Glossary

Not biological; not involving or produced by organisms. Non-living, as opposed to living, or "biotic;" examples of biotic factors controlling biological activity include pH, temperature, moisture, and chemicals.

Removal of streambank soil as a result of sediment-laden water, ice, or debris rubbing against the bank.

Natural accretion is the buildup of land, solely by the action of the forces of nature, on a beach by deposition of water-borne or airborne material. Artificial accretion is a similar buildup of land by reason of an act of man, such as the accretion formed by a groin, breakwater, or beach fill deposited by mechanical means.

Requiring oxygen or in the presence of oxygen.

The long-term hydraulic process by which streambeds and floodplains are raised in elevation by the deposition of materials. It is the opposite of degradation.

Where many soil particles are held in a single mass or cluster such as a clod, crumb, block, or prism.

Simple, usually microscopic, rootless plants that usually grow in water, that have no true root, stem or leaf.

A large population of algae that is obvious to the naked eye; usually caused by an abundance of nutrients in the water.

Parallel to and near the shoreline.

Deposited by running water.

Fish or other organisms that are born in freshwater, and migrate to and live in salt water, and then return to freshwater to reproduce.

Life or processes that occur in the absence of oxygen; a condition where oxygen is absent.

Growing or living in or upon water.

The natural process of forming an erosion resistant layer of relatively large particles on the surface of the streambed.

Man-made offshore structures connected to the shoreline to provide coastal protection or to restrict longshore transport.

The capacity of soil to hold water for use by plants.

Flood zone subject to still-water flooding during storms that have a 100-year recurrence interval.