Acre-feet: the volume contained by an acre, one foot deep.
Aerobic: (of an organism or tissue) requiring air for
life; pertaining to or caused by the presence of oxygen.
Alluvium, Alluvial Soil: soil composed primarily of eroded
material such as sand, silt, or clay, that has been deposited
on land or on the bottom of water bodies by rivers and streams
overflowing their banks.
Anaerobic: (of an organism or tissue) living in the absence
of air or free oxygen; pertaining to or caused by the absence
of oxygen.
Aquifer: any geological formation containing water, especially
one that supplies water for wells, springs, etc.
Brackish: a mixture of fresh and saltwater typically found
in estuarine areas.
Buffer zone: transitional zone intended to provide for
compatibility of nearby disparate uses.
cfs: cubic feet per second
Dike: a wall or mound built around a low-lying area to
prevent flooding. Sometimes called a berm or levee.
Dissolved Oxygen: oxygen dissolved in water and available
to aquatic organisms. Concentrations below 5 mg/l are stressful
and may be lethal to many fish and other species.
Diurnal: of or pertaining to a day ; occurring over a
24-hour period.
Drainage Basin or Watershed: the area within which all
surface water will normally gather in a single conduit or water
course. The area is determined by topography that divides drainages
between watersheds.
Estuary: where salt and fresh waters mix in a semi-enclosed body of water, as in a river entering the sea.
Eutrophication: is the process whereby the concentration
of nutrients in rivers, estuaries, and other bodies of water increases
and results in anaerobic (lack of oxygen) conditions in the water
column. The increase of nutrients stimulates algae "blooms"
as the algae decays and dies, the availability of dissolved oxygen
is reduced resulting in high BOD; as a result, creatures living
in the water accustomed to aerobic conditions perish.
Floodplain: an area adjacent to a lake, stream, ocean
or other body of water lying outside the ordinary banks of the
water body and periodically inundated by flood flows. Often referred
to as the area likely to be inundated by the 100-year flood.
A 100-year flood: refers to the floodwater levels which
would occur once in 100 years, or as a 1.0 percent probability
per year.
Floodway: the river channel and the adjacent land area
needed to carry the 100-year flood without an increase to the
water surface elevations of the river more than one foot at any
one point.
Fluvial: of or pertaining to a river.
Groundwater: water that penetrates the earth's surface
from precipitation and from infiltration from streams, ponds and
lakes; it flows or ponds under ground.
Habitat: the range of environmental factors at a particular
location supporting specific plant and animal communities.
Hardpan: a very dense soil layer caused by compaction
or cementation of soil particles by organic matter, silica, sesquioxides,
or calcium carbide, for example.
Hydrology: the science that deals with the occurrence,
circulation, distribution, and properties of the water of the
earth and the earth's atmosphere.
Intertidal habitat: is the tidal area between the mean
lower low water and mean higher high water which is alternately
exposed and covered by water twice daily.
Invertebrate: of or pertaining to creatures without a
backbone.
Jurisdictional wetlands: wetlands which meet the criteria
of "waters of the United States" and are thereby under
the jurisdiction of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps)
and the U. S. EPA pursuant to Section 404 of the federal Clean
Water Act. The definition developed by the Corps considers as
wetlands those areas which "...are inundated or saturated
by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration to support,
and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of
vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions." Under the Corps' defintion all three of the following conditions
must be present:
A) a dominance of wetland plants;
B) hydric soils (soils with low oxygen concentrations in the upper
layers during the growing season); and
C) wetlands hydrology
Lagoon: a 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.
Marsh: a common term applied to describe treeless wetlands
characterized by shallow water and abundant emergent, floating,
and submergent wetland flora. Typically found in shallow basins,
on lake margins, along low gradient rivers, and in low energy
tidal areas. Waters may be fresh, brackish or saline.
mg/l: milligrams per liter
Mudflat: bare, flat bottoms of lakes, rivers and ponds,
or coastal waters, largely filled with organic deposits, freshly
exposed by a lowering of the water level.
ppt: parts per thousand. The salinity of ocean water is
approximately 35 ppt.
Riparian: of, or pertaining to, situated, or dwelling
on the bank of a river or other body of water.
Sedimentation: the deposition or accumulation of sediment.
Slough: a swamp or swamplike region; a marshy or reedy
pool, pond, inlet, backwater or the like.
Substrate: the base or material on which an organism lives;
subsoil.
Subtidal habitat: the area below mean lower low water
(MLLW) which is covered by water most of the time.
Surface water: water present above the substrate or soil
surface.
Tidal prism: the total volume of water passing in and out
of a particular area, such as a lagoon or salt marsh, during a
tidal cycle.
Transitional habitat: areas where communities shift from
one type (i.e. wetland) to another (i.e. upland), where boundaries
between the two are unclear. The term is also used to describe
a particular piece of ground that is in transition because of
responding to changed conditions, for example an area where vegetation
is becoming re-established after having been graded.
