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Glossary

  • Dam
    • means an artificial barrier, and its appurtenant structures, that—
      • is constructed to hold back water or other fluid under constant pressure so as to form a reservoir; and
      • is used for the storage, control, or diversion of water or other fluid;
    • includes —
      • a flood control dam; and
      • a natural feature that has been significantly modified to function as a dam; and
      • a canal; but 
    • does not include a stopbank designed to control floodwaters.
  • Damage
    the tangible and intangible costs of natural hazard events. Tangible costs can be quantified in monetary terms, for example damage to buildings, bridges, roads, river protection works, and pasture, stock losses, or loss of income. Intangible damages represent the increased levels of physical, emotional and psychological stress in affected communities.
  • De Minimus
    a principle applied to an activity that would otherwise need a consent but the actual adverse environmental effect is assessed as trivial so the legal requirement for a consent is not enforced.
  • Discharge
    the rate of flow of water measured in terms of volume per unit time, for example cubic metres per second (cumecs).
  • Dissolved oxygen
    this is measured either as the concentration of oxygen dissolved in the water (expressed as grams of oxygen per cubic metre of water), or as the proportion of oxygen actually present relative to the theoretical oxygen-holding capacity of the water (expressed as "percentage saturation"). The latter measure is sometimes preferred because the ability of water to hold oxygen varies with temperature. Read more about other measures of water quality.
  • District Plans
    District Plans are prepared by councils to help management the environment within their area, and concern the use and development of land, setting out the policies and rules a council will use to manage the use of land in its area.
  • Draft Plan
    Environment Canterbury publishes draft plans so that the community can make comments (through submissions) before a plan is finalised.