| Term | Definition |
| Watershed | refers to a system controlled by topography which defines how water will flow |
| Drainage basin | refers to a system controlled by topography which defines how water will flow |
| Divide | A ridge or topographical higher areas that connects two waters |
| Dendritic | the flow of water from a watershed |
| Tributaries | When one stream flows into a larger stream or river |
| Solar Radiation | Controls the rate and nature of radiation |
| Canopy | reduces the force of the rain and the velocity of wind in a watershed. |
| Reparian | the green zone along a stream ecosystem |