Friday January 30

Fracking Video

Article Discussions & Important Talking Points

1. What is the watershed that is impacted in your article?
2. What are the criteria contaminants mentioned in your article?
3. What is the role of government (think proactive versus reactive) in protecting commons?
4. Consider the role of environmental protection measures and the Olympic Games.

Warm-Up #2-2: DUE ON MONDAY February 2

Read and review the following:

• NY Fracking Facts 
• PA Fracking Information 
• Fracking Locations 
• Here is a song that discusses the issue.

1. Make a prediction about the body of water that will become the "poster child" for fracking in the future. 
1. What is the watershed? 
2. Why did you select this location?
3. What do you think will be the type of pollution (criteria contaminant)? 

Wednesday January 28

Review this introduction to the Colorado River Watershed.
Here is a 3-page summary of the 1922 Colorado River Compact.
Here is a discussion of the current California drought.


Questions that will be addressed today....
What is a watershed?
Why approach water quality at a watershed "level"?
How is water quality regulated?
What are the sources of water pollution?
What is a point source?
What is a non-point source?
Why (How) does air pollution factor into water pollution?
Who regulates water quality? (and with what regulatory policy?)

Friday January 23

Your 1st Semester 2 Warm-Up! We shall call this Warm-Up 2-1. Please respond to the following. Please have it typed up and turned in by TUESDAY 1/27.

1. Multiple dams have been erected along the Colorado River. Identify TWO benefits other than agriculture and recreation that people derive from that system of dams.
2. Discuss TWO potential environmental consequences of damming a major river.
3. Competition for access to Colorado River water has increased dramatically due to increased population size and intensive agricultural use. Describe TWO conservation strategies for reducing agricultural water consumption.

Monday January 26

Here is a video about the water issues in the southwestern United States.  I would like you to watch the video and use it prepare a synopsis of water use equality from the Colorado River.

1. What is the current basis for the distribution of water?
2. What "groups" can you identify that are drawing water from the Colorado?
3. What rights do each of these groups have? Are their rights that are lacking or unfair?
4. What do you think should be done to plan for potential decreases in water availability?
5. What group do you identify with? Why? What specific changes to water use policy would you support for this group?

Thursday January 22

1. Dimensional Analysis (Drop by Drop) (APES FRQ)
2. The Chemistry of Water
1. Properties
2. Polarity
3. Solvent
4. Bonding
3. The Biology of Water
1. Cellular Properties
2. Origins of Life
4. Uses
1. Residential
2. Commercial
3. Agricultural
4. Electrical Generation
5. Types
1. Salt Water
2. Fresh Water
1. Lakes/Ponds
2. Rivers/Creeks
3. Ice/Glaciers
4. Aquifers
5. Groundwater (Soil Moisture)
6. Wetland
6. Issues
1. Aquifer Depletion
2. Freshwater Contamination
3. Saltwater Intrusion
4. Sinkhole
5. Wetland Loss
6. Desalinization
7. Flooding 
8. Water Shortages

Wednesday January 21

Three Questions from Tuesday

1. Question #1
1. When is water renewable?
2. What conditions make it un-renewable?
3. What condition make it renewable?
2. Question #2
1. What is the relationship between the creation of dams and reservoirs on rivers as it relates to flood control and droughts?
2. What are the impacts of dams on rivers (in terms of habitat alteration)?
3. Question #3
1. Where are the headwaters of the Colorado River?
2. What is the source of the water that is in the Colorado River?
3. Which states have claims on that water?
4. What happens if there is a decrease in the water available?

Here is a great link to Colorado water issues.

Water (Mis)Use:

1. Complete the in-class assignment ("Water Loss, Drop by Drop"). This is a real good dimensional analysis problem that illustrates how easily water is "lost". -due at the end of class today (1/21)
2. Go to the Water Footprint Calculator and determine the amount of water that you use. - due at the end of class today (1/21)
3. Review the homework assignment ("Water Use Inventory") -due at the end of class on Monday 1/27 (which will be a work day for you).

Tuesday January 20

Next-up: Water

Here is the reading guide for chapter 13. Please note that 2 (two) edits were made to section #4 (#1 quality was removed and #5 was changed from protection to conservation.

Concepts:

1. hydrological cycle
2. water on Earth
1. where is it?
2. what form is it in?
3. what's in it?
4. how do we get to it?
3. supply and demand issues
1. supply sources
2. demand uses
4. managing, measuring & monitoring water 
1. watershed
2. flow
3. precipitation
4. use 
5. conservation

Legislation:

1. Coastal Barrier Resources Act
2. Coastal Zone Management Act
3. National Wildlife Refuge System
4. Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act
5. Wetlands Reserve Program
6. Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

Questions

Discuss the following... 

1. Water is a renewable resource, therefore we can't run out.
2. How are the issues of flooding and water shortage related? How can these issues be solved with one action?
3. Diagram the Colorado River using this map. What states does it flow through? Who has rights to the water? Where does the water come from? What is the source? 

Final Exam Week

Please use this place to ask questions and check for interesting (and helpful) news items as you prepare for the exam!


Here is a BBC article about IPM!

Here is a WSJ article about the impact of OPEC pricing on Canadian Oil.

Wednesday January 7

To complete our discussion on the development and use of renewable energy resources, and begin the examination of the impacts that economics and policy play we need to examine a past example of how public behavior and private enterprise interact.

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) was tasked with cleaning up the polluted air in California. As early as 1963, this group identified vehicle exhaust as a contributing factor to pollution. At the time, California had a population below 20 million (with less than 12 million registered drivers). This represented (and still does) a large consumer group.
In 1975, auto manufacturers were required to include a catalytic converter on cars sold in California. Because California represented such a large market, the effect of this legislation was that all cars sold in the USA had catalytic converters.

Yesterday, the Governor of California (Jerry Brown) announced new plans for electrical generation in California. His plan is to increase the use of renewable resources from 33% by 2020 to 50% by 2030. For comparison, Colorado has a more difficult to understand plan. Large investor owned utilities (Xcel Energy) needed to reach 12% by 2014 (they did), 20% for the 2015-2019 time period and then 30% by 2020.

I would like you to select a renewable resource and find a piece of legislation that will encourage or discourage its use.

Here is an interesting graphic that illustrates the changes that have taken place in energy production in different states during the last 20 years. This can be a starting point for you.

Tomorrow we will have a class discussion on energy policy.

Tuesday January 6, 2015

Here is the link to the review for the semester exam.
Here is the link to the rubric for the service based learning essay.

Define all of the resources

List all of the Resources

Development

How are/have each of the resources been developed?

 Where are the resources being developed?

Use

How are the resources used? 

Where are the resources used?

Economic Issues (associated with development and use)

Political Issues (associated with development and use)

Happy New Year!

January 5, 2015

Catch-up from our last meeting.... calculating pay-back periods and calculating energy consumption.

Renewable Energy Resources

1. Define 
2. List of Resources
3. Development
4. Use
5. Economic Issues (associated with development and use)
6. Political Issues (associated with development and use)

Warm-Up # 13

The 2015 Congress is about to begin a new session. Two of the issues that will be discussed are the Keystone Pipeline and a tax on gasoline.  

1. Summarize the positives and negatives associated with each of the above links.
2. What are the intended outcomes of these plans? (What do you think the intended outcome is?)
3. What role will each of these play in the development of renewable energy? Why?