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Science, Math, Technology

STEM - Waterway Cleanup

Local
Learning Targets:
  • I will understand the impact of erosion on water resources.
  • I will plan a service project to improve water quality through collection of trash in a watershed.

Materials: 
  • Large trash bags- one color for trash and another color for recyclable items. Be sure that your group discusses trash vs. recyclable items.  
  • Work gloves or disposable rubber gloves.  
  • Rakes, shovels and other identified tools that you feel you may need.  
  • First aid kit.  
  • Hand cleanser. 
  •  Safety vests (optional). 

Vocabulary/key terms:
 1- What is a Watershed? 
A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place. John Wesley Powell, scientist geographer, put it best when he said that a watershed is:
 "that area of land, a bounded hydrologic system, within which all living things are inextricably linked by their common water course and where, as humans settled, simple logic demanded that they become part of a community." (EPA definition)
Key vocabulary words: Watershed, and Hydrologic system 

2- What is an Aquifer? 
An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or silt) from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. 
Key Vocabulary words: Permeable, unconsolidated 

3- What is Erosion? 
Erosion is the process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural processes such as wind or water flow, and then transported and deposited in other locations. 
While erosion is a natural process, human activities have dramatically increased (by 10-40 times) the rate at which erosion is occurring globally. Excessive erosion causes problems such as desertification, decreases in agricultural productivity due to land degradation, sedimentation of waterways, and ecological collapse due to loss of the nutrient rich upper soil layers. Water and wind erosion are now the two primary causes of land degradation; combined, they are responsible for 84% of degraded acreage, making excessive erosion one of the most significant global environmental problems we face today. 
Key Vocabulary words: Desertification, degradation, sedimentation

Essential Questions
Procedure:
  1. Review  Key vocabulary and terms
  2. Investigate local erosion with the attached Erosion Experiment
  3. Learn about Watershed or stream cleanups
What is a Stream Cleanup? 
A stream cleanup is an organized trash removal effort. It can take place next to a stream, river or lake, or can focus on a land area or storm drains that flow to a local body of water. 
  • Our local watersheds provide water to our communities. Plastic bottles, Styrofoam, food wrappers and more are lodged in our waters. As water washes down our sidewalks and streets, it then empties into our storm drains. Whatever is carried in the water ends up in our lakes and rivers. Many residents think that the water that goes down the drain is cleaned before entering the lakes, but this does not happen. There are actions we can take to keep our water clean. Many communities provide storm water drain stenciling to remind the community members to keep the sidewalks and roadways free of trash. But, if the trash enters the water, cleanup activities can make a difference. 
  • Cleanup campaigns in your school, neighborhood and community encourage people to participate in activities that improve our water quality. People are able to see first- hand the impact of their actions and the improvement to the waterway. 
  • Stream Cleanups are easy to organize and low cost. Often, asking volunteers to each bring a few trash bags is all that is needed. Your school can organize a cleanup campaign and engage your school and neighborhood to participate in an activity that has immediate results. 
Set goals: Below are a few ideas but you can design your own goals for the event.
  • Encourage and connect the community to participate in an activity that will improve water quality.  
  • Raise awareness about the problem of pollution of local water resources. 
  • Provide an activity that will make a difference in your community. 
Planning:  
  • Obtain permission for your cleanup activity.  
  • Flyers- post information listing the time, date and meeting place for the cleanup activity.  
  • Ask volunteers to donate a few bags if possible, and provide bags for those that don’t bring one.  
  • Investigate a dumping area for trash. (A truck or dumpster will be needed to dispose of waste materials).  
  • Food and drink- Provide water and encourage volunteers to bring refillable water containers and snacks if they wish. (You may wish to seek snack donations from local businesses).  
  • Encourage volunteers to provide gloves and safety vests if you are in a high traffic area. Often you may borrow equipment from your local Public works office.
  • First aid kit should be available, as well as a cell phone in case of an emergency.
Funding: 
  • Local businesses may provide donations. Students may also ask parents and grandparents to donate a few dollars for the cause. Don’t forget to talk to the local fire department or other local groups that may wish to be included in your event. 
Organizing the event:
  • Choose a location that needs cleanup and is convenient for your group. (Check with your local Community to be sure you have legal access to the area).
  • Arrange for trash disposal, recruit volunteers, gather materials and solicit project support. 
  • Arrange for a scouting team of youth volunteers to visit the site prior to cleanup.
  • Is the site safe?  
  • Is the site accessible?  
  • Is the site the right size for the amount of time allotted and number of volunteers?  
  • Are there any hazardous materials present that make the site unsuitable for volunteer cleanup? 
  • Volunteers should work in teams to prevent any unavoidable mishaps.
Selecting a date:  
  • Allow plenty of lead time. Set the date 4-6 weeks in the future. If you are unable to complete the cleanup during your school day, Saturday mornings work well.
  • Allow 3-4 hours for cleanup from start to finish.  
  • Designate a central meeting place. All trash will be brought to this meeting place for pick-up unless you can pick up bags along the route.  
  • Avoid high traffic areas and always exercise caution. Check to be sure that there is access to a restroom nearby. 
Litter Disposal: 
  • Investigate the disposal and recycling of materials. (Check with Public Works). 
  • Automobile tires are often part of the litter- research proper disposal. 

Evaluation
Once your project is completed: 
  • Publicize the results of your event.  
  • Follow up your event with an educational message submitted to your local newspaper and community officials. Encourage students to write letters to the editor of the local paper, and notify local officials of the work.  
  • Post photos of your event on your H2O for Life webpage.  
  • Count the number of bags of trash collected or the pounds collected. 
  •  Evaluate the event. What went well, and how could the event be improved.  
  • Compile a final report of what was learned. 

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