Water Pollution

Here's Mud in Your Eye

Your task is to research and share some information about the local watershed that services our immediate school locale.

A hydrogeologist for the State of Michigan

What is the source of our local groundwater?
What sort of geological formation contains it and how large is it?
What is it's history?
How is it fed or replenished?

Spokesperson for the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council

Provide some general information about the river and other waters that intersect the watershed.
What is the history of human disturbance of the river ecology?
What is the current state of environmental health for the river and its tributaries?
What suggestions do you have for the future?

An environmental toxicologist working for Kalamazoo County

Find out about the overall health of our watershed and associated surface waters.
What's in the water and are those materials good or bad?
What are their sources? Distinguish between point source and non-point source pollutants.
How did they get into the water?

A Superfund expert from the Environmental Protection Agency

Is our watershed and associated surface waters the home to any EPA Superfund sites?
What is the status of these sites and how did they come into being?
What actions are being or have been taken to prevent another accident?

Director of the Kalamazoo County Human Services Department

Why is water an essential resource.
Is our local water safe for human use?
What are possible threats to our local water (e.g. Lead poisoning? Fracking? Others?)
What concerns should we have about the future availability of clean water for human use?
How are these concerns being addressed?

Your Presentation:

Decide as a group how to structure your presentation, and what sorts of media you wish to include in your design. While not limited to the topics above, be sure that each group member at least is responsible for the subtopics and/or points listed in each role.

Helpful Links to Start Your Research

These links have been reported by KAMSC students as helpful for their research. They are listed in no particular order.

Remember, this list is not all inclusive - it is just a starting point. You will be asked at the end of this project to report your own "top five" links to assist future KAMSC students. Please report any broken or inactive links to your teacher.