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  2. Watercourse

Watercourse

Eutrophication

Updated on 26/10/2022
Définition
Sens commun
Excessive enrichment of rivers and water bodies by nutrients, mainly phosphorus and nitrogen, which constitute a true fertilizer for aquatic plants. It is characterized by excessive proliferation of plants whose decomposition causes a significant decrease in the oxygen content. It results, among other things, in a diminishing fauna and flora diversity and in disrupted uses (drinking water supply, recreational activities, etc).
Source
According to the Ministry for the Environment and OFB

Low-flow level

Updated on 26/10/2022
Définition
Sens commun

Period of lowest water levels in streams and groundwater (usually summer for rainfall regimes).

Source
According to the Ministry for the Environment and OFB
Sens technique

Exceptionally low flow period of a watercourse, or exacerbation of its low water (sometimes assimilated to low seasonal flows). Low water is therefore considered to be a limited period in the year when the flows drop lower than a statistically calculated threshold value, function of each stream.

Source
According to OFB

Spur

Updated on 26/10/2022
Définition
Sens technique
Structure built in a stream at a certain angle to shape the bed.
Source
According to the Ministry for the Environment and OFB

Cross dyke

Updated on 26/10/2022
Définition
Sens technique
Wall of stones and pebbles crossing a stream or bordering a beach to stop the fish at ebb tide, longitudinal dike or biases in the bed of the Loire to regulate and channel a watercourse.
Source
According to the Ministry for the Environment and OFB

Natural flow

Updated on 26/10/2022
Définition
Sens commun
Flow of a watercourse undisturbed by human activities (in the absence of any hydraulic structure in particular). A value is estimated only for monthly and annual flow rates.
Source
According to the Ministry for the Environment and OFB

X-year monthly discharge

Updated on 26/10/2022
Définition
Sens technique

Frequency flow rate obtained by statistical processing of a series of monthly low-water flow rates. We talk about a monthly flow rate recurring every year, every five years, or every ten years, etc.

Source
According to the Ministry for the Environment and OFB

Influenced flow

Updated on 26/10/2022
Définition
Sens technique
Flow rate of a watercourse disturbed by human activities but in such a manner that flows keep their general characteristics.
Source
According to the Ministry for the Environment and OFB

Regulated flow

Updated on 26/10/2022
Définition
Sens technique
Flow resulting from human action and thus being completely disrupted: transfers from one basin to another through developed natural and/or artificial water systems.
Source
According to the Ministry for the Environment and OFB

Minimum flow

Updated on 26/10/2022
Définition
Sens technique

Value of the flow maintained downstream of a localized water intake (short-circuited stream, etc) under Article L-232-5 of the Rural Code. This article specifically refers to "structures to be built in the bed of a watercourse", and "devices" to be developed to maintain a certain flow rate. It requires letting pass a

Source
According to the Ministry for the Environment and OFB