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"Conducting
a Watershed Snapshot of Blockhouse Creek" Lesson Plan
Keywords: watershed,
stream order, pH, D.O., nitrate, sulfates, phosphorus, iron, alkalinity,
gradient, aquatic, riparian
Prepared by: Jere White, Liberty Junior Senior High School
Lesson Plan Grade Level: tenth through twelfth grade
Total Time Required for Lesson: visual surveys should take
about 20-30 minutes per site including the collection of water samples;
samples will take about 60 minutes per site to test, but groups
can divide this work up
Setting: six sampling sites on Blockhouse Creek
Subjects Covered:
biology, physical science, chemistry
Topics:
water chemistry, topography, geomorphology, stream ecology, land
use
Goals for the Lesson
- Students will learn
specific skills in assessing water quality from a holistic approach.
- Students will gain
an overview of a local watershed.
- Students will assess
the health of a local watershed.
- Students will identify
problems in the local watershed and suggest remediation.
Materials Needed
- chemistry
water test kits for each parameter tested or a lab capable of
testing each
- parameter
- thermometer
- topographic maps of
the watershed
- data sheets
- clip boards
- pens/pencils
- pH meter
- D.O. meter
State Standards Addressed:
E & E Standards: Watersheds and Wetlands (4.1.10A, B, C,
4.1.12A, C)
Teaching Model:
Experiential Teaching Model
Preparation
The students will need
to read all necessary background material to lay the groundwork
for this lesson. Watershed snapshot is a statewide initiative to
engage the public in watershed awareness activities. This is done
on a yearly basis and it is designed to promote the importance of
watersheds and to gather baseline data on various watersheds throughout
the state. The PA DEP provides the forms and support for volunteer
groups and educators to conduct watershed surveys. The forms can
be accessed from the PA
DEP Web site. The survey requires the students to do basic assessments
in various disciplines at the stream site. The above Web
site will provide all the necessary background and support information
needed to complete this activity successfully.
Doing the Activity
- The students will
need to breakup into groups of three or four.
- One person will be
the recorder and will need the data sheets, a clip board, and
a pencil/pen.
- The groups will form
a consensus as to the best answer to the questions on the survey.
- One of the students
will record the temperature.
- One student from each
group will take a water sample at each site to be taken bake to
the lab for analysis of each parameter using the DR4000 spectrophotometer.
(See specific directions for each test on the HACH
Web site.)
- The group will use
the appropriate topographic map to establish the stream order.
- One student will take
the pH and D.O. using the appropriate meters for each test. Directions
for each meter are enclosed in each case.
- One person representing
all the groups will act as the photographer to take selected pictures
to be included with the report.
- Students will then
summit their reports to PA DEP-Watershed Management, P.O. Box
8555, Harrisburg PA 17105
Assessment
The students will be
assessed based on the accuracy and completeness of their watershed
snapshot survey. All survey will be graded for accuracy and completeness
and the corrected by the students before they are sent to Harrisburg.
Conclusion
This will be an ongoing
project that will be conducted year after year to help the state
collect baseline data on various watershed and create awareness
of watershed issues among our students. The only expensive part
of this activity is the water chemistry. Relatively inexpensive
kits can be purchased from a chemical supply house or your could
use a more expensive but more accurate photospectrometer for the
chemical analysis.
References
APHA (1992). Standard
Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 18th ed.
Washington, D.C.: American Public Health Association.
HACH
Company Web
Kegley, S., and J. Andrews
(1998). The Chemistry of Water. Sausalito, Calif.: University
Science Books.
Jacobson. C. (1991).
Water, Water Everywhere. Loveland, Colo.: HACH Company.
Murdoch, T., and M. Cheo
(2001). Stream Keeper's Field Guide. Everett, Wash.: Adopt-A-Stream
Foundation.
PA
DEP Web site
USEPA (1997). Volunteer
Stream Monitoring: A Methods Manual.
Washington, D.C.: Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds.
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