Spring Speak: Riparian

Riparian: on or relating to the banks of a natural course of water

Spring Speak: Benthic

Benthic: relating to or ocurring on the bottom under a body of water

Benthos: organism living at the bottom of a body of water

Spring Speak: Level I Spring Survey

Level I Spring Survey: locate and characterize spring based on its abiotic and biotic features, including ecological potential and management issues

Spring Speak: Stream vs Spring

Stream: Discharge, temperature, and chemistry is highly variable; strong hydraulic processes

Spring: Fairly static temperature, chemistry, and discharge, with weak hydraulic processes

Spring Speak: Helocrene, Limnocrene, and Rheocrene

Pinto Hot Springs in the Black Rock National Conservation Area (photo by Dan Montero)

Helocrene: a spring originating from a marsh or bog

Limnocrene: a spring originating from a large, deep pool of water

Rheocrene: a spring that flows from a defined opening into a confined channel

Spring Speak: Crenobiontic

Crenobiontic: Species that are found exclusively in springs