BERM is a man made impediment to water flow to slow or stop erosion from occurring. It might be rocks loosely scattered in a ditch or a load of rocks caged into page wire fencing to hold the rocks in place. A berm is designed to become a part ofthe natural landscape in the long term.

BUFFER STRIP an area of vegetated land adjacent to a water course. The plant cover filters out sediment, slows the overland flow of water and holds the underlying soil in place.

CATCHMENT an area where rainfall and snowfall colllects. It is typically a depression in the landscape.

CONSERVATION TILLAGE an agricultural practice, which after seeding results in at least 30 % of the soil surface remaining covered with residue from the previous crop. The residue helps protect the soil surface from wind and water erosion.

CONTOUR FARMING involves tilling the soil or planting the crops across the slope, rather than up and down the slope. The furrows and rows of plants act as small dams which slow down the flow of water, and help protect the soil from erosion.

CROP ROTATION involves rotating a field with different crops from one year to the next. This practice reduces disease carry over, improves weed management control and may improve residue levels.

CROP RESIDUE the plant material left in the field after the crop has been harvested.

EUTROPHICATION a natural process whereby a lake moves towards higher nutrient levels, low amounts of dissolved oxygen and biological productivity which exceeds the decomposition of organic matter.

FERTILIZER any natural or synthetic material added to soil to supply plants with certain essential nutrients.

FORAGE CROP a crop that is planted and used as feed for livestock.

GRASSED WATERWAY a permanent vegetated, saucer-shaped channel designed to carry surface water across land without causing erosion.

GULLY EROSION a type of water erosion characterized by the removal of soil from the sides of well defined channels. Gullies may be 0.3 m to 30 m deep.

INVERTEBRATE an animal without a backbone.

MICRO ORGANISMS forms of life that are either to small to be seen with the unaided eye or are barely discernable.

NO-TILL FARMING a form of conservation tillage where an agricultural field is never tilled during the season.

NUTRIENT any chemical element or compound that is essential to growth and development of an organism.

ORGANIC MATTER plant and/or animal material.

PESTICIDE a substance used to control some plants, insect or other organism. If levels are too high, it can be considered harmful to humans or to the crops and animals we depend on for food, fibre and shelter.

RAINDROP SPLASH erosion caused by raindrops striking the ground, breaking soil particles apart, and splashing these particles into the air.

RECHARGE (GROUND WATER) Groundwater recharge occurs when precipitation in the form of snow and rain soaks into the ground and raises the water level (also called the water table) in the soil.

RECYCLE to convert to a reusable resource.

RESIDUE the remaining material that is left after part is used or taken away e.g. wheat stubble after the seed has been harvested.

RILL EROSION a form of erosion where surface water forms small well-defined channels that carry soil away from the sides and the bottom of these channels.

ROCK CHUTE a pile of rocks designed to move a concentrated flow of water over a steep slope without causing erosion

RUNOFF water that flows along the surface of the ground towards depressions or defined water channels.

SEDIMENT solid material that has been deposited, or is being moved from its original site by erosion.

SHEET EROSION the least obvious form of water erosion where runoff removes a uniform layer of soil over a surface of land.

SILT small soil particles which range in size from 0.002 to 0.05 mm. m diameter. Silt is smooth to touch and it does not become slick and sticky when wet

SOIL the naturally occurring unconsolidated or lose material at the surface of the earth which is capable of supporting plant and animal life.

SOIL CONSERVATION any combination of practices used to protect the soil from erosion or other forms of degradation.

STREAMBANK EROSION the collapse or cutting away of streambanks by water or from human or animal activity.

STRIP CROPPING a soil conservation practice which involves alternating strips of high residue crops e.g. wheat, forages , with low residue crops e.g. canola, potatoes.

SUMMER FALLOW to cultivate or work the land during the summer, keeping it fallow, preparing it for the next seasons crop.

TERRACE a constructed earthen ridge with a water channel along the upper side. Terraces are meant to intercept and redirect water flow down a steep slope to reduce erosion.

TOPOGRAPHY the shape of the landscape.

TOPSOIL the darker surface layer of soil containing decayed plant and animal material , nutrients and other favourable characteristics for plant growth.

WATERSHED an entire land area contributing water to a common water supply e.g. a stream, river ,or lake.