Glossary

Lowering the elevation of water against a bank faster than the bank can drain leaving a pressure imbalance that may cause the bank to fail.

A length of stream that has generally similar physical and biological traits.

Used to armor eroding sections of streambank by constructing retaining walls or bulkheads. Positive drainage behind these structures must be provided. Reinforced concrete may also be used as a channel lining.

To return a degraded site or condition to its former healthy state or to a less degraded condition.

Root systems physically bind or restrain soil particles while above ground portions filter sediment out of runoff.

Stems and foliage increase surface roughness and slow velocity of runoff.

A facing of stone, wood, or natural materials, placed on a bank as protection against wave action or currents. For coastal areas, an apron-like, sloped, coastal-engineering structure built on a dune face or fronting a seawall. Designed to dissipate the force of storm waves and prevent undermining of a seawall, dune of placed fill.

An erosion process in which numerous small channels only several inches deep are formed; occurs mainly on recently cultivated soils and/or recent cuts and fills.

Concentrated currents flowing back to sea perpendicular to the shoreline. Rip currents are caused by wave action piling up water on the beach. Feeder currents running parallel to the shore (longshore currents) deliver water to the rip current.

Vegetated ecosystems along a lotic or flowing waterbody through which energy, materials, and water pass. Riparian areas characteristically have a high water table and are subject to periodic flooding and influence from the adjacent waterbody. These systems encompass wetlands, uplands, or some combination of these two (2) land forms; they do not in all cases have all of the characteristics necessary for them to be classified as wetlands.

Vegetation growing along the banks of streams and rivers or other bodies of water tolerant to or more dependent on water than plants further upslope.

A layer, facing, or protective mound of stones randomly placed to prevent erosion, scour or sloughing of a structure or embankment. Also the stone so used.

Structures placed in a stream to direct the current into a predetermined channel.

Referring to a wetland habitat contained within a channel; situated beside a river;

Soil particles greater than three (3) inches in diameter.

Roots mechanically reinforce a soil by transfer of shear stress in the soil to tensile resistance in the roots.

The depth of soil penetrated by plant roots.

The root mass of the tree, often used in the construction of a bank revetment.

The portion of precipitation or irrigation water that flows off a field, feedlot or other impermeable or saturated surface. The water that flows off the surface of the land without infiltration onto the soil is called surface runoff.

Structure that channels upslope runoff away from erosion areas, diverts sediment-laden runoff to suitable traps or stable outlets, or captures runoff before leaving site, diverting it where it can be used or released without erosion or flood damage.