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| | A GLOSSARY OF LISS-RELATED TERMS
Algae Rootless plants that grow in estuaries and feed on nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) in the water.
Algae blooms Excessive algae growth that occurs when too many nutrients are present in the water.
Anadromous fish Fish that spend most of their lives in saltwater, but migrate into freshwater tributaries to reproduce (spawn).
Anadromous fish passage A structure built to allow fish to swim around a barrier (such as a dam) in a stream during migration from saltwater to freshwater.
Atmospheric deposition Process by which contaminants in the air return to the earths surface. Air pollution washed out of the sky by rain or snow is called wet deposition. When air pollution deposits without benefit of rain, it is called dry deposition.
Chlorophyll a A pigment in plants that is used to turn light energy into food. Chlorophyll also gives plants their green color.
Clean Water Act The law that establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into waters of the United States. The Clean Water Act prohibits unpermitted discharges of any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters and recognizes the critical problems posed by nonpoint source pollution. Section 320 of the Clean Water Act directs EPA to develop plans for attaining or maintaining water quality in estuaries. This includes protection of public water supplies and the protection and propagation of a balanced, indigenous population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife, and allows recreational activities in and on the water.
Dissolved oxygen Microscopic bubbles of oxygen that are mixed in water. Dissolved oxygen is necessary for healthy lakes, rivers, and estuaries. Fish will drown in water if the dissolved oxygen levels get too low (hypoxia - see below).
Estuary A semi-enclosed body of water that has a free connection with the open sea and within which seawater (from the ocean) is diluted measurably with freshwater that is derived from land drainage (i.e., from the Connecticut River).
Eutrophication A condition in aquatic ecosystems where high nutrient concentrations stimulate blooms of algae, thereby resulting in low dissolved oxygen levels in the water.
Freshwater Water from rivers, lakes, reservoirs and underground streams.
Hypoxia Low dissolved oxygen concentrations in water that result in significant, adverse ecological effects in the bottom water habitats of the Sound.
National Estuary Program Program established by Congress in 1987 to improve the quality of estuaries of national importance. Each program develops a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan to meet the goals of Section 320 of the Clean Water Act.
Nitrogen A nutrient that fuels the growth of algae, resulting in low oxygen waters (hypoxia) when the algae die and subsequently decompose.
Nonpoint source A diffuse source of pollution that cannot be attributed to a clearly identifiable, specific physical location or a defined discharge channel.
Pathogens Microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria and parasites that can cause illness in people exposed to them through swimming in, or consuming fish or shellfish from, contaminated waters.
Point source Pollution that comes from a single location, such as a sewage discharge pipe.
Pycnocline The natural stratification of the Sounds waters that occurs during the summer when warmer, fresher water floats on the cooler, saltier water that is more dense. The density difference between these two layers prevents the mixing of the well-oxygenated surface waters with the bottom waters. website
Runoff Water that flows across the surface of the land and drains into a water body.
Salinity A measure of the salt concentration of water, usually measured in parts per thousand (ppt). Higher salinity means more dissolved salts.
Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) Rooted vegetation that grows under water in shallow zones where light penetrates.
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) A sum of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive from all contributing point and nonpoint sources and still meet water quality standards.
Toxics Organic and inorganic substances in water and sediments that can cause adverse human and ecosystem health effects.
Watershed The area of land that drains into a particular body of water.
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Long Island Sound Study
EPA Long Island Sound Office
888 Washington Boulevard
Stamford, CT 06904-2152
Phone: (203) 977-1541 Fax: (203) 977-1546
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