Formative Assessment 1: Watershed

Instructions

For graphical questions, create and print a legible diagram according to the specific guidelines given (Questions 1, 3, and 4). For short answer questions, answer each question in 2-3 complete sentences (Questions 2 and 5). Consider each question carefully and be sure to provide a complete answer.

Questions

1. You live in a watershed...or more likely multiple watersheds that are nested within one another. Find the location of your home on Google Earth (or a similar mapping program) and determine which watersheds you live in (e.g., Saucon Creek watershed, which is part of the Lehigh River watershed, which is part of the Delaware River watershed). If a drop of rain hits your front yard, which stream would it flow into? Where does it go from there? For the purpose of this exercise, assume the water runs off the surface and ignore the (likely) possibility that it goes into a storm sewer and waste water treatment plant before being discharged into a local stream or river. Use the exaggerated 3D view of Google Earth (Tools>Options>3D View, then set Elevation Exaggeration to 3) to see the local topography. Use the 'Add polygon' tool (in the tool bar along the top of the viewing window) to delineate the watershed boundary of the stream that your property drains into (should look something like Figure 1 below). Note that when you are finished drawing the polygon, you can name it (it will automatically save in My Places in Google Earth) and you can change the color of the watershed boundary and the opacity of the fill (make it 50% so you can see through it). Grab a screen shot of your watershed delineation.
2. Describe the watershed you live in and which larger watersheds it is nested within (see example below).
   
   
   

   ×
   
   
   Figure 1
   
   Credit: Patrick Belmont
   
3. Take a look at the cartoon watershed drawn below.
   1. What is the stream order at the mouth/outlet of the watershed?
   2. Draw arrows on the watershed cartoon to illustrate each of the fluxes shown in Figure 5 on the previous page.
      
      

      ×
      
      
      Figure 2
      
      Credit: Patrick Belmont
      
   3. Draw a second version of your watershed cartoon and scale the thickness of the arrows to illustrate which flow paths might become more dominant (i.e., pathways conveying more water get thicker arrows) following a clear-cut for timber harvest or urban development.
   4. Explain why certain pathways have become more/less important after clear-cutting the forest. Bring this figure and explanation to class for comparison to the figure you generated for Question 3 above.

   Worksheet

   Download the worksheet (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 387kB Mar28 17) to use when submitting your assessment.
   
   

   Submitting your assignment

   Bring your diagrams and written answers with you to class.
   
   

   Scoring and Rubric

   Each answer will earn a maximum of 5 points, as described in the rubrics below.
   
   Rubric for Questions 1, 3, and 4

   Work Shown	Possible Points
   Diagram is accurate / correct	2
   Symbols, labels, and/or legend are effective	2
   Conveys information requested in question	1

   Rubric for Questions 2 and 5

   Work Shown	Possible Points
   Answer reflects careful consideration of the question	2
   Answer is appropriate in length	1
   Answer is legible	1
   Answer given in complete sentences, correct spelling and grammar	1