2002 Draft Natural Resources Management

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Moraine Rock and rnineral debris depositeci directEy by glaciaf ice. Maraines most often consist of unsorted rock and minerai particies. Muck A dark-colored organic soil of highly decomposed plant material in which the original plant parts are not recognizable_ MUSA {Metropolitan Urban Service Area} Tt�e area designated by the Metropolitan Council of the twin cities area to receive urban services s�ch as central sewer, urban streets, etc. Native habitaf A habitat formed and occupied by native plan#s and animals and little modified by logging, farming, ditching, #lood cantrol, and the lilte. Native species A species that occurs naturally within a given regian. 'Native vegetation Vegetaiion, composed of native piants, that has been little anodified by human acti�ities such as {ogging, farming, ditc�ing, or ti�e intraduction of nonnative species. Natural area Geographic area in which the dominant plants and animals are native species. Natural community An assemblage that tends to recur over space and time of native plants and anirr�als that interact with each other and with their abiotic habitats in ways that have been little modified by nonnative plant and animal species. Na#ural communities are cfassified and described according #o their vegetation, successionaf status, topagraphy, hydrologic conditions, landforms, substrates, soils, and natura6 disturbance regimes {such as wildfires, windstorms, normal flood cycles, and normal infestation by native insects and microorganisms}. Nonnative species A species that has been introduced to an area by humans or that is present in the area as a result of hurr►an- caused changes. Non-Point Source Pollu#ion: Refers to polfution other than that caused by discharge of pvllutants through a pipe from a closed system to a receiving water. Pollution caused by runoff from farm fie{ds or paved streets are examples of this non- point pollution. � Many of the definitions used in this section are borrowed from Minnesota's St. Croix River Vallev and Anoka Sand lain Worcha et al, Minnesota DNR, 1995. Glassary Normal Water Level (NWL) The ele�ation of the surface of the standing water pool within a pond or wetland. Generally, the NWL is the elevation of the bottom of the primary outlet pipe or overland flow channel. Nutrient Budget: An itemized estima#e of nutrient inputs and outpu#s (usually #or a period of one year), taking into account ai! sources and losses. Nutrient Loading The input of nutrients to a lake Nutrient Trap A type of pond or wetland that is effective at remaving nutrients from water. Nutr€ents Elements suct� as phosphorus and nitrogen tha# are required #or plant growth. When excess amounts are transpflrted in stormwater they may encourage excessive algae or oiher plant growth in receiving water bodies. Oligotrophic Lake A relatively nutrient- poor lake, usually clear and deep with battom waters high in dissolved o�cygen. Open-grown tree A tree #hat has matured in an open setting, such as a prairie or savanna. Open-grown trees #end to have broaci crowns and thick, spreading lower limbs. Organic soil A soil in which the upper surface layers contain more than 25% orga�ic matter. Outcrop Bedrock that projects above the soil. Outwash plain A plain farmed af sorteci ar�d stratified material-such as layers of sand and gravel-carried from an ice sheet and deposited by glacial meltwater. pH A measure of the acidic or basic nature of the water; it is defined as the logarithm of the reciprocal of the hydrogen-ion concentration in moles/liter. Parent material The wea#hered rock or partly weathered soil material frorr� which tapsoil deve{ops. Parts per billion (ppb) a unit of concentration, sometimes expressed as micrograrns per liter (ug/l}. Parts per million (ppm) a unit of concentration, sometimes expressed as milligrams per liter {mg/I). Peat soil A dark brown or blac[c organic soil consisting largely of undecomposed or siightly decomposed plants. Peat soils usually form where persistent excessive moisiure siows ar inhibits the decay of plan# material.