Nueces River Watershed

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1 Name period Date assigned date due date returned Directions: You will color parts of the on the next page: 1. Trace the rivers and lakes in blue 2. Trace the outside edge of the watershed in red (it s the thicker, dashed line) 3. Lightly color in the entire watershed in yellow 1

2 Directions: Using the information you have read, answer these questions. 1. What is fresh water? 2. Where does water in a watershed come from? 3. Where is the water table in a desert? 4. Explain how a body of groundwater forms. 5. What will happen to the rain falling from the cloud? 6. What could happen to the water table if twenty more houses were built in the area? 2

3 7 Underground water can be stored in layers of rock or sediment called aquifers. The Ogallala Aquifer provides water to Texas. Water levels are dropping because of the demands of crop irrigation. What can you predict from this information? A The aquifer could eventually dry up, affecting the entire region. B The aquifer will remain the same over the years with little or no impact. C The aquifer can be replenished over time with the melting of winter snow. D The aquifer could become a marsh are and be used for growing crops such as rice. 8 The land area that supplies water to a river system is called a F divide G watershed H stream J tributary 9 What might be the most serious effect of placing a factory in the location shown below? A Groundwater might be used up too quickly B Pollution from the factory would seep into the groundwater C Groundwater could become salt water D Groundwater could seep into the factory 3

4 Use the diagram for the next two questions. The diagram illustrates the contamination of a river by a municipal waste treatment plant. river 10 What is the original point of contamination? F I G II H III J IV 11 Which point on the map represents the affected area that is the greatest distance from the waste treatment plant? A I B II C III D IV 4

5 12 In an agricultural area, a heavy rainfall caused a flash flood. The topsoil from a freshly fertilized field washed into a local stream. As a result, the amount of nitrogen in the water drastically increased, causing the algae to grow to record levels and cover the surface of the stream. What effect did this bloom of algae have on the stream? F The animal life in the stream benefited since most fish eat algae. G The algae upset the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the water, causing fish to die. H The algae acted as a thermal blanket on the stream, causing the water temperature to increase and the fish to thrive. J The algae attached itself to the stream bank and narrowed the width of the stream. This caused the water to flow at a faster rate. 13 Which of the following sets of equipment can be used to analyze the effects of human activity on a watershed? A water testing kit, triple beam balance B water testing kit, hand lens, notebook C water testing kit, beaker, hotplate D hotplate, beaker, graduated cylinder 5

6 14 Which water conservation technique is most important during the month of August? 15 Which of these describes a human activity that uses up a nonrenewable resource? F Water home foundations using a drip hose. A building new roads that cause topsoil to erode G Install low-flow shower heads. H Water lawns during the early morning hours. J Take showers rather than baths. B chopping down trees from the forest for heating homes C car engines consuming large amounts of fossil fuels D pollutants on roads washing into streams during rainstorms 16 A small stream runs through the center of a residential neighborhood. Water enters the stream from a series of storm drains in the area. For many years, the shape of the streambed, the amount of water, and the species of wildlife have remained stable. However, there has been an increase in building in the area. New homes, new streets, and new storm drains have had an impact. What effect have the changes likely had on the neighborhood stream? F The water level has risen and is flowing more slowly. The stream is depositing sediment downstream. G The water quality has been drastically changed due to contact with the pavement. The number of species in the creek has decreased. H The increase in paved areas has increased the amount of water flowing into the creek. The stream bank has eroded. J The amount of water flowing into the stream has decreased. The stream is flowing more quickly, which increases erosion of the streambed. 6

7 Read the following to answer the next two questions. A river in Texas starts at a natural spring of water. The spring water flows up into an area that is used as a swimming pool, and then flows into a river a few miles away. Eight million gallons of water flow out of the spring every hour. 17 What is the relationship between the spring and the river? A The water from the spring is ground water that joins the surface water of the river. B The water from the river and spring are both examples of surface water. C The water from the river and spring are both examples of ground water. D The water from the spring and river are considered run-off. 18 What would happen to the river if the natural spring no longer flowed? The river would F be narrower and deeper than it is now G be completely dry except during the rainy season H be shallower than it is now J be larger than it is now 7

8 19 In some areas of Texas, rain water quickly moves through layers of rock and is stored naturally underground. The water is then pumped into homes for people to use. What would cause the biggest change on the amount of water available to people in this area? A long periods of high temperatures B below-freezing temperatures for many consecutive days 20 John was changing the oil in his truck. He dumped the used oil around a fence post to keep weeds from growing. John didn't know it, but he was hurting the environment because the oil F rots the base of the fence post and attracts harmful insects G goes deep into the oil and pollutes the groundwater H kills weeds and they are an important part of the environment C long periods without rainfall D non-porous rocks to store the water J attracts more insects that will take over his yard 21 A local gardener puts fertilizer on his plants. The plants are very healthy, but what is a negative effect the fertilizers have on the environment? A Excess fertilizer is washed into local streams, causing an overgrowth of algae. B The fertilizer builds up in the soil and causes more weeds to grow over time. C The fertilizer evaporates, causing acid rain to fall on the neighborhood. D The fertilizer causes an overabundance of producers. 8