flipping n.— «Those wetlands that remained were often tracts of infertile, troublesome land such as the West Coast pakihi swamps. Yet today even these are under pressure. Mechanical diggers are now used to smash the buried, impervious mineral pan...
yellow boy n.— «The mine drainage sediment—commonly called “yellow boy”—is, essentially, iron hydroxide, or rust. The problem is that the pollutant oozes out of mine areas, contaminating waterways and shutting down most aquatic life.» —“Bucknell...
sheet flow n.— «Norfolk Public Works spokeswoman Sylvia Ballinger said Little Bay depends on a process called “sheet flow” for drainage. That means water flows off the streets into a grassy era. It’s a drainage method also referred to as “no...
colonia n.— «Colonias—the Spanish word for neighborhoods—are unplanned immigrant communities that sprouted in the 1980s. Many areas lack plumbing, electricity, drainage and paved roads. Authorities have tried to improve conditions and prevent new...
snag n.— «A bolt of lighting had struck a 70-foot-tall snag—a standing dead tree—in the Tin Cup Creek drainage of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness early that morning, and was burning in what looked like knee-high brush.» —“For Firefighters, the Job Comes...