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Chapter 7 <br />Glossary and Acronyms <br />ecosystems, free or unbound water may be <br />ephemeral. In extreme situations, they may even <br />occur annually. The important concept is that <br />riparian ecosystems differ from adjacent, terrestrial <br />(upland) ecosystems because they require wetter <br />soil moisture regimes that include at least periodic <br />free or unbound water. This difference is typically <br />displayed and confirmed by changes in vegetation <br />composition and abundance, as well as physical soil <br />properties. It is the higher relative moisture that <br />distinguishes riparian ecosystems from drier <br />uplands. Low-lying areas supporting woody <br />vegetation, commonly called woody draws in the <br />Great Plains exemplify this. Wet soils occur <br />infrequently, usually in the spring, and maybe not <br />every spring. However, the soil moisture regimes <br />required by woody draws sharply distinguishes <br />them from adjacent, drier terrestrial ecosystems. <br />Therefore, it is concluded that woody draws <br />adjacent to aquatic ecosystems are themselves <br />riparian ecosystems. <br />resource management plan (RMP) -A land use <br />plan, as prescribed by FLPMA that directs the use <br />and allocation of public lands and resources <br />managed by BLM. Prior to se-lection of the RMP, <br />different alternative management plans are <br />compared and evaluated in an environmental impact <br />statement (EIS) to determine which plan will best <br />direct the management of the public lands and <br />resources. <br />responsible official -The USDA Forest Service <br />employee who has been delegated the authority to <br />carry out a specific planning action. <br />restoration - The process of modifying an <br />ecosystem to achieve a desired, healthy, and <br />functioning condition. Contrast with rehabilitation. <br />revegetation - The re-establishment and <br />development of a plant cover by either natural or <br />artificial means, such as re-seeding. <br />riparian -The area adjacent to rivers and streams <br />that lies between the stream channel and upland <br />terrain and that sup-ports specific vegetation <br />influenced by perennial and/or intermittent water. <br />rockshelter - An area, usually within a cliffline, <br />where erosion, or rock fall has created a shallow <br />void. <br />runoff -The portion of precipitation that flows over <br />theland surface or in open channels. <br />scenery management -The art and science of <br />arranging, planning, and designing landscape <br />attributes relative to the appearance of places and <br />expanses in outdoor settings. <br />scenery management system (SMS) - A system of <br />inventory, analysis, and management of scenery <br />within an ecosystem context. <br />scenic attractiveness -The scenic importance of a <br />landscape based on human perceptions of the <br />intrinsic beauty of landform, rockform, wa[erform, <br />and vegetation pattern. Reflects varying visual <br />perception attributes of variety, unity, vividness, <br />intactness, coherence, mystery, uniqueness, <br />harmony, balance, and pattern. It is classified as: <br />Distinctive Typical or Common Undistinguished. <br />scoping -A public informational process required <br />by the National Environmental Policy Act to <br />determine private and public concerns, scope of <br />issues, and/or questions regarding a Proposed <br />Action to be evaluated in an environmental impact <br />analysis. <br />sediment -Material, both mineral and organic, that <br />is in suspension, is being transported, or has been <br />moved from its site of origin by water, wind, ice or <br />mass-wasting and has come to rest on the earth's <br />surface. <br />seep - A wet area where a seasonal high water table <br />intersects with the ground surface. <br />sensitive species -Those plant and animal species <br />identified by a Regional Forester for which <br />population viability is a concem, as evidenced by <br />(1) significant current or predicted downward trends <br />in population numbers or density; or (2) significant <br />current or predicted downward trends in habitat <br />capability that would reduce a species' existing <br />distribution. <br />shale -Sedimentary rock formed by indurations of <br />clay, silty clay, or silty clay loam deposit and <br />having the tendency to split into thin layers, <br />significant impact -A qualitative term used to <br />describe the anticipated importance of impacts to <br />the human environment as a result of an action. <br />Dry Fork Lease-By-Application FEIS 7-7 <br />