U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S.F.W.S. Part of the U. S. government that keeps track of and protects wildlife

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Plants that live below the water’s surface

Bay grasses-another name for SAV

Critical component – a part of something that is very important

Estuarine(Estuary) – a body of water where fresh and salt water mix

Ecosystem-a place where living and non-living things interact

Habitat-the place where a something lives

Pollutants-chemicals or other substances that harm the environment

Species – a single type of living thing

Nutrient – chemicals like fertilizer that help plants grow

Riprap- rocks placed against a shoreline to prevent erosion

Watershed – area of land connected to a body of water

Anadromous- fish that hatch in fresh water, live in salt water and then lay their in eggs in fresh water

Waterfowl-birds that live near water

Invertebrates-animal species that do not have skeletons in their bodies

Zooplankton-tiny animals that live in the water

Tubers-underground parts that plants use to store food energy

Widgeon grass, redhead grass and horned pondweed – three different species of SAV

Canary in a coal mine- something used to tell if an environment is safe and healthy

Indicator – something that tells you how clean the water is

Restoration-to return something to the way it used to be