Watershed LAB Analysis

Watershed Lab ANALYSIS

1. What are characteristics and functions of watersheds?

2. How are watersheds connected to our groundwater?

3. What positive and negative effects can the watershed have on humans?

4. What positive and negative effects can humans have on the watershed, including groundwater?

Discussion Questions

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Multiple Choice

A scientist suspects that large amounts of nitrogen from fertilizers in runoff are causing algae to grow in lakes and ponds downstream. To test this hypothesis, the scientist conducts an experiment and records the following data. How does the pattern in the data allow you to decide whether fertilizer caused algal growth?

• The pattern in the data reveals a connection between the pH levels of the water and algal growth, hinting that pH levels caused the growth.
• The pattern in the data shows a clear correlation between the amount of fertilizers and the growth of algae.

• The pattern in the data indicates a relationship between the temperature of the water and algal growth, implying that temperature caused the growth.
• The pattern in the data shows a correlation between the amount of sunlight and algal growth, suggesting that sunlight caused the growth.

Multiple Select

Pollutants in Waterways:

After observing your model, what could happen to chemicals or pollutants that enter the waterways? Select TWO

• They eventually evaporate

• They all end up in the ocean

• They end up in our crops

• They concentrate in areas where water collects.

• They dissolve after being washed away by floods

Dropdown

What effects could damming a river have on surface water and groundwater?

Decide whether each of the following effects is positive or negative.

1. Damming a river may cause other surface water to dry up downstream, damaging an ecosystem. ​

Select answer

2. Damming a river also floods the area behind the dam, changing that ecosystem. ​

Select answer

3. The water in the reservoir might be used for irrigation. ​

Select answer

4. The water in the reservoir might be used to generate electricity. ​

Select answer

5. The remaining waterways may change their character, such as becoming shallower or slower moving. ​

Select answer

Dropdown

What effects could damming a river have on surface water and groundwater?

Decide whether each of the following effects is positive or negative.

6. The plants and animals that live in the waterways may change. ​
Select answer


7. Groundwater could lose its source. ​
Select answer


8. The dammed water may empty out into a different area above ground. ​
Select answer

Drag and Drop

Drive along a highway and you may cross over some rivers and streams. As you reach higher elevations, it’s quite likely that you will see a sign that says “Entering a ​

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area. Please protect our resources.” This lets people know they are in an area where their actions will have far-reaching consequences. These areas are where ​

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is collected through rainfall and snow accumulation. The journey only begins here, as the water collected travels far and wide through connecting waterways that reach cities, towns, and farms. Any ​

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that is introduced here can travel hundreds of kilometers or miles and impact living things along the way.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

watershed

freshwater

pollutant

predator

soil

restricted