Wetlands: wetlands can be generally defined as land that
is periodically flooded, whether by the tide, river flows, rain,
or groundwater. More precise definitions have been developed for
purposes of state and federal regulation. In California, two definitions
are used; one classification applied by the Department of Fish
and Game (CDFG) and another developed by the U. S. Army Corps
of Engineers (the Corps). Please refer to the Jurisdictional
Wetlands entry for the Corps definition. The definition
used by CDFG was actually developed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. According to this definition, wetlands are "lands
transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the
water table is usually at or near the surface, or the land is
covered by shallow water, " and they exist where any one
of the following conditions are present:
A) predominantly undrained hydric soils (soils with low concentrations
of oxygen in the upper layers during the growing season);
B) a predominance, at least periodically, of hydrophytic plants
(plants that have adapted to the low availability of oxygen and
others stresses in saturated soils);
C) a nonsoil substrate (such as a rocky shore) that is saturated
with water or covered by shallow water each year at some point
during the growing season.
Regional Water Quality Control Board Beneficial Use Designations and Water Quality Assessments
Beneficial Use Categories
State and federal legislations approach the concept of Beneficial
Uses from slightly different angles. In practice, Beneficial Uses
are thought of as uses of water necessary for the survival or
well-being of man, plants and wildlife. Because the specific uses
that would qualify under that broad definition are almost innumerable,
the State and Regional Water Quality Control Boards (Water Boards)
define Categories of Beneficial Uses. Periodically the Water Boards
designate the Categories of Beneficial Uses currently or potentially
being supported by waters in their region. Keeping water quality
at levels/conditions that will continue to support those uses
is the basis for a whole program of water quality protection implemented
by the Water Boards. The twenty-five Beneficial Use Categories
defined for waters of the state are provided below in alphabetical
order:
AGR: Agricultural Supply. Includes uses of water for farming,
horticulture, or ranching. These uses may include, but are not
limited to, irrigation, stock watering, or support of vegetation
for range grazing.
AQUA: Aquaculture. Includes the uses of water for aquaculture
or mariculture operations including, but not limited to, propagation,
cultivation, maintenance, or harvesting of aquatic plants and
animals for human consumption or bait purposes.
BIOL: Preservation of Biological Habitats of Special Significance.
Includes uses of waters that support designated areas or habitats,
including, but not limited to, established refuges, parks, sanctuaries,
ecological reserves or preserves, and Areas of Special Biological
Significance (ASBS), where the preservation and enhancement of
natural resources requires special protection.
COLD: Cold Freshwater Habitat. Includes uses of water that support
cold water ecosystems including, but not limited to, preservation
or enhancement of aquatic habitats, vegetation, fish or wildlife,
including invertebrates.
COMM: Commercial and Sport Fishing. Includes the uses of water
for commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish,
or other organisms including, but not limited to uses involving
organisms intended for human consumption or bait purposes.
EST: Estuarine Habitat. Includes uses of water that support
estuarine ecosystems. These uses include, but are not limited
to, preservation or enhancement of estuarine habitats, vegetation,
fish, shellfish, or wildlife (e.g., estuarine mammals, waterfowl,
shorebirds).
FRSH: Freshwater Replenishment. Includes uses of water for natural
or artificial maintenance of surface water quantity or quality
(e.g., salinity).
GWR: Groundwater Recharge. Includes uses of water for natural
or artificial recharge of ground water for purposes of future
extraction, maintenance of water quality, or halting of saltwater
intrusion into freshwater aquifers.
IND: Industrial Service Supply. Includes uses of water for industrial
activities that do not depend primarily on water quality. These
uses may include, but are not limited to, mining, cooling water
supply, hydraulic conveyance, gravel washing, fire protection,
and oil well re-pressurization.
MAR: Marine Habitat. Includes uses of water that support marine
ecosystems. These uses include, but are not limited to, preservation
or enhancement of marine habitats, vegetation, such as kelp, fish,
shellfish, or wildlife (e.g., marine mammals, shorebirds).
MIGR: Migration of Aquatic Organisms. Includes uses of water
that support habitats necessary for migration, acclimatization
between fresh and salt water, or other temporary activities by
aquatic organisms, such as anadromous fish.
MUN: Municipal and Domestic Supply. Includes uses of water for
community, military, or individual water supply systems. These
uses may include, but are not limited to, drinking water supply.
NAV: Navigation. Includes uses of water for shipping, travel,
or other transportation by private military, or commercial vessels.
POW: Hydropower Generation. Includes uses of water for hydropower
generation.
PROC: Industrial Process Supply. Includes uses of water for
industrial activities that depend primarily on water quality.
These uses may include, but are not limited to, process water
supply and all uses of water related to product manufacture or
food preparation.
RARE: Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species. Includes uses
of waters that support habitats necessary for the survival and
successful maintenance of plant or animal species designated under
state or federal law as rare, threatened or endangered. This
designation is based, in large part, on the information contained
within RareFind. RareFind is an application of the California
Department of Fish and Game's Natural Diversity Data Base (NDDB).
