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<br />
<br />INTRODUCTION
<br />
<br />:hure is one of a series prepared by the
<br />ctors of the Southeastern Colorado Water
<br />District, with the hope it, along with the
<br />~lp to portray the absolute importance of
<br />levelopment of the Arkansas Valley served
<br />rvancy District.
<br />
<br />tber=:; of the board are keenly aware of the
<br />Ie from all walks of life are becoming in-
<br />water problems in our world. As new
<br />on is studied, water programs developed,
<br />'o/'eels approved, additional exposure to
<br />il be a daily process, It is the hope of the
<br />,f the board that this very brief "Glossary
<br />ms" might enable more people to take an
<br />the fascinating programs involving water.
<br />IS quoted here are but a small part of the
<br />vocabulary" used by water authorities, but
<br />ones most frequently used in public discus-
<br />
<br />:>ch ures in' the series describe the Frying-
<br />Proiect, Colorado State Statutes Govern-
<br />ern 'Colorado Water Conservancy District,
<br />nciples and Contract Between the United
<br />ment and the District, and Excerpts from
<br />er Publications.
<br />
<br />Ir better understanding of you r most es-
<br />ldity - WATER
<br />
<br />OF COMMON WATER RESOURCE TERMS
<br />
<br />A term used in measuring the volume of water,
<br />lantity of water required to cover 1 acre 1 foot
<br />,,560 cubic fe~t.
<br />I geology, applied to rocks formed of windbome
<br />
<br />A stream or river flowing into a larger river or
<br />ributar)' system.
<br />)N - (I) The geologic process by means of
<br />l?arts of lhe surface of the earth are raised in
<br />llt up by the deposition of material eroded from
<br />md transporled thereto by water or wind. It is
<br />. degradation. (2) The increase or rise of bed
<br />pecific discharge of a channel al a given site.
<br />Certain soluble salts, principally of sodillm,
<br />Llesium, and calcium that occur in water or soils.
<br />ry, :my substance having marked basic properties.
<br />\-Vater or soils which contain a sufficient amount
<br />nces present to raise the pH-value above 7.0 or
<br />o the growth of crops.
<br />Referring to silt, sand, gra~'e1 or similar detrital
<br />h::ls been deposited by running water.
<br />A devialion from a norm for which an explana-
<br />lTent on the basis of available data.
<br />- A conduit, usually of considerable size, used to
<br />The conduit may consist of one or more of the
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<br />followin~: Ca,l(al, pipe line, tunnel, siphon, or sD-called "in-
<br />\'erted Siphon.
<br />AQUIFER - A porous water-bearing geDlogic formation.
<br />AREA, CATCHMENT - (1) The area tributary to a lake,
<br />stream, Dr drain. (2) The intake Df an aquifer, and all areas t.hat
<br />contribute surface walers to the intake area. (3) In tropical
<br />island zones, a hard surfaced area, upon which rain is collected
<br />and then conducted to a reservoir.
<br />AREA, DEPRESSION, PUMPING. The surface area over-
<br />lying the cone of influence or pressure-relief C01Ie.
<br />AREA, DISCHARGE, GROUND-WATER - (I) An area
<br />wherein ground water is disch::lrged through springs, wells, per-
<br />colation, etc., evaporated from the soil, or transpired frum vege-
<br />tation. (2) The crDss-sectional ::Irea of nDW of ground water at
<br />any point below the surface.
<br />AREA, INFLUENCE. The surface area surrounding a well,
<br />or group of wens, during pumping, within which the water
<br />table or other piezometric smface is lowered by withdrawal. of
<br />the water. The area varies in extent with the rale and dural10n
<br />Df pumping.
<br />AREA, IRRIGABLE The pornon Df the arable area of an
<br />irrigation development which is subject to Irngated farm use.
<br />It excludes lands required fDr nonproduclive uses.
<br />ARID - (l)A term applied tD regions where precipatation is 5?
<br />deficient in quantity, or occurs at such times that agriculture IS
<br />impractic::lble withDut irrigation. (2) In climatDlogy, a term
<br />applied to climalcs which have insufficient rainfall to support
<br />vegetatiDn.
<br />ARROYO - A SHearn channel or gully usually rarher small with
<br />steep banks, and dry much of the time.
<br />ATMOMETER - An instrument for measuring evaporation;
<br />also called an atmidometer or evaporimecer. Four main classes
<br />of atmometers may be distinguished; (a) Large evaporation tanks
<br />sunk in the ground or noating on protected Waters; (b) Small
<br />open evaporation pans; (c) Porous porcelain bc.dies, mainly used
<br />by plant phYSiologists in studying e....aporation from plants;
<br />(d) AtmDmeters with wet paper surfaces.
<br />ATMOSPHERE - The ouler part of the earth surrounding the
<br />lithosphere and hydrosphere, and consisting predominantly of
<br />ait. It contains DthCT matter such as water vapor and dust
<br />particles.
<br />AVULSION - (I) The act perfDrmed by a stream when il
<br />suddenly breaks through its banks in an unexpeCled manner,
<br />and fonus another channel or cuts off a lar~e quantity of land
<br />from one Dwner and adds jt 10 anolher. (2) Rapid erosion Df
<br />shoreland from waves during a stann.
<br />BALANCE, SALT - The difference between the IOta I dissolved
<br />sDlids brought to the land annually by the irrigation water and
<br />the total solids carried away annually by the drainage water.
<br />BARRAGE - A dam provided with a series of gates. erected
<br />across a river tD regulate the water surface level and flDW up-
<br />SlTeam. It is dislinguished from a weir in Ihal it is gated over
<br />its enlire width and may not have a raised sill.
<br />BASIN, DRAINAGE - (1) An area from which surface runDff
<br />is carried aW::IY by ::I single drainage system. Also called catch-
<br />m~t area, \Vatersh~~, .and draitlage. area (2) The largesr natural
<br />dramage area subdlvlslon Df a contment. The United States has
<br />been divided at one rime or another for ~'acious adminisrraril'e
<br />purpDses into some 12 to 18 drainage basins.
<br />BEDDING (GEOLOGY) - (I) The depos;'ion of sedimentary
<br />material in layers, due 10 the SOIling actiDn of water from which
<br />the material was deposited. Also called stratification arid in the
<br />case of finer sediments, lamination. (2) (pipe laying) The earth
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