Watershed Dynamics

✍ Scribed by William S. Carlsen, William S. Carlsen

• Publisher: National Science Teachers Association
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 190
• Series: Cornell Scientific Inquiry Series) - PB162X2S
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Whether you re a stream studies novice or a veteran aquatic monitor, Watershed Dynamics gives you abundant practical resources to extend your students investigations into local water quality and land-use issues. This two-part set is ideal for teaching biological and ecological concepts and research techniques. It also shows how the interplay between scientific data and human judgment can shape public policy decisions on zoning, flood control, and agricultural practices. The Student Edition is organized into four parts: (1) an introduction to watersheds, land use, streams, and related research; (2) 10 protocols with specific instruction on research techniques related to watersheds; (3) field studies and experiments that guide students through interactive research projects using the protocols; and (4) an engineering design challenge in which students develop a device to treat simulated stormwater runoff. Included throughout are plentiful forms that provide both structure and flexibility as they guide students through each research step. Watershed Dynamics is the final volume in the four-part Cornell Scientific Inquiry Series, designed to guide students in designing and conducting experiments, presenting their results, and exchanging feedback with their peers. See the other titles in the series: Decay and Renewal, Assessing Toxic Risk, and Invasion Ecology. Ideas For Use Public participation in water resource management requires public understanding about how water functions in natural communities, and how human activities affect the distribution and quality of this precious resource. One challenge a fascinating one is that just as watersheds do not respect political boundaries, watershed science does not respect disciplinary boundaries. Understanding watersheds from a policy perspective requires understanding biology, chemistry, Earth sciences, mathematics, sociology, economics, politics...the list goes on and on. For that reason, the interdisciplinary study of watersheds is often considered an advanced topic. We believe, however, that if it is approached as a foundational topic, it can provide wonderful opportunities for original research research that matters to communities of all kinds. Additional Info Science Discipline: (mouse over for full classification) Water Precipitation Analyzing data Collecting data Communicating Experimenting Interpreting data Measuring Modeling Observing Scientific habits of mind Earth's water Science process skills Intended User Role: High-School Educator, Learner, New Teacher, Teacher Educational Issues: Achievement, Assessment of students, Classroom management, Curriculum, Educational research, Informal education, Inquiry learning, Instructional materials, Learning theory, Teacher content knowledge, Teacher preparation, Teaching strategies Contents Student Edition FIGURES AND TABLES IN THE STUDENT EDITION PREFACE SciLinks SECTION 1: UNDERSTANDING WATERSHED DYNAMICS CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION TO WATERSHED DYNAMICS What Is a Watershed? The Water Cycle Competing Needs for Water CHAPTER 2. WHAT S IN A WATERSHED? Classifying Land Uses Effects of Land Use on Runoff Quantity Effects of Land Use on Water Quality Effects of Land Use on Habitat -Riparian Zones CHAPTER 3. BIOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES IN STREAMS Food Chains and Webs Stream Invertebrates Using Invertebrates to Assess Stream Quality CHAPTER 4. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STREAMS Temperature Turbidity Stream Order Rates of Flow -Streamflow Changes over Time -Impact of Impervious Surfaces CHAPTER 5. STREAM CHEMISTRY Dissolved Oxygen -Effect of Turbulence on Oxygen -Effect of Temperature on Oxygen -Effects of Living Things on Oxygen -Effects of Organic Pollution on Oxygen pH Alkalinity Phosphorus

