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Geographic Unit
An area bounded by geologic, geographic, political or
other anthropogenic boundary.
Water Quality Research Database
Other Water Quality Research Sections:
International
Of or concerning policy of the federal government in
relation to other countries. http://www.epa.gov/oia/regions/index.html
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/
National
Of or concerning policy of the federal government.
National Estuaries Program http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/
National Priorities List (NPL) Sites in the United States http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/npl.htm
National Guidance Water Quality Standards for Wetlands http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/wetlands/regs/quality.html
Landscape
The traits, patterns, and structure of a specific geographic area, including its biological composition, its physical environment, and its anthropogenic or social patterns, An area where interacting ecosystems are grouped and repeated in similar form.
Land Use
A system for describing land cover, either natural or
anthropogenic. The specific usage of land use terms may change from municipality
to municipality, state to state, and nation to nation.
http://www.epa.gov/watertrain/#management
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/
content/ActionsInternationalLandUse&Forestry.html
Regional
Political boundary, superceding municipal, county or State
boundaries. Chesapeake Bay Program http://www.chesapeakebay.net/index.cfm
Watershed
The land area from which rainfall or snow melt drains into surface water
bodies. Ridges of higher ground generally form the watershed boundary. Watersheds
are nature's boundaries. The watershed approach looks for environmental
solutions that transgress political boundaries. Other terms: drainage basin
(Adapted from US EPA, Compendium of Tools for Watershed Assessment and TMDL
Development, EPA 841-B-97-006, May 1997).
Watershed Approach
http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/tmdl/comptool.html
Watershed Homepage http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/watershed/
Adopt Your Watershed http://www.epa.gov/adopt/
EPA's Surf Your Watershed http://www.epa.gov/surf/
Municipality
City, town or county.
http://www.epa.gov/owmitnet/mtb/index.htm
Water/Wastewater Infrastructure
The conveyance and treatment works associated with the collection, treatment and delivery of water and the collection, treatment and discharge of wastewater. Water supply is typically conveyed in pipes under pressure, while wastewater is conveyed in sewers at atmospheric pressure.