EOM: Human Impact on Watersheds

Kai and Scarlett are working on a project about environmental conservation in their local watershed. Which of the following activities would NOT be beneficial for maintaining clean groundwater in their area?

• Reduce use of pesticides on gardens

• Increase use of fertilizers on lawns

• Clean up animal droppings

• Dispose of chemicals properly

Answer explanation

Increasing the use of fertilizers on lawns can lead to nutrient runoff, which contaminates groundwater. In contrast, reducing pesticides, cleaning up droppings, and proper chemical disposal help protect water quality.

Grace and Samuel are working on a school project about agriculture. They learn that the agricultural industry utilizes fertilizer and pesticides to boost crop growth and reduce pests. How do these inorganic treatments negatively impact the watershed surrounding the land?

• Runoff from the farms can cause overgrowth of plant life in local ponds, lakes, and rivers, reducing oxygen levels and impacting animal life.

• Runoff carrying fertilizer and pesticides helps plants grow and reduces pests in surface water locations.

• Runoff carries fertilizer and pesticides to other agricultural areas and is absorbed there so it does not seep into the groundwater supply.

• Runoff does not carry fertilizer and pesticides to the water supply because these chemicals are too heavy to be carried by water.

Answer explanation

Runoff from farms carries fertilizers and pesticides into local water bodies, leading to nutrient overgrowth. This overgrowth depletes oxygen levels, harming aquatic life, making this choice the correct explanation of the negative impact.

Nora and her community are working on ways to positively impact their local surface water. Which of the following is NOT a method they should use?

• Farmers create buffers of plants and trees to filter water before it enters surface water.

• Builders use permeable concrete that will reduce runoff to surface water.

• After humans use water, it flows to a surface water holding area to either be treated for reuse or cleaned before reaching a lake, pond, or river.

• Gardeners sweep grass clippings from mowed lawns into the sewer drain.

Answer explanation

Gardeners sweeping grass clippings into the sewer drain negatively impacts surface water by introducing organic waste, which can lead to pollution, unlike the other options that promote water filtration and treatment.

Which of the following human activities would most likely lead to subsidence, the sinking of the surface of Earth?

• Using toxic chemicals in the manufacturing of goods

• Filtering out pollutants at a water treatment plant

• Excess removal of water from underground reservoirs

• Storing drinking water in small above-ground basins

Answer explanation

Excess removal of water from underground reservoirs can lead to subsidence as it reduces the support for the ground above, causing it to sink. This is a common issue in areas with significant groundwater extraction.

Ava is planning to build a factory and wants to minimize the impact its runoff will have on the nearby towns. Using the diagram provided, identify the best location for the factory to be built.

• Top of the hill, above City 1

• Between Cities 1 and 2

• Between Cities 2 and 3

• Bottom of the hill, below City 4

Answer explanation

Building the factory at the top of the hill, above City 1, minimizes runoff impact on nearby towns. This location allows gravity to direct runoff away from populated areas, reducing potential flooding and pollution risks.

Michael is planning to build a well near a city. Which type of data would be important in considering the risks?

• Population of the city

• Water levels in the aquifer

• How fast the rivers and streams flow

• Number of species of fish in the area

Answer explanation

Water levels in the aquifer are crucial for assessing the availability of groundwater, while river flow rates can impact water quality and supply. Both factors are essential for evaluating the risks of building a well near a city.

Luna and Aiden are studying different types of water sources for their environmental science project. They have compiled a table listing characteristics of surface water and groundwater. Help them identify the type of water described in each column. Write the answers in the correct boxes.

• Surface Water: Includes streams, lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.; Found above ground; Precipitation contributes to these areas. Groundwater: Aquifers found here; Found under Earth’s surface between rocks and sediments; Runoff contributes to this source through seepage.

• Surface Water: Aquifers found here; Found under Earth’s surface between rocks and sediments; Runoff contributes to this source through seepage. Groundwater: Includes streams, lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.; Found above ground; Precipitation contributes to these areas.

• Surface Water: Found under Earth’s surface between rocks and sediments; Runoff contributes to this source through seepage. Groundwater: Includes streams, lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.; Found above ground; Precipitation contributes to these areas.

• Surface Water: Found above ground; Precipitation contributes to these areas; Aquifers found here. Groundwater: Found under Earth’s surface between rocks and sediments; Includes streams, lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.

Answer explanation

The correct choice accurately describes surface water as being above ground, including streams and lakes, and groundwater as being below the surface, consisting of aquifers. This aligns with the definitions provided.

Emma and Jackson are working on a project about urban planning. What areas were designed for humans to have a positive impact on the watershed? Click the two correct locations.

• Green space

• Streets

• River

• Neighborhood

• Retention pond

Answer explanation

Green spaces and retention ponds are designed to enhance the watershed by improving water quality and managing stormwater, making them beneficial for the environment. Streets and neighborhoods do not have the same positive impact.

Charlotte, Mia, and Evelyn collected water samples from Points A, B, and C on the map. In which sample was pollution found to be the highest?

• Point A

• Point B

• Point C

• All were equal.

Answer explanation

Pollution levels were measured at Points A, B, and C, with Point B showing the highest concentration of pollutants. Therefore, the correct answer is Point B.

William and Mia are studying the impact of a factory on river pollution. Which statement best explains the answer to Part A?

• Point A is the highest because it is the closest to the factory.

• Point B is the highest because being downstream from the factory would make the pollutants most concentrated in this location.

• Point B is the highest because it is in between Points A and C.

• Point C is the highest because it is the farthest downstream from the factory.

Answer explanation

Point B is the highest because it is located downstream from the factory, where pollutants accumulate, leading to higher concentrations compared to Points A and C.