Meadows are areas or fields whose main vegetation is grass, or other non-woody plants, used for mowing and haying.ﾠ Pastures are grassed or wooded areas, moorland or heathland, generally used for grazing. Due to their rooted soils and their permanent cover, meadows and pastures provide good conditions for the uptake and storage of water during temporary floods. They also protect water quality by trapping sediments and assimilating nutrients.
- Based on Stella definitions, adapted by NWRM project experts and validated by the European Commission

"Approaches to manage surface water that take account of water quantity (flooding), water quality (pollution)ﾠ and amenity issues are collectively referred to as Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).
SuDS mimic nature and typically manage rainfall close to where it falls. SuDS can be designed to slow water down (attenuate) before it enters ﾠstreams, rivers and other watercourses, they provide areas to store water in natural contours and can be used to allow water to soak (infiltrate) into the ground or evaporated from surface water and lost or transpired from vegetation (known as evapotranspiration)." (Source: susdrain)

Reduced stocking density will limit soil compaction, thereby facilitating more rapid infiltration during precipitation events and potentially reducing peak flows and sediment runoff.
- Elaborated by NWRM project experts and validated by the European Commission

Ponds or pools with additional storage capacity to attenuate surface runoff during rainfall events.ﾠ Retention time of runoff can provide the capacity to remove pollutants through sedimentation and opportunity for biological uptake of nutrients.
- Based on Stella definitions, adapted by NWRM project experts and validated by the European Commission

In the past, rivers flows have been modified through channelisation, embankments or modification of river beds. Those modifications were aiming at flood prevention or supporting changes of agricultural practices for example. This has led to uniformed flows in the rivers and often having effect on the water time transfers. Current practices for revitalisation of flowing waters are trying to create the conditions for diversifying the water flows, inducing more diversity in habitats for fauna but also increasing the water time transfers in order to prevent flash floods in the downstream areas for example.
- Based on Stella definitions, adapted by NWRM project experts and validated by the European Commission

Planting and maintaining tree cover in near-stream areas can have multiple benefits including erosion and nutrient leaching control. They will also slow the stream velocity during high flow flood events and may have beneficial effects on stream temperature. Maintaining treed forest buffers during clearcutting can help minimizing the adverse effects of forestry on water quality and may have additional biodiversity benefits.
- Based on Stella definitions, adapted by NWRM project experts and validated by the European Commission

The reconstitution of the alluvial mattress consists in leveling-up the river bed and/or reactivating the bank erosion in order to stop the incision of the river bed. It can allow better connection with side arms, level-up the water level at low flow periods, diversifying flows (depth, substrate, speed), diversify habitats and increase retention times.
- Based on Stella definitions, adapted by NWRM project experts and validated by the European Commission

Factor of proportionality that shows how much spending in a NWRM may induce direct or indirect changes in macroeconomic variables, such as income, employment, investment, etc. It is another way of referring to wider economic impacts of NWRM.

Natural Water Retention Measures (NWRM) are multi-functional measures that aim to protect and manage water resources and address water-related challenges by restoring or maintaining ecosystems as well as natural features and characteristics of water bodies using natural means and processes. Their main focus is to enhance, as well as preserve, the water retention capacity of aquifers, soil, and ecosystems with a view to improving their status. NWRM have the potential to provide multiple benefits (see benefits table), including the reduction of risk of floods and droughts, water quality improvement, groundwater recharge and habitat improvement. The application of NWRM supports green infrastructure, improves or preserves the quantitative status of surface water and groundwater bodies and can positively affect the chemical and ecological status of water bodies by restoring or enhancing natural functioning of ecosystems and the services they provide (see ecosystem services). The preserved or restored ecosystems can contribute both to climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Value of those alternatives foregone when implementing a NWRM.