EA_Water_Burnett(1)
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Florida SouthWestern State College, Lee *
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1001C
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Geography
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Dec 6, 2023
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Uploaded by MasterHummingbirdMaster612
Introduction to Environmental ScienceWater Exploration Activity
Directions
Scan the questions below, then review the EnvSci text (Ch12), and WATCH the video set on the Apalachicola River
and Estuary.
View the rubric and answer the questions in the fields below by “
clicking or tapping to enter text”
.
Save this file as a .docx and upload to the correct Exploration Activity submission location.
Saving this file:
When you are done answering these questions – save this template as a WORD DOCUMENT
(.docx) named:
EVR1001C Water LastName.docx
where “LastName” is your last name. Upload to Canvas to
submit your assignment. ONLY .docx files will be accepted.
SHORT ESSAY Questions (Expectations: short essay answers are composed of multiple SENTENCES in paragraph
format unless otherwise specified. For full credit, always FULLY EXPLAIN what you mean. Please use the words
that make up the question in your answer.
After reviewing the EnvSci text, answer the following questions:
a)
According to your text (see text p257), what percent of total water on Earth is Freshwater? What percent
of Freshwater is Surface Water? What are the main components of Surface Freshwater (include %)?
According to the textbook, about 2.5% of the total water on Earth is freshwater. This means that the water
is relatively pure with few dissolved salts. Most of the freshwater is tied up in glaciers, ice aps, and
underground aquifers. The textbook goes on to state that only 1/10000 of Earth's water is easily accessible
for human use. Surface water accounts for just 1% of fresh water. The main components of surface
freshwater are 52% in lakes, 38% in soil moisture, 8% in the atmosphere, 1% rivers, and 1% water within
organisms.
b)
According to the text (see text p269), what are the major uses of water by humans? Is this use holding
steady or increasing? Why?
According to our textbook, we use about 70% of our annual fresh water for agricultural purposes which
is the largest chunk. Next is 20% for industry, followed by 10% for residential and municipal uses. The large
amount of water used for agriculture is rapidly increasing due to our ever growing population. We withdrew
about 70% more water for irrigation today than we did 50 years ago.
Many of the areas that are irrigated are
using water sustainably and threatening their long term productivity.
c)
Opinion: is our current water use sustainable? Why or why not?
Personally, I don’t think our water use is sustainable at this point. Based on what the textbook says, that
we have increased our water usage about 70% only in the last 50 years then that means with our rapid
population increase that will only get higher. If we wanted our water usage to be sustainable, we would
need mass desalination plants. We are slowly using what fresh water we have in glaciers due to global
warming. Therefore we need to look at other resources and not just rely on the 2.5% of total water on our
planet.
After watching the documentary videos, answer the following questions:
a)
Outline the flow of the water entering the Apalachicola Estuary beginning in the north Georgia
mountains. In your answer, be sure to:
a.
Identify the major bodies of water involved (freshwater, brackish(estuarine), and ocean)
b.
Cite where the majority of the water comes from
The major bodies of water that enter the Apalachicola Estuary are streams, rivers, and creeks. Most of the
water comes from the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers. The gulf of Mexico and Apalachicola Bay area are
brackish waters that also are involved with the Apalachicola estuary. The two rivers converge and create the
Apalachicola river that is near the state line between Georgia and Florida. The river then moves southward
through the panhandle where it mixes with the brackish water in the Gulf of Mexico.
b)
Who are the major human consumers of water in this watershed? How do they access the water - what
type of infrastructure supports human water usage?
The major consumers of water in this watershed are households, agriculture, livestock, and industries.
Infrastructure can change based on the area you are specifically talking about. For example, urban areas like
cities and towns will use pipes and treatment plants. This can also include things like dams and reservoirs.
While livestock and farming outside of urban areas will rely on irrigation and/or water tanks.
c)
What is the downstream impact of decreased water flow on the salinity (salt content) and water quality
of the Apalachicola estuary?
Decreased water flow would cause the estuary to have worse overall quality and salinity. Without new
freshwater to dilate the pollutants, overall amount of them would decrease the quality. The increase of
these pollutants can cause things like algal blooms or kill the fish. For the apalachicola esturary a balance of
salinity is also important. If the water flow were to decrease this would also cause the salinity to rise with
less freshwater coming in to balance it.
d)
What is the status of the Apalachicola Estuary oyster and seagrass population? How is this related to
the humans use of and alteration of the Apalachicola R. watershed?
The oyster and seagrass population is being impacted by human use. The population of oysters has declined
over the last few decades. This is due to things like over harvesting, loss in habitat, and changes in the
water's salinity levels. The seagrass population has also been impacted by the changes in water quality. Both
are critical in maintaining the health of the ecosystem.
e)
What has been the impact of human alteration of the water system on the socioeconomics of the
coastal human population that lives near the Apalachicola Estuary?
More and more humans are living near the estuary and therefore impacting the ecosystem more and more.
The decline of oyster and seagrass will affect commercial fishing in the area and for those that rely on those
resources. Due to this, the demand for these products will rise as there will be less and less of them every
year. Lower profits for the fisherman will cause economical impacts for the surrounding area as well. Not to
mention lower employment opportunities.
Opinion
1.
Is there a solution to this problem? How do we solve this depletion of freshwater and water distribution
issue? Consider this question for both the human (population and agriculture) and the natural
river/estuarine ecosystem perspective. (you should consider checking the text for help or research
solutions on the web – cite your sources if this is the case)
When I was in 6th grade we took a field trip to the Big Cypress National Preserve out in the Golden Gate
Estates area. We learned how they protect their environment while living inside the preserve by having eco-
friendly appliances. Low-flow fixtures and toilets and only using them when needed (if it's yellow let it
mellow…) allowed minimal water usage. I believe something along those lines is necessary in more places.
We need to do a better job protecting and restoring the everglades which will in turn help support a healthy
ecosystem.
2.
How is our local river/estuary/ocean system (Caloosahatchee R./Charlotte Harbor National Estuary/Gulf of
Mexico) doing in terms of water quality/quantity and seagrass/oyster growth? Take a second to
websearch this issue and provide a brief analysis. Are we experiencing similar issues?
It is no doubt that we have heard at some point in our life, the impact of Lake Okeechobee causing
problems on the Gulf side of Florida when they release the water down the Caloosahatchee River. The nasty
green algae problem that we had a few years ago was a direct result. This could be due to agriculture runoff
and urban stormwater as there are many farms (both crops and livestock) in the area and is decreasing the
water quality. This also effects economically the region as there are tourists that want to canoe and swim in
the river, not to mention fish. Overall though, I feel like Florida does a decent job in making sure our water
quality is a focus of our community.
Remember: When you are done answering these questions – save this template as a WORD DOCUMENT (.docx)
named: EA_Water_LastName.docx where “LastName” is your last name. Upload to Canvas to submit your
assignment
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