Watershed Practice #1

First Name

Last Name

Class Period

• 1st
• 4th
• 5th
• 6th
• 8th

The model shows an area near a lake. Community leaders are planning new laws to help protect the lake from pollution. One proposed law will make it illegal to dump trash on the shore of the lake, but the law still allows trash to be place din the area labeled "Flow-through wetland." Which statement about the proposed law is supported by the model?

• The proposed law will protect the lake because plant roots between the wetland and the lake will stop pollution from entering the lake
• The proposed law will not protect the lake because animals that live in or near the lake will add pollution to the lake
• The proposed law will not protect the lake because ground water will carry pollution form the wetland directly to into the lake
• The proposed law will protect the lake because the high elevation of the water table will block pollution from entering the lake

A student's model of an area near a city depicts many activities that affect the quality of the water in the area. How does the agricultural activity most likely affect the surface water of the area?

• Excess crop fertilizer is carried by runoff into the river, causing excess growth of water plants
• Excess crop material accumulates on the riverbanks, slowing the movement of the river water
• Crops reduce erosion, increasing the amount of soil entering the river
• Crops absorb pure water from soil, causing the remaining water to contain more salt

A student drew the model shown to represent a part of a watershed and some human activities that affect the watershed. How do the industrial, agricultural, and residential activities of humans most likely affect the groundwater in the area?

• The activities prevent most of the water from evaporating into the atmosphere
• Pollutants from the activities percolate through the soil and enter the water table
• The activities replace the groundwater used
• All of the answers

A student sets up the investigation shown. The movement of colored water through the gravel best models-

• condensation of water vapor
• surface runoff of precipitation
• conservation of water
• pollution of groundwater

Farmers can best reduce negative effects on the water quality of nearby streams and lakes by planting crops that-

• produce less oxygen
• produce less carbon dioxide
• need less fertilizer
• need less solar energy

What occurs when used engine oil is poured on the ground?

• The oil seeps through the soil but stops before it reaches the groundwater
• The oil seeps through the soil until it leaks into, and mixes with, the groundwater
• The oil creates a membrane barrier between the water table and the groundwater
• The oil remains sealed in the small disposal pit and does not affect the groundwater

A local gardener puts fertilizer on his plants. The plants are very healthy, but what is a negative effect the fertilizers have on the environment?

• Excess fertilizer is washed into local streams, causing an overgrowth of algae.
• The fertilizer builds up in the soil and causes more weeds to grow over time.
• The fertilizer evaporates, causing acid rain to fall on the neighborhood.
• The fertilizer pollutes the groundwater causing an overabundance of producers.