluble inorganic phosphorus which is directly utilizable for algal growth.
Phytoplankton	Microscopic algae and microbes that gloat freely in open water of lakes and oceans.
Point Source Pollution	The type of water quality degradation resulting from the discharges into receiving waters from sewers and other identifiable "points".
Riparian	Living or located on the banks of a natural watercourse.
Secchi Disc	A black and white disc, 20 cm in diameter, used to measure the transparency of water.
Selective Withdrawl	The ability to draft water from a reservoir from differing dam elevations.
Stagnation	The absence of mixing in a waterbody.
Stratification	Organization of a lake into horizontal layers due to differences in temperature.
Synclinal	A folded rock structure in which the sides dip toward a common line or plane.
Thermocline	A horizontal temperature discontinuity layer in a lake in which the temperature falls by at least 1ºC per meter of depth.
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)	A measurement establishing the total amount of pollutant(s) allowed in a water body before the water body is considered to be below water-quality standards. In a water-quality plan, the TMDL becomes a guide for determining when a water body meets and maintains the standards set for its beneficial use.
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)	The material retained on a 45 micron filter after filtration.
Trophic State	Level of growth or productivity of a lake as measured by phosphorus content, chlorophyll a concentrations, amount of aquatic vegetation, algal abundance and water clarity.
Trophic State Index	A system used by many states for classification of the degree of eutrophication exhibited by a lake or reservoir. The index combines measures of phosphorus, chlorophyll a levels and water clarity (transparency to provide a frame of reference for comparing measurements over time.
Trubidity	A measure of the extent to which light passing through water is reduced to suspended materials.
Water Quality Modeling	The input variable sets of water quality data to predict the response of a lake or stream.
Watershed	A region bounded peripherally by the surrounding topography which ultimately drains to a common lake or stream.