A Historical Trip through A Historical Trip through Chester’s WatershedChester’s Watershed

Historical backgroundHistorical background

• Water is a hot topic Water is a hot topic today? Where does our today? Where does our water come from? How water come from? How does it get to be does it get to be drinkable? What is a drinkable? What is a watershed?watershed?

• All of these questions and All of these questions and the ones you will develop the ones you will develop will help you understand will help you understand why water is an important why water is an important commodity. Let’s get commodity. Let’s get started. started.

Watershed from 10.42 miWatershed from 10.42 mi

• Chester is in an unique Chester is in an unique watershed situation. The watershed situation. The Chester Creek/Crum Creek Chester Creek/Crum Creek runs in a Northern/Southern runs in a Northern/Southern direction and empties into direction and empties into the Delaware River. the Delaware River. Frances J. Fax River and the Frances J. Fax River and the Council-Three Rivers runs in Council-Three Rivers runs in an easterly to westerly an easterly to westerly direction through Chester. direction through Chester.

• These waters entwine These waters entwine through the flood plane of through the flood plane of Chester and when there is a Chester and when there is a substantial amount of rain substantial amount of rain fall flooding occurs.fall flooding occurs.

• Here we are at school at Here we are at school at about 1033 ft from the about 1033 ft from the earth’s surface in a earth’s surface in a northeasterly direction. northeasterly direction. Crum Creek is the L shape Crum Creek is the L shape directly north of the School. directly north of the School.

How does this impact our How does this impact our watershed? Waste from watershed? Waste from treatment plants? Run off treatment plants? Run off from High Way? Pollutants in from High Way? Pollutants in the air/soil? You are about to the air/soil? You are about to enter the realm of …………..enter the realm of …………..

Activities/Lab ExplorationsActivities/Lab Explorations

Lab EngagementsLab Engagements

• Activity OneActivity One

• You are a raindropYou are a raindrop

• We will be going We will be going outside to act out how outside to act out how water fallswater falls

• Sailing along into Sailing along into Activity Two Activity Two

• Properties of Properties of HH22OO

• Raindrops fall onto the ground and into the Raindrops fall onto the ground and into the watershed, how is this possible? watershed, how is this possible?

• Purpose: To think and act like a rain drop, you Purpose: To think and act like a rain drop, you will run/walk/ or roll to where you think the will run/walk/ or roll to where you think the raindrop enters the watershed.raindrop enters the watershed.

• Supplies: you and your partner, stopwatch, paper Supplies: you and your partner, stopwatch, paper and pencil to record, and your flags (six). and pencil to record, and your flags (six).

• Procedure: you or your partner will act like the Procedure: you or your partner will act like the raindrop and the other will place the flag after raindrop and the other will place the flag after you have landed, record the distance and time it you have landed, record the distance and time it took. Repeat at another location. took. Repeat at another location.

• Conclusion: What did you learn? Discuss it with Conclusion: What did you learn? Discuss it with your partner and record your answers. Be your partner and record your answers. Be prepared to report out in class. Make a chart of prepared to report out in class. Make a chart of time verse distance (sec/cm)time verse distance (sec/cm)

• Water, Oil, and Dye and the change in temperature.Water, Oil, and Dye and the change in temperature.• PurposePurpose: Inquiry based, to understand how various pollutants : Inquiry based, to understand how various pollutants

affect the water shed.affect the water shed.• Predict the effect of oil, and dye will have on water when the Predict the effect of oil, and dye will have on water when the

temperature is at 26°C, 16°C, and 35°C. Record your predictions temperature is at 26°C, 16°C, and 35°C. Record your predictions first. (Hypothesis)first. (Hypothesis)

• Water, Oil, and Dye and the change in temperature.Water, Oil, and Dye and the change in temperature.• SuppliesSupplies: two 10mL graduated cylinders, three 50mL beakers, : two 10mL graduated cylinders, three 50mL beakers,

15mL of water, 10mL of oil, and dye 5 -7 drops, ice, thermo 15mL of water, 10mL of oil, and dye 5 -7 drops, ice, thermo mentor, and a source for heating water.mentor, and a source for heating water.

