2. Watersheds & Groundwater Vocabulary

13. Algal Bloom A sudden increase in the population of algae

14. Brackish A type of water that is a mixture of salt water and fresh water, less salt concentration than the ocean but more than fresh water

15. Dead Zone An area in an ecosystem where few organisms can survive

16. Estuary A bay or semi-enclosed body of water where fresh water mixes with sea water

17. Eutrophication An increase of nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients in water that can cause an algal bloom to occur

18. Runoff The flow of water over land from precipitation

19. Contamination Polluting an area; unwanted substance in an area