CAMP PROBLEM STATEMENT When it rains, the water that falls from the sky has to go somewhere. In many
cases, it runs into storm water inlets at curbsides and, from there, into rivers.
The water that runs over the ground after a rain is called runoff. As the water
moves through roofs, streets, lawns and parking lots, when it's raining, it picks
up chemicals, dirt and trash. At industrial sites (factories), trucks with toxic
chemicals such as gasoline, oils, organic solvents and heavy metals may drop
some of these substances in factories parking lots and loading docks. When
it rains, this stuff moves with runoffs into streets and storm water inlets and
find their way into rivers, lakes and ground water (subterranean water). In cities, we obtain our water from local rivers, reservoirs (man made
lakes) and in some cases from wells deep in the ground that reach into
ground-water reservoirs which are similar to underground lakes. Every time it
rains, polluted runoff contaminates our drinking water supply. The water company removes trash and toxic substances from the water it takes
from rivers and lakes. The more contaminated the water the more work they have
to do to make it drinkable. Dirtier water becomes more expensive to clean and as
a result our water bills go up. We humans have to pay more for clean water as more and more factories, houses
and roads are built and contribute to water pollution. Animals, birds and fish
on the other hand have to live and drink this contaminated water. They have no
choice. As a result of runoff from factories and cities many animals, birds and
fish that use and live in these waters simply die because that waters are
contaminated. A watershed is an area on the surface of the earth that drains to one
single
low point. There are millions of watersheds on the earth. Each river has its own
watershed. Cities, forests, highways and people exist on specific watersheds. If
you live in Newark you may get your water from the Hackensack
river watershed. In this computer camp you will help us determine how people in New Jersey use
the land of the Hackensack
river watershed where you get your
water. Using
satellite images you will determine the areas that generate the most
contaminated runoff during rain events and the water bodies (rivers and lakes)
that are most affected by this runoff. Once this is determined you will create a
virtual fly-by that will help us show the areas where our water supply is most
threatened. You will use satellite images to determine where rivers and lakes are in this
watershed. You will use the same images to determine where industry exists in
the watershed. Finally, you will use an elevation model (tells you about terrain
elevation) to calculate the different slopes in the watershed. With this
information you will locate industrial areas that exist on slopes greater than
5%. These are the areas that are most likely to generate contaminated runoff.
You will create a single image that shows where rivers and lakes are in relation
to industrial sites. Finally, you will use this image to generate a fly-by video
that will show the most threatened water bodies in the watershed. Finally, you will help us with ideas of some changes that could be made
so our water sources are protected from runoff and animals and humans can have
plenty of clean water to drink and live in.