Glossary of Terms

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  • Best Management Practice > Best Management Practices (in terms of stormwater) are techniques or methods that aim to manage the quantity and improve the quality of stormwater runoff in a cost-effective manner.
  • Biodiversity > In biology, biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given species, ecosystem, biome, or planet. Biodiversity is important to humans and wildlife alike, as a wide range of plants and organisms contribute to the stability of ecosystems.
  • BMP > See Best Management Practice. Best Management Practices (in terms of stormwater) are techniques or methods that aim to manage the quantity and improve the quality of stormwater runoff in a cost-effective manner.
  • BMPs > See Best Management Practice. Best Management Practices (in terms of stormwater) are techniques or methods that aim to manage the quantity and improve the quality of stormwater runoff in a cost-effective manner.

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  • Chemical > See Chemicals. Chemicals generally refer to liquid or granular products produces in a laboratory. Chemicals applied to landscapes are important for water quality because, if not applied responsibly, can have substantial negative impacts on stream ecosystems and human health.
  • Chemical Application > See Chemicals. Chemicals generally refer to liquid or granular products produces in a laboratory. Chemicals applied to landscapes are important for water quality because, if not applied responsibly, can have substantial negative impacts on stream ecosystems and human health.
  • Chemical Applications > See Chemicals. Chemicals generally refer to liquid or granular products produces in a laboratory. Chemicals applied to landscapes are important for water quality because, if not applied responsibly, can have substantial negative impacts on stream ecosystems and human health.
  • Chemicals > Chemicals generally refer to liquid or granular products produces in a laboratory. Chemicals applied to landscapes are important for water quality because, if not applied responsibly, can have substantial negative impacts on stream ecosystems and human health.
  • Compost > Compost is a form of organic matter than can be used to amend soils and act as a fertilizer for vegetable or landscape gardens. Compost is free to create for the homeowner and can often replace and exceed the effectiveness of chemical fertilizers.
  • Composting > See Compost. Compost is a form of organic matter than can be used to amend soils and act as a fertilizer for vegetable or landscape gardens. Compost is free to create for the homeowner and can often replace and exceed the effectiveness of chemical fertilizers.
  • Conifer > See Coniferous. A conifer is a cone-bearing plant. Most conifers have needle-like leaves and many are evergreen. In addition to absorbing and filtering groundwater, conifers are well-known as excellent air pollution reduction sources. The northern forests consisting primarily of conifers are crucial carbon sinks for the balance of the Earth's ecosystem.
  • Coniferous > A conifer is a cone-bearing plant. Most conifers have needle-like leaves and many are evergreen. In addition to absorbing and filtering groundwater, conifers are well-known as excellent air pollution reduction sources. The northern forests consisting primarily of conifers are crucial carbon sinks for the balance of the Earth's ecosystem.
  • Conservation Landscaping > Also known as Bayscapes, this is the practice of incorporating environmentally sensitive design, low impact development, non-invasive native plants, and/or integrated pest management to create a diverse landscape that helps to protect clean air and water and support wildlife.

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  • Deciduous > Deciduous plants are ones which shed their leaves in late summer or autumn, and does not regrow new leaves until after winter. Deciduous often refers to woody plants, but many herbaceous plants and perennials are also classified as deciduous.
  • Digging > See Grading. Grading is the process of manually moving earth, soil, and rocks to achieve a desired slope or topographic change. Many small (but effective) grade changes can be made with a strong back and a shovel. Larger grade changes usually require a professional contractor and powerful machinery.
  • Discharge > See Flow. Flow is the movement of water (including stormwater) across impervious surfaces, permeable surfaces, and in streams or other surface water bodies.
  • Diversity > See Biodiversity. In biology, biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given species, ecosystem, biome, or planet. Biodiversity is important to humans and wildlife alike, as a wide range of plants and organisms contribute to the stability of ecosystems.
  • Don't Dump into Drains > It is a common misconception that storm drains lead to a wastewater treatment plant, but in many urban and rural settings, the water entering drains receives no treatment and is discharged directly into the closest waterway, carrying along nutrients and other pollutants.
  • Downspout Disconnect > By simply redirecting the water from your downspout into a garden, rain barrel, or lawn, you can make a substantial impact for stormwater management by reducing erosion and pollutants carried by the runoff. Direct the water into a garden or a rain barrel for later use to save money on your water bill.