• ProcedureProcedure: 1. Place the room temperature water into the beaker : 1. Place the room temperature water into the beaker first, then place the oil on top. Note what happens between the first, then place the oil on top. Note what happens between the water and oil. 2. Place the dye on top. 3. Observe and record water and oil. 2. Place the dye on top. 3. Observe and record what happens to the dye. 4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 using the water at what happens to the dye. 4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 using the water at 16°C. ****Make sure to keep good observations! 5. Repeat steps 1 16°C. ****Make sure to keep good observations! 5. Repeat steps 1 to 3 for the water at 35°C. ****** Make sure to keep good to 3 for the water at 35°C. ****** Make sure to keep good observations! 6. Make chart of the three temperatures and your observations! 6. Make chart of the three temperatures and your observations.observations.

• ConclusionConclusion: Which temperature reacted the most dramatically? : Which temperature reacted the most dramatically? Why? Did the oil have an affect on the dye? Why or Why not? What Why? Did the oil have an affect on the dye? Why or Why not? What effects would this be if it was in your water supply?effects would this be if it was in your water supply?

People Places Thoughts!People Places Thoughts!

• Water is the only drink for a wise Water is the only drink for a wise man.man.-   Henry David Thoreau-   Henry David Thoreau

• Our bodies are molded rivers.Our bodies are molded rivers.-   Novalis -   Novalis

• In every glass of water we drink, some In every glass of water we drink, some of the water has already passed through of the water has already passed through fishes, trees, bacteria, worms in the fishes, trees, bacteria, worms in the soil, and soil, and many other organisms, including many other organisms, including people...  Living systems people...  Living systems cleanse water and make it fit, among cleanse water and make it fit, among other things,other things,for human consumption. for human consumption. -   Elliot A. Norse, -   Elliot A. Norse, Animal ExtinctionsAnimal Extinctions

• The underlying attraction of the The underlying attraction of the movement of water and sand is movement of water and sand is biological. biological. If we look more deeply we can see it as If we look more deeply we can see it as the basis of an abstract ideathe basis of an abstract idealinking ourselves with the limitless linking ourselves with the limitless mechanics of the universe.mechanics of the universe.-   Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe-   Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe

• Children of a culture born in a water-Children of a culture born in a water-rich environment, rich environment, we have never really learned how we have never really learned how important water is important water is to us.  We understand it, but we do not to us.  We understand it, but we do not respect it. respect it. William Ashworth, William Ashworth, Nor Any Drop to DrinkNor Any Drop to Drink, , 19821982

Questions/CommentsQuestions/Comments

• Review key points from Activity Review key points from Activity one and answer the following one and answer the following questions. questions.

• What did you like or not like?What did you like or not like?

• How did this activity affect the How did this activity affect the way you perceive the way you perceive the watershed?watershed?

• Make a chart/diagram of what Make a chart/diagram of what you found out.you found out.

• Describe in you own words Describe in you own words how you can learn morehow you can learn more

• What impact will this have on What impact will this have on your life?your life?

InterconnectionsInterconnections

• Review key points from Review key points from Activity two, this time Activity two, this time imagine if you lived or imagine if you lived or worked at Rivertown. worked at Rivertown. would our you use your would our you use your water supply efficiently?water supply efficiently?

Old Chester, PA: Rivertown

                                                                                                                                                      

What difference would there be if you lived here at Boat What difference would there be if you lived here at Boat Dock?Dock?

Home > Recreation > Boat Dock, W. 7th St.

Boat Dock West 7th Street - 1958

Photo courtesy of Rocky (Hazel Hillard) Bohlmann, fatgarfield2002@yahoo.com

© 2002 John A. Bullock III. Graphic Details Publications

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A stepping stone to…A drop in the bucketA flood of tears Blood is thicker than waterBreak the iceCrying bucketsSink or swim Somebody is all wetSomething smells fishyStill waters run deepTreading waterTroubled watersWash my hands of the whole thingWatered downWet behind the earsWet your whistle

Ending ThoughtEnding Thought

Thank you for your time!Thank you for your time! Judith L-Odom Judith L-Odom

Science and a Sense of Place Science and a Sense of Place Institute 2006Institute 2006