Watershed Land Use Survey Copy

Teacher Goals

• The user will determine the impact of different types of land usage on areas, especially streams.

Required Resources

• Materials (minimum)

  • reference maps to identify the area.
  • map on which to record land uses, such as obstructions, pipelines, land characteristics, etc.
  • field data sheets.

• Surf Your Watershed

  This web site is from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Find watershed maps and related information for your area by using the interactive maps.

• No Description Available

  • Surf Your Watershed
• No Description Available

  • Our Watershed
  • Watershed Use: Checklist / Assessment

Optional Resources

• Mapping: Map a Watershed Using Topographic Maps

  Use this Aurora activity to prepare your own watershed map.

  • Mapping: Map a Watershed Using Topographic Maps

• Texas Watch Manual

  The Texas Watch Manual Conducting a Watershed Land Usage Survey is a comprehensive manual from which most of this tool was developed. It is an excellent resource for conducting this survey. It can be obtained from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commision.

• No Description Available

  • National Ground Water Association

Steps

1. Background survey

   Prior to a walk-through of the stream area, do as much of the following as possible:

   1. Either obtain a map of the watershed or creek area, or prepare a map yourself (check the Required and Optional Resources listed in this lesson).
   2. If you will cross private property, obtain permission from the owner first.
   3. Estimate how much of the area is developed.
   4. Determine what the current land uses are by using city maps of the area. Look for parking lots, housing, industry, zoned areas, etc.
   5. Identify the stream headwaters and direction of flow.
   6. Identify the watershed's name and boundries.
   7. Determine or estimate how many people live within the boudaries of the watershed.
   8. Determine whether the watershed is managed by an organization.

2. Determine the location

   Determine the area of the watershed to be surveyed. It is probably too large to survey all at once. Identify this area in words, such as, "East of Highway 11 for one-half mile." Obtain the landowner's permission, if necessary.

3. Gather materials

   Obtain the materials listed in the Required Resources.

4. Explore the watershed

   Always explore with a partner and watch for potential dangers. Fill out the field data sheets as you look for the following:

   1. TERRAIN: Look for hills, valleys, and ridges. Does it flood? Does the land look unstable?
   2. CHANNEL MODIFICATIONS: How has the community dealt with the stream? Is it dammed, diverted? Has the stream flow been changed, curved or straightened? Have the banks been modified with culverts or concrete? Is the land eroded around any man made structures (light poles, streets, buildings, etc.)?
   3. LAND USES: Look for parking lots, lawns, parking areas, golf courses, farming, industry, dumps or landfills, construction sites.

Teacher Notes

• This survey is something that students can enjoy while obtaining a real sense of using science to help their local community. It is important though, that you are aware of potential dangers. Students should wear reflective vests when working close to roadways, look out for poisonous animals and plants, and always have permission for crossing private properties. There may be other potential problems and it helps to survey the area yourself before the students go into the field.

Learner Notes

• This activity is designed to learn what we are doing around the stream and how the stream is affected. Important reasons for doing the survey are to screen for pollution problems, to identify sources of pollution, and then to help educate the community about those problems. After the survey is completed, you may want to use local and state agencies to help clean up the watershed. Lastly, the activity is just plain fun to do.