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12.0 Glossary

channelized, but does not include manmade channels, ditches, and underground drainage
and sewage systems.

Waters of the State: Any surface water or groundwater, including saline waters, within the
boundaries of the state (as defined by the Porter-Cologne Act).

Waters of the U.S.: “Waters of the U.S.” can be divided into three categories: territorial seas,
tidal waters, or non-tidal waters. The term “waters of the U.S.” is defined by the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR, Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters; Part 328, Definition of
waters of the United States; §328.3, Definitions) and includes (1) all waters that have, are, or
may be used in interstate or foreign commerce (including sightseeing or hunting); (2) all
interstate waters including interstate wetlands; (3) all other where the use, degradation, or
destruction of which could affect interstate or foreign commerce; (4) all impoundments of
waters otherwise defined as “waters of the U.S.” under the definition; (5) all tributaries of
waters identified above; (6) the territorial seas; and (7) all wetlands adjacent to waters
(other than waters that are themselves wetlands) identified above.

Watershed: The land area that drains into a stream. The watershed for a major river may
encompass a number of smaller watersheds that ultimately combine at a common point
(SWRCB 2011).

Weaving: The process of exiting a site and merging across multiple lanes "with traffic" to
reach an intersection and go in a different direction.

Weekday: Any day, Monday through Friday, which is not a legal holiday.

Wetlands: An area at least periodically wet or flooded; where the water table stands at or
above the land surface (bogs and marshes). Also those areas that are inundated or saturated
by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under
normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in
saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar
areas.

Whole of an Action: An action that may result in either a direct or reasonably foreseeable
indirect physical change in the environment (See State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15378).

Wildlife Corridor: A natural corridor, such as an undeveloped ravine, that is frequently used
by wildlife to travel from one area to another.

Wildlife Crossing: A small, narrow area, relatively short in length and generally constricted
in nature, that allows wildlife to pass under or through an obstacle or barrier that otherwise
hinders or prevents movement.

Williamson Act: Known formally as the “California Land Conservation Act of 1965”, it was
designed as an incentive to retain prime agricultural land and open space in agricultural use,
thereby slowing its conversion to urban and suburban development. The program entails a
10-year contract between the city or county and an owner of land whereby the land is taxed
on the basis of its agricultural use rather than the market value. The land becomes subject to

R:\Projects\PAS\CEN\000306\Draft EIR\12.0_Glossary-051017.docx 12-89 Centennial Project
Draft EIR