Glossary

Southern Sonoma County
Resource Conservation District

We hope that this glossary will help you to define a term.
Please select a letter from the table below.

A-B-C-D-E F-G-H-I-J K-L-M-N-O P-Q-R-S T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Point Source. A source of pollutants which may be traced to a discrete point of emission.

Rare Species. A condition in which a species or subspecies, although not currently threatened with extinction, exists in such small numbers throughout its range that it may be endangered if the quality of its environment worsens.

Retention Area. A pond, pool, lagoon, or basin used for the storage of water runoff.

Richter Scale. A logarithmic scale developed in 1935/36 by Dr. Charles F. Richter and Dr. Beno Gutenberg to measure earthquake magnitude by the amount of energy released, as opposed to earthquake intensity as determined by local effects on people, structures, and earth materials.

Riparian. Pertaining to the bank of a natural course of water, whether seasonal or annual. Riparian habitat is defined by the surrounding vegetation or presence of known wildlife movement pathways; it borders or surrounds a waterway.

Sedimentation. Process by which material suspended in water is deposited in a body of water.

Significant Impact. CEQA (§ 21068) defines a significant impact as that which has "a substantial, or potentially substantial, adverse change in the environment." Mitigation measures are proposed, where feasible, to reduce the magnitude of significant impacts.

Significant and Unavoidable Impact. An impact that would result in a substantial adverse effect on the environment which would not be mitigable to a less-than-significant level. A project with such an impact could still proceed, provided the City prepare a Statement of Overriding Considerations, pursuant to Section 15093 of the CEQA Guidelines, explaining why the City would proceed with the project despite the occurrence of such an impact. Siltation. The process of silt deposition. Silt is a loose sedimentary material composed of finely divided particles of soil or rock, often carried in cloudy suspension in water.

Solid Waste. Unwanted or discarded material, including garbage, with insufficient liquid content to be free flowing.

Sphere of Influence (SOI). The ultimate service area of a city or incorporated area as established by LAFCO.

©2004 Southern Sonoma County Resource Conservation District