tailwater
Water below dam
Tailwater is water downstream from a dam, spillway, or hydroelectric plant—the flow that emerges after passing through or around a water control structure.
In fishing, tailwaters are prized trout habitat because dam releases maintain consistent temperatures and flows: The tailwater below the reservoir offers year-round fishing.
The term also applies to irrigation water that runs off the end of a field.
Large water storage basin
- outflowFluid exiting a system
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- spillwayDam's water release structure
hydropower · hydroelectric · release · powerhouse · penstock · sluice · generation · regulated
Dug water passage
- ditchShallow excavated channel
- furrowNarrow trench in earth
- runoffExcess water drainage
- reuseEmploy something again
drainage · field · pump · efficiency · recapture · recovery · agricultural · downstream
Freshwater game fish
- fly-fishingCatching trout with artificial lures
- anglerOne who casts lines
- castPerformers, throw, or splint
- driftGradual movement, no direction
nymph · streamer · hatch · waders · tippet · reel · rod · lure
Unbroken forward movement
- eddyCircular counter-current
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- vortexRotating fluid column
drift · surge · swirl · churn · cascade · riffle · pool · hydraulic
River water's measured movement
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
reservoir
Large water storage basin
- outflowFluid exiting a system
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
spillway · hydropower · hydroelectric · release · powerhouse · penstock · sluice · generation · regulated
canal
Dug water passage
reuse · drainage · field · pump · efficiency · recapture · recovery · agricultural · downstream · diversion
trout
Freshwater game fish
- fly-fishingCatching trout with artificial lures
- anglerOne who casts lines
- castPerformers, throw, or splint
drift · nymph · streamer · hatch · waders · tippet · reel · rod · lure · barbless
flow
Unbroken forward movement
- eddyCircular counter-current
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- velocityDirected rate of motion
vortex · drift · surge · swirl · churn · cascade · riffle · pool · hydraulic · seam
streamflow
River water's measured movement
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings