Terminology
- Bacteria (E. coli): E. coli is an organism that’s found in the gut of warm-blooded animals (e.g., people, dogs, ducks, cows). The presence of E. coli in a stream suggests the presence of waste. Stream samples are analyzed for bacteria to determine if a water body is safe for swimming or other recreation. Take a deep dive into E. coli here. (definition by MSD)
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Banks - Banks are the sides of a river or stream between which the water normally flows.
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Channel - A channel is an area that contains flowing water confined by banks.
- Dissolved Oxygen: Dissolved oxygen (DO) is a measure of water’s oxygen content. High concentrations of DO are vital for healthy fish populations; periods of low DO can cause fish kills. Several factors influence a stream’s DO, including temperature, nutrient loads, and algae populations. Learn more here. (definition by MSD)
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DRO - Development Review Overlay; an additional layer of code put into the Land Development Code to protect specific areas within the city
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Effluent - Effluent is wastewater (like sewage water or factory runoff) that flows from a factory or other facility.
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Eutrophication - Excessive nutrients in a lake or other body of water, usually caused by runoff of nutrients (animal waste, fertilizers, sewage) from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life; the decomposition of the plants depletes the supply of oxygen, leading to the death of animal life.
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Floodplain Storage Compensation - An artificially excavated, hydraulically equivalent volume of floodplain storage sufficient to offset a reduction in floodplain storage resulting from filling or construction within the local regulatory floodplain. Such floodplain storage compensation shall be within the same watershed and shall be provided on the same property or at an alternative site if the administering agency so approves.
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"Floyds Fork" vs "Floyd's Fork" - While it is painful to drop the apostrophe, both USGS and MSD don't utilize an apostrophe in the official naming of this waterway. Even though the fork was named after John Floyd, apparently the Fork does not belong to him. Thus, this website will utilize the grammatically incorrect naming :).
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Headwaters - Headwaters are streams and rivers (tributaries) that are the source of a stream or river.
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Hydrocarbons: Hydrocarbons are organic compounds found in crude oil, natural gas, and coal. Hydrocarbons can make their way into waterways through contaminated soils, fuel and oil spills, pesticide runoff, and stormwater runoff from paved surfaces. (definition by MSD)
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LDC - Land Development Code
- Metals: Metals are naturally occurring elements that exist in varying levels, based on local geology. Metals are also present in the built environment, industrial processes, and vehicles. High metal concentrations can be toxic to aquatic life, and bioaccumulation of metals can be devastating to populations of birds, fish, and humans. Read more about metals in the environment here. (definition by MSD)
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Metro Council - 26 elected representatives for Louisville that vote on many items including LDC changes and zoning changes
- Nutrients: Nitrogen and phosphorous are essential nutrients for plant growth but can also be an indicator of excessive fertilizer runoff and/or organic waste found in raw sewage. Go in-depth here. (definition by MSD)
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Oxbow - An oxbow is formed when the river changes path because of soil erosion, leaving an abandoned stream channel, cut off from the rest of the river.
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PC - Nine people appointed by the mayor responsible for reviewing all major subdivisions along Floyds Fork and enforcing the DRO/ZOD within the LDC
- pH: pH is the measure of a water’s acidity, and a waterway’s acidity can be influenced by its surrounding geology. Neutral (neither acidic nor basic) water is essential for aquatic life and human recreation. Changes in pH can often be traced to industrial discharges or spills. Here’s more on pH. (definition by MSD)
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Planning Commission - responsible for reviewing all major subdivisions along Floyds Fork and enforcing the DRO within the LDC
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Planning Committee - members of Metro Council that review zoning changes and textual amendments to the LDC
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Riparian - Riparian means located by the banks of a river, stream, or other body of water.
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Riverbed - A riverbed is the bottom of the river (or other body of water).
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Runoff - Runoff is water that drains into a river (or other body of water) from uncontrolled streams, drains, or sewage lines. There is runoff from agricultural irrigation water, snowmelt, storms, etc.
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Sediment - Sediment is small particles of soil, sand, silt, or clay particles that are transported and deposited in our waterways. These particles are typically transported by wind and water erosion. Sediment can fill in stream channels, smother aquatic habitat, and release pollutants into the waterways. More info is here. (most of definition by MSD)
- SFFAS - South Floyds Fork Area Study (encompasses Floyds Fork within South Jefferson County from Shelbyville Rd to Bullitt County)
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Siltation - Siltation is the deposit or accumulation of very tiny soil particles (silt).
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Source - The source is the beginning of a stream or river
- Specific Conductivity: A water’s specific conductivity indicates how much dissolved material it’s carrying. Dissolved materials can come from our local limestones, road salt, or illegal industrial discharges. Learn more about specific conductivity and waterways here. (definition by MSD)
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Temperature: A waterway’s temperature can influence its health, and increased stream temperatures are common with urban development. Keeping temperatures normal can be achieved by keeping waterways shaded and not allowing rainwater to run directly off of paved surfaces into the stream. More on temperature here. (definition by MSD)
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Top of Bank - break, change in the vertical plain where their is a significant change to horizontal plain along the edge of the bank
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Tributary - A tributary is a river or stream that flows into another stream, river, or lake.
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Trunk - The trunk is the main course of river.
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Turbidity - refers to how clear the water is.
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USGS - United States Geological Survey
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Watershed - A watershed is the term given to the land that drains water into a particular stream, lake, or river.
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ZOD - Zoning Overlay District