diff --git a/src/ClimaLSM.jl b/src/ClimaLSM.jl
index 3647978490..d7c9725e66 100644
--- a/src/ClimaLSM.jl
+++ b/src/ClimaLSM.jl
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import .Parameters as LSMP
 include("shared_utilities/Regridder.jl")
 include("shared_utilities/Domains.jl")
 using .Domains
-include("shared_utilities/ntuple_utils.jl")
+include("shared_utilities/indexing_utils.jl")
 include("shared_utilities/models.jl")
 include("shared_utilities/drivers.jl")
 include("shared_utilities/utils.jl")
diff --git a/src/standalone/Vegetation/Canopy.jl b/src/standalone/Vegetation/Canopy.jl
index a86584f72b..102b304644 100644
--- a/src/standalone/Vegetation/Canopy.jl
+++ b/src/standalone/Vegetation/Canopy.jl
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import ClimaLSM:
 
 using ClimaLSM.Domains: Point, Plane, SphericalSurface
 export SharedCanopyParameters,
-    CanopyModel, set_canopy_parameter_field!, update_canopy_parameter_field!
+    CanopyModel, set_canopy_prescribed_field!, update_canopy_prescribed_field!
 include("./component_models.jl")
 include("./PlantHydraulics.jl")
 using .PlantHydraulics
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ function ClimaLSM.make_set_initial_aux_state(model::CanopyModel)
     update_aux! = make_update_aux(model)
     # eventually extend to other components when needed
     function set_initial_aux_state!(p, Y0, t0)
-        set_canopy_parameter_field!(model.hydraulics, p, t0)
+        set_canopy_prescribed_field!(model.hydraulics, p, t0)
         update_aux!(p, Y0, t0)
     end
     return set_initial_aux_state!
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ function ClimaLSM.make_update_aux(
 ) where {FT}
     function update_aux!(p, Y, t)
         #Extend to other fields when necessary
-        update_canopy_parameter_field!(canopy.hydraulics, p, t)
+        update_canopy_prescribed_field!(canopy.hydraulics, p, t)
 
         # other auxiliary variables being updated
         APAR = p.canopy.radiative_transfer.apar
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ function ClimaLSM.make_update_aux(
         hydraulics = canopy.hydraulics
         n_stem = hydraulics.n_stem
         n_leaf = hydraulics.n_leaf
-        #PlantHydraulics.lai_consistency_check.(n_stem, n_leaf, area_index)
+        PlantHydraulics.lai_consistency_check.(n_stem, n_leaf, area_index)
         (; retention_model, conductivity_model, S_s, ν) = hydraulics.parameters
         @inbounds @. ψ[1] = PlantHydraulics.water_retention_curve(
             retention_model,
diff --git a/src/standalone/Vegetation/PlantHydraulics.jl b/src/standalone/Vegetation/PlantHydraulics.jl
index e1321223c4..35190f3a8d 100644
--- a/src/standalone/Vegetation/PlantHydraulics.jl
+++ b/src/standalone/Vegetation/PlantHydraulics.jl
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ module PlantHydraulics
 using ClimaLSM
 using ..ClimaLSM.Canopy:
     AbstractCanopyComponent,
-    update_canopy_parameter_field!,
-    set_canopy_parameter_field!
+    update_canopy_prescribed_field!,
+    set_canopy_prescribed_field!
 using ClimaCore
 using DocStringExtensions
 
@@ -297,13 +297,13 @@ ClimaLSM.auxiliary_types(model::PlantHydraulicsModel{FT}) where {FT} = (
 
 
 """
-    set_canopy_parameter_field!(component::PlantHydraulics{FT},
-                                p,
-                                t0,
-                                ) where {FT}
+    set_canopy_prescribed_field!(component::PlantHydraulics{FT},
+                                 p,
+                                 t0,
+                                 ) where {FT}
 
 """
-function ClimaLSM.Canopy.set_canopy_parameter_field!(
+function ClimaLSM.Canopy.set_canopy_prescribed_field!(
     component::PlantHydraulicsModel{FT},
     p,
     t0,
@@ -316,13 +316,13 @@ end
 
 
 """
-    update_canopy_parameter_field!(component::PlantHydraulics{FT},
-                                  p,
-                                  t,
-                                  ) where {FT}
+    update_canopy_prescribed_field!(component::PlantHydraulics{FT},
+                                    p,
+                                    t,
+                                    ) where {FT}
     
 """
-function ClimaLSM.Canopy.update_canopy_parameter_field!(
+function ClimaLSM.Canopy.update_canopy_prescribed_field!(
     component::PlantHydraulicsModel{FT},
     p,
     t,
diff --git a/src/standalone/Vegetation/component_models.jl b/src/standalone/Vegetation/component_models.jl
index 47495d0d5d..cf32556f62 100644
--- a/src/standalone/Vegetation/component_models.jl
+++ b/src/standalone/Vegetation/component_models.jl
@@ -114,36 +114,36 @@ end
 
 
 """
-     set_canopy_parameter_field!(component::AbstractCanopyComponent,
-                                 p,
-                                 t0,
-                                ) end
+     set_canopy_prescribed_field!(component::AbstractCanopyComponent,
+                                  p,
+                                  t0,
+                                 ) end
 
-Sets the spatially and temporally varying parameter fields of the `component`
+Sets the spatially and temporally varying prescribed fields of the `component`
 with their initial values.
 
 These fields are stored in the aux-state and should not depend on the prognostic
 state `Y` or other diagnostic variables stored in `p`, as there is no
 guarantee on the order of operations in terms of when diagnostic auxiliary
-variables are updated vs. parameter field auxiliary variables.
+variables are updated vs. prescribed field auxiliary variables.
 """
-function set_canopy_parameter_field!(component::AbstractCanopyComponent, p, t0) end
+function set_canopy_prescribed_field!(component::AbstractCanopyComponent, p, t0) end
 
 """
-     update_canopy_parameter_field!(component::AbstractCanopyComponent,
-                                    p,
-                                    t,
-                                    ) end
-
-Updates the spatially and temporally varying parameter fields of the `component`
+     update_canopy_prescribed_field!(component::AbstractCanopyComponent,
+                                     p,
+                                     t,
+                                     ) end
+ 
+Updates the spatially and temporally varying prescribed fields of the `component`
 with their values at time `t`.
 
 These fields are stored in the aux-state and should not depend on the prognostic
 state `Y` or other diagnostic variables stored in `p`, as there is no
 guarantee on the order of operations in terms of when diagnostic auxiliary
-variables are updated vs. parameter field auxiliary variables.
+variables are updated vs. prescribed field auxiliary variables.
 """
-function update_canopy_parameter_field!(
+function update_canopy_prescribed_field!(
     component::AbstractCanopyComponent,
     p,
     t,