Water Pollution/Oceans,
Lakes, Rivers, Wetlands Issues
Problems/Case Studies
"Fecal
Coliforms
in Antarctica" Stephen Nold, University of Wisconsin-Stout.
State University of New York at Buffalo’s National Center for Case
Study Teaching
In this interrupted case study,
students explore the environmental consequences of Antarctic
research as they design experiments to assess the impact of
disposing untreated sewage from a research station into the ocean.
Students review experimental methods to measure coliform bacteria,
examine data, and decide what actions, if any, should be taken.
Developed for a general
microbiology course, the case could also be used in non-majors
courses in science literacy, in which case the instructor would
emphasize the process of data collection and analysis.
"Endangered?
The
Scenic St. Croix River: A Case Study in Water Stewardship."
Pamela Locke Davis, University of Minnesota. State
University of New York at Buffalo’s National Center for Case Study
Teaching
Controversy over management of the
St. Croix River is the setting for this case study, which
illustrates water resource concepts and the difficulties that can
arise when making decisions about natural resources.
Designed for a water resources
course taken primarily by undergraduate juniors and seniors, the
case could be used effectively in classes covering water
quality, water policy, environmental policy, limnology, stream
ecology, environmental studies or science, or environmental
decision making.
"The
Microbial Cleanup Brigade". DE Allen Thinking
Toward Solutions: Problem-Based Learning Activities for
General Biology.
Allen, D. E. and Duch, B. J. (1998). New York: Saunders College Publishing,
p115-124.
Stage 1:
Daniel works for a bioremediation plant. A local reporter
gets wind of a well that has high levels of chlorinated
hydrocarbons, chloroform, etc. Daniel is called when tests
reveal that the well has contaminated local groundwater and soil.
Students evaluate the probability of the contamination and the
evidence needed from the soil samples to suggest bioremediation is
the best solution.
Stage 2: Students
review
data and figures for the feasibility study Daniel submits. Looking at the data, students determine
which microorganisms will be affected by bioremediation and the
components specific chemicals put on site as well as why the
community respiration was measured.
Stage 3: Bioremeidation
occurs. Students evaluate the ethical
standpoint of the problem. Funding,
homeowner viewpoints, and alternate use of bioaugmentation are
addressed.
Articles
“Floridians prepare
early as Wilma becomes season’s 12th hurricane”. Post and Courier, Wednesday,
October 19, 2005.
In the aftermath of Katrina,
citizens predict and prepare for the next hurricane.
“Katrina churns
toward soggy Florida”. O’Driscoll,
Patrick. USA Today, Thursday, August 25,
2005.
The Category I Katrina was
expected to hit South Florida. The article is prior to Katrina hitting New
Orleans.
June
and July 2005 had an increase in Atlantic storms. Katrina
was the first hurricane of August 2005.
"As more carbon
dioxide enters air, oceans become more acidic". New York Times in Post and Courier, July 3,
2005.
The British Royal Society
reported that the world's oceans are becoming more acidic.
This will likely harm coral reefs and marine life. The
carbon dioxide release comes from multiple outlets including the
burning of fossil fuels, releasing 25 billion metric tons of
carbon dioxide into the air yearly. The alkalinity of the
ocean has decreased 0.1 to a pH of 8.1. This is 30% more
hydrogen ions in teh water. All organisms with carbonate skeletons
and shells may be affected.
CNN Video Clips
Topic: "River Pollution": Environmental Science 5th
Ed. CNN Ed (1:58 min)
According to the Most Endangered
Rivers of 2001 report by the American Rivers organization, the
increasing demand for energy is threatening the natural habitats
of the nation’s rivers. The report identifies waterways that
are at risk of becoming endangered over the next year. The
criteria for evaluating whether a waterway is marked as endangered
are: the level of danger to the river, whether the
interaction of outside sources could increase or decrease the
threat, the national significance of the river, and the number of
threats to the river. The report identifies 13 waterways
that are at risk of becoming endangered. The most endangered
on the list is the Missouri River, which flows through Montana,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and
Missouri. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is making plans
to minimize the risk of harming fish and wildlife that are being
endangered by six federal dam operations (Fort Peck, Garrison,
Oahe, Big Bend, Gavins Point, and Fort Randall) that prevent the
natural flow of water levels. Second most at risk is the
Canning River, which flows through the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska. Environmentalists are concerned
that oil and gas industries interested in drilling the ANWR could
pollute the Canning River with oil and chemicals or possibly alter
the entire ANWR ecosystem, which currently remains untouched by
industry because it is protected by law. Third on the list
is the Eel River, which flows through Northern California.
