General Glossary

A substance that provides food or
nourishment, such as usable
proteins, vitamins, minerals or
carbohydrates. Fertilizers,
particularly phosphorus and
nitrogen, are the most common
nutrients that contribute to lake
eutrophication and nonpoint source
pollution.

Describes a lake of low photosynthetic productivity. As a
relatively nutrient-poor lake, it is clear and deep with bottom
waters high in dissolved oxygen.

A relatively nutrient-poor lake,
it is clear and deep with bottom
waters high in dissolved oxygen.

The MPCA staff member who oversees
field work to make sure it is done
correctly.

An uncovered space once used for
depositing municipal refuse, which
sometimes causes health and
sanitation problems. These have
been replaced with modern sanitary
landfills with designs that
contain waste and prevent
contamination of surrounding
areas.

A living body made up of cells,
tissues and organs.

Disease-causing organisms.

Movement of water through soil
layers of materials.

Permanent List of Priorities (PLP) sites are those the state
intends to investigate and cleanup under the <a
href="http://www.pca.state.mn.us/programs/superf_p.html">Minneso
t
a Superfund
Program</a>. Known or suspected environmental contamination
threatens public health, welfare or the environment at PLP
sites. These sites include those addressed by the MPCA, as
well
as sites with agricultural chemical contamination which are

The time required for a pesticide
to become inert. Arbitrarily
assumed to equal four half-lives
when measured persistence time is
not available.