Agenda - My Place on a Stream

Water Quality: My Place on a Stream
Module 3

Lesson 3 - Agenda
Acknowledgement: Taken from "Living on the Land 2001"

Time	Section	Goal	Activity	Instructor
5-10 min	Introduction	Answer any questions or concerns from the last class. Begin session with a clear description of what will be covered. Discuss what is special about living near streams.	Introduce the agenda for the lesson: What do you like about living near a stream? What’s a watershed? Riparian health Degradation and restoration of riparian areas Tips Home inventory and monitoring Quiz and evaluation	Agenda Depending on number of participants and time between this lesson and the last, an icebreaker may be needed. PowerPoint slides 1-4
5-10 min	Watersheds and water flow	Be able to identify ways in which flows may change seasonally and through the decades in the local watershed.	Participants discuss their memories of previous flood events, and the damage they caused. Discuss reasons why flooding might have been made worse or better because of human actions.	Map(s) or photograph(s) of the local watershed PowerPoint slides 5-7
15 min	Riparian health	Explain why riparian areas are important for many different interest groups. Be able to list the three essential components of a healthy riparian area. Be able to list some important functions of healthy riparian areas.	Connect watershed hydrology to the riparian area Define riparian areas and explain why they are important Discuss floodplains and riparian health using an introduction to Riparian Proper Functioning Condition. Examine the root systems of some common riparian plants.	Introduction to Riparian Proper Functioning Condition Specimens of riparian plants showing at least the strong fibrous root of a water-loving sedge and the weak taproot of a riparian weed PowerPoint slides 8-17
15 min	Stream degradation, restoration and engineering	Be able to list at least three reasons why streams degrade. Be able to list some signs of an unhealthy stream. Be able to describe the stream recovery process. Know that permits are required before working in waters of the United States.	Discuss the concept of the three-legged stool and how streams degrade without appropriate soils and landform, riparian vegetation and water for their setting. Evaluate a slide of a stream and have participants list signs of its unhealthy condition using the "How to Tell If a Creek is Healthy or Not" information sheet. Show photographs and discuss the processes of stream recovery, erosion and revegetation. Discuss working in a stream and the role of engineering to replace some riparian functions. Discuss permits needed for work in a stream.	Riparian plant identification (continue at break) PowerPoint slides 18-26
15 min	BREAK	BREAK	BREAK	BREAK
30 min	Overview of all tips	Be able to list at least one property management action from each of these topics that they could use to improve their stream or riparian area: Maintaining watershed and riparian functions Managing livestock near streams Living in or near a floodplain Designing in-stream projects Building of fixing roads or bridges Controlling pollution Enjoying your stream or riparian area	Provide an overview and quick discussion of all of the tips sections, rather than a more thorough discussion with additional activities for selected tips topics as described below.	Use "Tips" information sheets. PowerPoint slides 28-51
30 min	ALTERNATIVE: Select several of the optional sections from the table on the next page to replace the above overview.
10 min	Inventory of property and riparian area	List several important stream and riparian attributes for individual properties.	Students prepare lists of the most important things to check when inventorying their properties, streams, or watersheds. Bring in and identify several of the common and important riparian plants.	Individual property maps Samples of common and important riparian plants PowerPoint slides 52-55
5 min	Homework assignment	Understand the relationship among goals, objectives and actions. Be able to state goals, objectives and actions for streams, ponds, or other riparian areas on individual properties.	Assign homework: Complete the "How’s My Stream" assessment checklist. Conduct inventories of individual properties and list goals, objectives, and actions. Update maps.	"How’s My Stream" assessment checklist "Home Inventory and Action/No Action Plan" "Things You Can Do to Keep Your Creek Healthy" PowerPoint slides 56-58
5 min	Monitoring and summary	Identify a monitoring method for a relevant question on their property.	Discuss what the audience is now curious about on their properties and how they could monitor to answer important questions. Review main points of the class	PowerPoint slides 59-62
5 min	Summary, questions and answers	Summarize class. Answer questions.	Summary	Assign homework

Optional Lesson Plan

Time Section Goal Activity Instructor

10-15 min

Optional

Tips for maintaining watershed and riparian functions

Understand that:

Vegetation is the first line of watershed defense.

Concentrated water flow causes problems with erosion and stream stability.

Meanders are necessary.

Riparian health prevents channel incision.

Discuss management practices for riparian and upland vegetation to support watershed functions.

Discuss local problem areas where too much water has been concentrated onto or against an erodible surface.

Discuss a local example of channelization and its effects.

Discuss a local example of channel incision, its causes and resultant problems.

Use "Tips For Maintaining Watershed And Riparian Functions" information sheet.

PowerPoint slides 28-31

10-15 min

Optional

Tips for managing livestock near streams

Understand that:

Livestock affect streams by their vegetation consumption and trampling.

Off-stream watering, water gaps, and bank armoring can help.

Grazing management for plant health is critical.

Fence and salt placement is important.

Discuss connections between livestock and streams, including the need for forage and water by livestock and livestock effects on riparian vegetation, streambanks (through trampling), and water quality (through body wastes, accelerated erosion, etc.).

Discuss tools for avoiding these impacts while maintaining livestock health.

Use "Tips For Managing Livestock Near Streams" information sheet.

PowerPoint slides 32-39

10-15 min

Optional

Tips for living in or near a floodplain

Describe why living in a floodplain encompasses risk.

List several actions to make using a floodplain less risky.

Define the 100-year flood.

Describe national flood insurance and local actions that could make floods worse or lower insurance premiums.

Discuss actions that individuals could take to reduce their risk of damage.

Use "Tips For Living In Or Near A Floodplain" information sheet.

PowerPoint slides 40-42

10-15 min

Optional

Tips for designing in-stream projects

Identify others that should be consulted before designing any in-stream project.

Describe specific hazards of building an in-stream project.

Identify local, state, and federal agencies that require permits or offer assistance for in-stream projects.

List local watershed groups that audience members could join.

Discuss hazards from improper design or inappropriate structures.

List of local, state and federal agencies that require permits or offer assistance for in-stream projects;

list of watershed groups.

PowerPoint slides 43-47

10-15 min

Optional

Tips for building or fixing roads and bridges

Identify several problems with roads in floodplains and roads on hill slopes.

Identify an alternative design to avoid each problem.

Discuss any local problems created by roads being in the wrong place or having the wrong design.

Create (with audience participation) a chart of road problems, effects, and solutions.

Use "Tips For Building Or Fixing Roads And Bridges" information sheet.

PowerPoint slides 48-49

10 min

Optional

Tips for controlling pollution

List several actions that would reduce the risk or magnitude of water pollution.

Discuss controlling pollution using the PowerPoint slide as a starting point. List other things the audience has done on a flip chart or other device.

Use "Tips For Controlling Pollution" information sheet.

PowerPoint slide 50

10 min

Optional

Tips for enjoying your stream or riparian area

List several fun things that can be done in riparian areas that do not impair their quality or condition.

Discuss enjoying your stream or riparian area using the PowerPoint slide as a starting point. List other things the audience has done using a flip chart or other device.

Use "Tips For Enjoying Your Stream Or Riparian Area" information sheet.

PowerPoint slide 51

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