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  • Ecosystem > An ecosystem is a complex community of living and non-living things that interact as an intertwined system. The interactions between living organisms (animals, plants, insects, micro-organisms, etc.) and non-living factors (water, air, soil, nutrients, chemicals, etc.) are necessary for energy and nutrient flows.
  • Ecosystem Services > Ecosystem services are the beneficial resources and processes provided to people by the natural environment. Traditionally, ecosystem services were available to everyone, but as urban and suburban sprawl grows and natural environment declines, these services are no longer always available.
  • Ecosystems > See Ecosystem. An ecosystem is a complex community of living and non-living things that interact as an intertwined system. The interactions between living organisms (animals, plants, insects, micro-organisms, etc.) and non-living factors (water, air, soil, nutrients, chemicals, etc.) are necessary for energy and nutrient flows.
  • Erodes > See Erosion. Erosion is the removal and transportation of soil and rock by either water flow or wind. In terms of stormwater, erosion most often refers to stream bank erosion, where rapid water flows cut away at the edges and bottoms of stream banks and transport soil downstream. Stormwater runoff is a major contributor to rapid stream flows and erosion.
  • Erosion > Erosion is the removal and transportation of soil and rock by either water flow or wind. In terms of stormwater, erosion most often refers to stream bank erosion, where rapid water flows cut away at the edges and bottoms of stream banks and transport soil downstream. Stormwater runoff is a major contributor to rapid stream flows and erosion.
  • Evergreen > An evergreen is a plant that has leaves on it all four seasons, and is always green.
  • Excavate > See Grading. Grading is the process of manually moving earth, soil, and rocks to achieve a desired slope or topographic change. Many small (but effective) grade changes can be made with a strong back and a shovel. Larger grade changes usually require a professional contractor and powerful machinery.
  • Excavation > See Grading. Grading is the process of manually moving earth, soil, and rocks to achieve a desired slope or topographic change. Many small (but effective) grade changes can be made with a strong back and a shovel. Larger grade changes usually require a professional contractor and powerful machinery.

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  • Flow > Flow is the movement of water (including stormwater) across impervious surfaces, permeable surfaces, and in streams or other surface water bodies.
  • Flows > See Flow. Flow is the movement of water (including stormwater) across impervious surfaces, permeable surfaces, and in streams or other surface water bodies.

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  • Grading > Grading is the process of manually moving earth, soil, and rocks to achieve a desired slope or topographic change. Many small (but effective) grade changes can be made with a strong back and a shovel. Larger grade changes usually require a professional contractor and powerful machinery.
  • Green Roofs > A green roof is composed of succulent plants and soils that collect and absorb rain during storm events. They are efficient at reducing stormwater pollution, energy consumption, and improving overall air quality, among other environmental and social benefits. An important factor to consider before installing a green roof is the ability of the roof and building to support the added weight of the soil and vegetation.

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  • Habitat > See Ecosystem. An ecosystem is a complex community of living and non-living things that interact as an intertwined system. The interactions between living organisms (animals, plants, insects, micro-organisms, etc.) and non-living factors (water, air, soil, nutrients, chemicals, etc.) are necessary for energy and nutrient flows.
  • Habitats > See Ecosystem. An ecosystem is a complex community of living and non-living things that interact as an intertwined system. The interactions between living organisms (animals, plants, insects, micro-organisms, etc.) and non-living factors (water, air, soil, nutrients, chemicals, etc.) are necessary for energy and nutrient flows.

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  • Lawn and Garden Care > Stormwater friendly lawns and gardens can be a great place for recreation and be part of an environmentally-friendly landscape which reduce chemical fertilizers and encourage water infiltration into the ground. These practices can save money and time for homeowners.

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  • Native Meadow > A meadow is a field of grasses and herbaceous vegetation, this means the vegetation has no permanent stem above ground, so their stems and leaves die to ground level at the end of their growing season. Meadows attract a diversity of native wildlife and only need to be cut once a year, requiring much less maintenance than a traditional lawn.

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  • Pervious Pavers > Pervious pavers allow water to to infiltrate through the joints in the pavers, and is stored in void space underneath the paver surface, where it is then filtered back into the soil. Just like pavement, the pavers allow people to walk, drive and park on them, but unlike impervious pavement, they can provide the environmental benefit of stormwater treatment and capture.
  • Pet Waste > Pet waste can degrade water quality by contributing nutrients, bacteria, parasites, and viruses into water bodies after it rains. Picking up after your pet is a simple thing you can do to help keep the water clean as well as your neighborhood and backyard.

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  • Rain Barrels > Rainwater tanks are installed to make use of rain water for later use, reduce main water use for economic and environmental reasons, and aid self-sufficiency. Stored water may be used for watering gardens, washing cars, and more, especially when other water supplies are unavailable or expensive.
  • Rain Gardens > Rain Gardens are a functional landscape that are designed to allow water from rooftops or other surfaces to slowly soak into the soil. This filters the water and prevents it from carrying pollutants and running off into storm drains or nearby streams.
  • Riparian Buffers > Vegetated areas along a stream help shade and protect the stream from adjacent land use such as erosion and filtering out pollutants in runoff. Forested buffers provide a host of natural benefits every day including clean air and water, lower energy bills, opportunities to see wildlife and even higher property values.

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  • Stormwater BMP > See Best Management Practice. Best Management Practices (in terms of stormwater) are techniques or methods that aim to manage the quantity and improve the quality of stormwater runoff in a cost-effective manner.
  • Stormwater BMPs > See Best Management Practice. Best Management Practices (in terms of stormwater) are techniques or methods that aim to manage the quantity and improve the quality of stormwater runoff in a cost-effective manner.

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  • Tree Planting > Establishing trees is one of the top effective ways to reduce stormwater while adding benefits to human health and wildlife. Trees can require some time investment, but are well worth it for their ecosystem services and beauty.

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  • Vehicle Maintenance > The average American has 2-3 vehicles. If not maintained in a responsible and thoughtful way, these vehicles can have serious impacts on stormwater and water quality by contributing motor oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, and fuel which contaminate local streams and the people that use them for recreation or drinking supplies.

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  • Winter Deicing > Ensuring public and personal safety by removing snow and ice on walkways and driveways is important. Homeowners have choices when it comes to methods for removing ice and snow. The most important thing to remember is to choose carefully and use sparingly.