REC-1: Contact Water Recreation. Includes uses of water for
recreational activities involving body contact with water, where
ingestion of water is reasonably possible. These uses include,
but are not limited to, swimming, wading, water-skiing, skin and
SCUBA diving, surfing, whitewater activities, fishing, or use
of natural hot springs.
REC-2: Non-contact Water Recreation. Includes uses of water
for recreational activities involving proximity to water, but
not normally involving body contact with water, where ingestion
of water is reasonably possible. These uses include, but are
not limited to, picnicking, sunbathing, hiking, beachcombing,
camping, boating, tidepool and marine life study, hunting, sightseeing,
or aesthetic enjoyment in conjunction with the above activities.
SAL: Inland Saline Water Habitat. Includes uses of water that
support inland saline water ecosystems. These uses include, but
are not limited to, preservation or enhancement of aquatic saline
habitats, vegetation, fish, or wildlife, including invertebrates.
SHELL: Shellfish Harvesting. Includes uses of water that support
habitats suitable for the collection of filter-feeding shellfish
(e.g., clams, oysters and mussels) for human consumption, commercial,
or sport purposes.
SPWN: Spawning, Reproduction, and Development. Includes uses
of waters that support high quality aquatic habitats necessary
for reproduction and early development of fish and wildlife.
WARM: Warm Freshwater Habitat. Includes uses of water that support
warm water ecosystems including, but not limited to, preservation
or enhancement of aquatic habitats, vegetation, fish or wildlife,
including invertebrates.
LWRM: Limited Warm Freshwater Habitat. Includes uses of water
that support warm water ecosystems which are severely limited
in diversity and abundance as the result of concrete-lined watercourses
and low, shallow dry weather flows which result in extreme temperature,
pH, and/or dissolved oxygen conditions. Naturally reproducing
finfish populations are not expected to occur in LWRM waters.
WET: Uses of water that support wetland ecosystems, including,
but not limited to, preservation or enhancement of wetland habitats,
vegetation, fish, shellfish, or wildlife, and other unique wetland
functions which enhance water quality, such as providing flood
and erosion control, stream bank stabilization, and filtration
and purification of naturally occurring contaminants.
WILD: Wildlife Habitat. Includes uses of water that support
terrestrial ecosystems. These uses include, but are not limited
to, preservation or enhancement of terrestrial habitats, vegetation,
wildlife (e.g., mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates),
or wildlife water and food sources.
Water Quality Assessments
The Water Quality Assessment is a catalog of the State's major
waterbodies and their water quality condition. The state list
is a compilation of the lists developed by the nine Regional Water
Quality Control Boards. Waterbodies are rated as being of Good,
Intermediate, Impaired or Unknown Quality with separate lists
developed for each rating. Waters rated as Impaired are those
that are not expected to attain or maintain water quality standards,
including those established to protect Beneficial Uses. Lists
of impaired water bodies are also known as 303(d) lists as they
meet a requirement of section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water
Act.
Federal And State Definitions Of Special Status Species
Federal
Endangered:
Any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or
a significant portion of its range.
Threatened:
Any species which is likely to become an endangered species within
the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion
of its range.
Candidate:
Taxa for which the Service currently has sufficient information
on biological vulnerability and threats on hand to support the
issuance of a proposed rule to list, but issuance of the proposed
rule is precluded.
Species of Concern(C1):
Former Category 1 Candidate, now considered a "Species of
Concern". Taxa which should be given consideration during
planning for projects.
Species of Concern(C2):
Former Category 2 Candidate, now considered a "Species of
Concern". Taxa which should be given consideration during
planning for projects.
Proposed:
Taxa for which a general notice has been published in a local
newspaper and a proposed rule for listing has been published in
the Federal Register.
Federal Sensitive Species: Taxa designated by the BLM or the US Forest Service as sensitive species.
State
Endangered:
A native species or subspecies of a bird, mammal, fish, amphibian,
reptile, or plant which is in serious danger of becoming extinct
throughout all, or a significant portion, of its range due to
one or more causes, including loss of habitat, change in habitat,
overexploitation, predation, competition, or disease.
Threatened:
A native species or subspecies of a bird, mammal, fish, amphibian,
reptile, or plant that, although not presently threatened with
extinction, is likely to become an endangered species in the foreseeable
future in the absence of the special protection and management
efforts required by this chapter. (Chapter 1.5 of the California
Fish and Game Code.)
Rare:
A species, subspecies, or variety is rare when, although not presently
threatened with extinction, it is in such small numbers throughout
its range that it may become endangered if its present environment
worsens.
Candidate:
A native species or subspecies of a bird, mammal, fish, amphibian,
reptile, or plant that the commission has formally noticed as
being under review by the department for addition to either the
list of endangered species or the list of threatened species,
or a species for which the commission has published a notice of
proposed regulation to add the species to either list.
Species of Special Concern:
Native species or subspecies that have become vulnerable to extinction
because of declining population levels, limited ranges, or rarity.
The goal is to prevent these animals from becoming endangered
by addressing the issues of concern early enough to secure long
term viability for these species.
This file last modified on: Thursday, January 15, 1998.