Groundwater Potentiometric Surface Mapping part of E-STEM:Field Course:ESTEM-PD Activities
Sarah Hall, College of the Atlantic; Calla Schmidt, University of San Francisco; Becca Walker, Mt. San Antonio College
In this exercise, students map the elevation of the water table in the Mammoth Groundwater Basin using water levels measured in Mammoth County Water District monitoring wells.

Botany Field Observations part of E-STEM:Field Course:ESTEM-PD Activities
Sarah R. Hall, College of the Atlantic Calla Schmidt, University of San Francisco John Paul, University of San Francisco Becca Walker, Mt. San Antonio College
Plants form the link between the abiotic features of landscape (rock, soils, water, etc.) and the biotic world. California has a very rich and complex flora, making species identification sometimes very difficult. ...

Botanical Transect Mapping part of E-STEM:Field Course:ESTEM-PD Activities
Sarah Hall, College of the Atlantic; Calla Schmidt, University of San Francisco; Becca Walker, Mt. San Antonio College
Students gain experience "reading" landscapes using geologic, hydrological, and botanical/ecological techniques. They learn two simple and widely used methods for quantitatively measuring the density of ...

Mono Lake Paleoshoreline Mapping part of E-STEM:Field Course:ESTEM-PD Activities
Sarah Hall, College of the Atlantic; Calla Schmidt, University of San Francisco; Becca Walker, Mt. San Antonio College
Students complete a series of geology, geomorphology, hydrology, and botany field exercises at a field site near the north shore of Mono Lake to generate interpretations of the lake through time. The Mono Lake ...

Intro to Quantifying Stream Discharge and Base Flow part of E-STEM:Field Course:ESTEM-PD Activities
Sarah Hall, College of the Atlantic; Calla Schmidt, University of San Francisco; Becca Walker, Mt. San Antonio College
In this exercise, students calculate stream discharge from sample field data using the velocity-area method. They compare multiple measurements of discharge to determine base flow in a sample river reach.

Total Maximum Daily Load part of E-STEM:Field Course:ESTEM-PD Activities
Calla Schmidt, University of San Francisco Sarah R. Hall, College of the Atlantic Becca Walker, Mt. San Antonio College
In this exercise, students measure water quality parameters and determine if the water quality objectives of State Water Resource Control Board (SWRCB) are being met. They also determine the total load of total ...

Sediment Transport part of E-STEM:Field Course:ESTEM-PD Activities
Calla Schmidt, University of San Francisco Sarah R. Hall, College of the Atlantic Becca Walker, Mt. San Antonio College
In this exercise, students gain experience observing streams. They practice measuring stream discharge, sediment sampling, and channel surveying, and using their field data, they make predictions about bed mobility.

Mono Lake North Geomorphic Mapping part of E-STEM:Field Course:ESTEM-PD Activities
Sarah Hall, College of the Atlantic; Calla Schmidt, University of San Francisco; Becca Walker, Mt. San Antonio College
In this activity students observe Mono Lake North in the field and via remote imagery to identify fluvial geomorphic features. With these observations and data collected in the field students create annotated ...

Measuring Stream Discharge and Base Flow in the Field part of E-STEM:Field Course:ESTEM-PD Activities
Calla Schmidt, University of San Francisco Sarah R. Hall, College of the Atlantic Becca Walker, Mt. San Antonio College
In this exercise, students will measure stream geometry and velocity in the field at multiple locations. They will use the velocity-area method to calculate discharge and use their calculations to determine if a ...

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Soil, Vegetation, and Bedrock Mapping part of E-STEM:Field Course:ESTEM-PD Activities
Becca Walker, Mt. San Antonio College; Sarah Hall, College of the Atlantic; Calla Schmidt, University of San Francisco
In this half-day field exercise, students hike the Discovery Trail at the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest (USDA Forest Service) to observe the relationships between geologic (rock and soil), geomorphic (aspect), ...