How does our water management affect our watershed and the availability of water?
Submitted by Stephanie Chamberlin on Tue, 2017-07-11 00:00
The management of our watershed is critical to availability of water and to the basic quality of our lives. I had no clue as to the complexity of getting water out to farmers cities, towns and just everyone. I did not realize just how many stake holders their are involved in the process of deciding how much to hold back, how much to let out and how much to release. It was amazing to find how many agencies and people are involved in making these decisions. The Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corp of Engineers and the Boise Project Board of Control, all have a say in what happens. Usually the BOR takes main control of release of waters but due to the high volume of water and the threat of floods this year the ACE took control as they are in charge of flood control.
I think this can be brought home to students that collaboration is essential when dealing with something as complex and/or important to so many on so many levels is at stake. It would be a good project to have the students trace and research the different entities that have a role in water management and then choose which role they would like to represent. Then create a scenario in which they have to research current conditions, and work together to come up with a plan. I don't know I would have to play with this idea a little more, perhaps build a model? Not sure
So what do you think? How could this be used to teach students not only about the importance of water management, but also in working collaboratively on a complex problem with several stake holders?
Comments
classroom ideas
Hello all,
Hope you are having a great summer Ms. Chamberlin.
Perhaps a way to bring this idea into school would be to present the class with a problem: Group A has an important resource. Group A needs to get that resource to groups C and D. Group A will need help from B to get the resource to C and D. Of course groups C and D will also have to help. Also each group will have limited abilities. One group might not be able to speak. Or another group can not see. All will have to help. Maybe there will be obstacles along the way: groups will need to make "money." Weathercould play a role. Also classrooms could work together. Class A has to move something to class B, but first class B has to get all the questions right on a questionaire. If they take too long, the shipment could fail. Anyway, this would show the groups and classes that they will have to depend on others, even when they can't see them since they might be in another room.
Multiple Perspectives
Until this week I had never really thought about how complex the transportation of water from its source to the many places we use it could be. I think it's important for our students to understand the complex nature of socio-ecological systems so that they can see it's not as easy as black and white. This idea can apply to so many other things as well.
Most of the things we are learning about this week seem to best apply to my argument unit in which we look at food supply systems. Having students participate in a similar activity could help them see the interconnectedness of our economy and ecosystem and get them to consider the different stake holders involved. I like your idea of introducing students to different perspectives on a choice about the WaterShed, having them research current conditions, and then collaborate to make a final decision. I also think Tucker's idea of giving each group a unique ability or rule would make things interesting as well. The big challenge is making sure they connect it to what they are supposed to be learning rather than just seeing it as a game (but I suppose that's what we're for!). Afterwards, it would be good to have students do a self- and class- reflection to talk about the big main ideas and discuss what they found difficult with the project. It would definitely take a lot of prep, but I think that would be a fun, interactive way to get them to understand that big policy decisions on water management or mining permits aren't so simple.