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Glossary

Baseflow: the component of the total stream flow due predominantly to groundwater discharge into a stream. It typically is the low flow in a stream over the dry season in Australia.

Anoxia: the condition of being devoid of oxygen. Usually found in the bottom waters of lakes, estuaries and slowly flowing rivers in situations where large amount of organic matter settle and decompose, using up the oxygen in the water.

Biofilms: slimy films of bacteria, other microbes and organic materials that cover underwater surfaces, particularly the surfaces of ‘snags’ (fallen trees). Biofilms are ‘hot spots’ of microbial activity and have a major role in ecosystem function underwater.

De-snagging: removal of the ‘snags’ – fallen trees – lying in the river channel of lowland rivers. ‘Snags’ were common in Australian rivers but they interfere with recreational uses like water skiing and look unsightly so are often removed. They were also removed in the mistaken belief that they had a major effect on reducing the flood carrying capacity of our rivers.

Fishways: engineered structures to facilitate the movement of fish up- and down-stream in rivers with many dams and weirs, which control levels and regulate flows and prevent the migration of fish.

Intensive Land Use Zone: the highly settled regions of the continent – largely the coastal regions of the South-west and the east, including the coastal strip, the inland of south-western WA, the northern and eastern parts of Tasmania, and the western slopes and plains of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

Peri-urban: areas surrounding major cities developed for low-density horse and hobby farms or low-density semi-rural housing.

Recharge: the flow of rain water from the surface to below the root zone of plants and crops which contributes to groundwater supplies.

Sand slugs: large deposits of sand or other fine material lying in the bed of rivers. The material comes from gully erosion in the catchment. These sand deposits fill up the river channel, smother the original form of the riverbed and move slowly downstream.

Stygofauna: animals inhabiting underground aquifers and caves.

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