Three species of fish are at risk of extinction because of Hydro
powered dam operations diverting water to other local
rivers. Fourth on the list is the Hudson River, which flows
through New York. Over 1 million pounds of polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) were released into the river from 1947 to 1977 by
two General Electric factories. Fifth on the list is the
Powder River, which flows through Wyoming and Montana, and is
threatened by the Coal Bed Methane industry. Sixth on the
list is the Mississippi River, which flows from Minnesota through
eight states until it reaches the Gulf Coast of Louisiana.
Flood control projects proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers could damage hundreds of thousands of acres of
floodplain wetlands. The remaining rivers at risk include
the Big Sandy River, Snoqualmie River, Animas River, East Fork
Lewis River, Paine River, Hackensack River, and Catawba
River. The worksheet includes the URL for the American
Rivers organization web site. (Student worksheet provided on
CD)
Topic:
"Lake Pollution": Environmental Science 6th Ed. CNN Ed (1:44 min)
Nearly five million of the world’s
freshwater lakes and reservoirs are in danger of being polluted
indefinitely. Lakes provide for at least 1 billion people
who use them for recreation, commerce, food, or drinking
water. According to experts, lake pollution is caused by two
primary factors: contamination by outside sources such as
toxic waste and runoff elements washed into the lake by industry,
farms, or sewage as well as diversion of the lake water.
Experts comment that although lakes contain 35 times more water
than in rivers, lakes are still more vulnerable because the water
is not constantly in motion, which makes lakes much harder to
restore. In many cases, lakes may become over polluted
before the extent of the pollution is even noticeable. The
worksheet includes the URL for the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency web site. (Student worksheet provided on CD)
Topic:
"Artificial Reefs": Environmental Science 5th Ed. CNN Ed (2:37
min)
For nearly 30 years, offshore oil
platforms have been present off the coast of California.
During that period of time, marine life has spread extensively on
and around the oil platform structures, as if the platforms
themselves are a part of the marine environment. The
adapting marine life around oil platforms has become a common
sight lately for many other oil structures off the coast of Texas,
Louisiana, and Florida. As the oil structures live out their
remaining years of oil consumption, one of the issues under
consideration by the oil companies is whether to remove the
structures completely or leave them as they exist so the marine
habitat remains undisturbed. Some environmentalists and
fishermen comment that keeping the rigs is an excellent idea
because of the increasing amounts of thriving populations of
marine life surrounding the rigs. However, other
environmentalists believe that the entire structures should be
removed, citing that the marine life surrounding the oil
structures is not a true marine life habitat. (Student
worksheet provided on CD)
Topic:
"State of the Beach": Environmental Science 6th Ed. CNN Ed (1:55
min)
According to the Natural Resources
Defense Council, detection of increases in bacteria levels caused
by sewage and runoff pollution is causing more beach closings
throughout the U.S. Experts believe that the significant
increase is due to one of two factors: more ocean pollution
or a more effective monitoring program. In 2002, more than
12,000 beach closings were reported, nearly 20% more than were
reported in 2001. Some of the symptoms of exposure to ocean
pollution include fever, chills, vomiting, and diarrhea.
While most beach closures are due to pollution, other beach
closures can be caused by coastal erosion. Over the next 60
years, it is predicted that erosion could destroy one in four
homes within 500 feet of the shoreline and cause nearly $½
billion in property loss each year. The worksheet includes
the URL for the Natural Resources Defense Council website.
(Student worksheet provided on CD)
Topic:
"Fish on Prozac": Biology 8th Ed. CNN Ed 2004 (1:57)
Drugs ingested by humans are excreted
into the toilet and carried to sewer systems. Most sewage
treatment plants remove debris and microorganisms but do not test
for or remove drugs and other man-made chemicals. As a result,
these chemicals are being released into our lakes and streams.
Bryan Brooks, a toxicologist at Baylor University, examined fish
living in waters downstream from a sewage treatment plant. He
found traces of medications and personal care products in their
tissues. It is possible that this chemical contamination may alter
fish behavior or their ability to reproduce. It may also affect
the invertebrates on which the fish feed. (Student worksheet
provided on CD)
Topic:
"Everglades Restoration": Biology 5th Ed. CNN Ed 2001 (2:40)
An 8 billion dollar project to restore
the Everglades is finally underway. America’s largest wetland once
covered nearly one third of Southern Florida. The diversion
of water for agriculture and development destroyed at least half
of the Everglades forever. The hope is that the new project,
which could take as long as thirty years, will restore the
ecological balance in the remaining half. The Army Corp of
Engineers, which once worked to divert the water, is carrying out
the restoration. The worksheet includes the URL for the
Everglades Restoration Plan web site. (Student worksheet provided
on CD)