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watershed vocab
Term | Definition |
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tributary | a stream that flows into a larger stream |
watershed | the land area that supplies water to a water system |
eutrophication | the process by which nutrients in a lake build up over time, causing an increase in the growth of algae |
wetland | an area of land that is covered with a shallow layer of water during some or all of an area |
water quality | the degree of purity of water, determined by measuring the substances in water, besides water molecules |
water pollution | the addition of any substance that has a negative effect on water or the living things that depend on the water |
point source | a specific source of pollution that can be identified, such as a pipe |
nonpoint source | a widely spread source of pollution, such as road runoff, that is difficult to link to a specific point of origin |
pesticide | a chemical intended to kill insects and other organisms that damage crops |
estuary | a coastal inlet or bay where fresh water mixes with salty ocean water |
sediment | small solid particles of material from rocks or organisms which are moved by water or wind, resulting in erosion and deposition |
conservation | the process of using a resource wisely so it will not be used up |
recycling | the process of reclaiming and reusing raw materials |