Definitions, Acronyms and Links

Acronyms and Organizations

ARWA - Agricultural Research Western Australia

CCI - Coastal Catchments Initiative

DAFWA - the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

NHT - National Heritage Trust

UWA - the University of Western Australia

Technical Terms

Acid Sulfate Soils

Acid sulfate soils can acidify rivers, groundwater etc and have been responsible for large fish kills and have impacts on the environment, agriculture and infrastructure with resulting economic costs

Benthic

The Benthic Zone is the lowest level of a body of water such as an ocean or a lake. It is inhabited by organisms that live in close relationship with (if not physically attached to) the ground, called benthos or benthic organisms.

Estuarine

Associated with estuaries. An estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea

Eutrophication

Eutrophication means an increase in chemical nutrients — typically compounds containing nitrogen or phosphorus — in an ecosystem. It may occur on land or in water.

Flocculant

A flocculant is a chemical which causes promotes flocculation. In civil engineering, and in the earth sciences, flocculation is a condition in which clays, polymers or other small charged particles become attached and form a fragile structure, a floc (similar to flake). Flocculation & sedimentation is widely employed in the purification of drinking water as well as sewage treatment, stormwater treatment and treatment of other industrial wastewater streams

Playa

Also known as an alkali flat, sabkha, or salt flat; is a dry lakebed

Riparian zone

A riparian zone is the interface between land and a flowing surface water body