✦ Table of Contents

SECTION 1: UNDERSTANDING WATERSHED DYNAMICS......Page 6
SECTION 3. INTERACTIVE RESEARCH: FIELD STUDIES AND
EXPERIMENTS......Page 7
SECTION 4. INTERACTIVE RESEARCH: STORMWATER
TREATMENT DESIGN CHALLENGE......Page 8
SECTION 2......Page 9
SECTION 2......Page 10
SECTION 3......Page 11
WHY STUDY WATERSHED DYNAMICS?......Page 12
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK......Page 13
UNDERSTANDING WATERSHED DYNAMICS......Page 16
INTRODUCTION TO WATERSHED DYNAMICS......Page 18
WHAT IS A WATERSHED?......Page 19
THE WATER CYCLE......Page 21
COMPETING NEEDS FOR WATER......Page 23
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS......Page 24
CLASSIFYING LAND USES......Page 26
EFFECTS OF LAND USE ON RUNOFF QUANTITY......Page 27
Riparian Zones......Page 28
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS......Page 29
FOOD CHAINS AND WEBS......Page 30
STREAM INVERTEBRATES......Page 32
USING INVERTEBRATES TO ASSESS STREAM QUALITY......Page 33
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS......Page 34
TURBIDITY......Page 36
STREAM ORDER......Page 37
Streamflow Changes over Time......Page 38
Impact of Impervious Surfaces......Page 39
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS......Page 41
STREAM CHEMISTRY......Page 42
Effect of Turbulence on Oxygen......Page 43
Effect of Temperature on Oxygen......Page 44
Effects of Organic Pollution on Oxygen......Page 45
pH......Page 46
The Phosphorus Cycle......Page 49
Effects of Excess Phosphate......Page 50
The Nitrogen Cycle......Page 51
Effects of Excess Nitrate......Page 53
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS......Page 54
SCIENTIFIC MODELS......Page 56
USING MODELS TO EVALUATE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS......Page 58
A CASE STUDY: MANAGING NEW YORK CITY’S WATER SUPPLY......Page 59
COMMUNITY ACTION: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR OWN WATERSHED......Page 60
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS......Page 61
INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH......Page 62
OVERVIEW......Page 64
Procedure......Page 66
PROTOCOL 2. OBJECT RECOGNITION USING MAPS AND AIRPHOTOS......Page 69
Procedure......Page 70
Ridges......Page 72
Procedure......Page 73
Procedure......Page 77
Testing WHEBIP......Page 87
PROCEDURE......Page 88
Procedure......Page 93
Part 3. Sorting......Page 94
Protocol 7......Page 95
Procedure......Page 100
Indicator Species......Page 102
Procedure......Page 103
Measuring Stream Velocity......Page 107
Calculating Discharge......Page 108
Materials (will vary with sample site)......Page 113
Part 2. Collecting Water Samples......Page 114
Graphing Your Data......Page 115
Useful Web Sites:......Page 116
Part 1......Page 121
Opening STELLA and Navigating Between Layers......Page 122
Defining Leak Rate......Page 123
Changing the Scales of the Graph Axes......Page 124
Part 3. Further Development of the Model......Page 125
Creating a Variable Leak Factor......Page 126
Exploring the Model......Page 127
Part 2 Questions......Page 128
Part 3 Questions......Page 129
Background......Page 130
MODELING LAND USE AND STREAMFLOW WORKSHEET......Page 131
Background......Page 136
Procedure......Page 137
MODELING WATERSHED MANAGEMENT SCENARIO I......Page 138
MODELING WATERSHED MANAGEMENT SCENARIO II......Page 141
MODELING WATERSHED MANAGEMENT SCENARIO III......Page 143
FIELD STUDIES AND EXPERIMENTS......Page 148
IDEAS FOR WATERSHED DYNAMICS RESEARCH......Page 150
Invasive Species......Page 151
Effects of Land Use by People......Page 152
Precipitation and Impervious Surfaces......Page 153
Point and Non-point Sources......Page 154
MODELING......Page 155
ONLINE RESOURCES AND LONG-TERM DATA......Page 156
FORMS FOR INTERACTIVE RESEARCH......Page 158
CHOOSING A RESEARCH TOPIC......Page 159
INTERACTIVE RESEARCH PLANNING FORM 1......Page 162
INTERACTIVE RESEARCH PLANNING FORM 2......Page 164
RESEARCH REPORT FORM......Page 169
POSTER GUIDELINES......Page 172
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN PEER REVIEW FORM......Page 173
RESEARCH REPORT PEER REVIEW FORM......Page 174
POSTER PEER REVIEW FORM......Page 175
STORMWATER TREATMENT DESIGN CHALLENGE......Page 176
Setting the Scene......Page 178
Treatment......Page 179
Restrictions......Page 180
Step 2. Identify Design Solutions and Select the Best Alternative......Page 181
Step 6. Present Your Work......Page 182
FORMS FOR STORMWATER TREATMENT DESIGN CHALLENGE......Page 184
STORMWATER TREATMENT DESIGN CHALLENGE......Page 187
PRESENTATION ASSESSMENT FORM......Page 189