PHYSICAL WORLD ESCI 243  -  NICHOLS COLLEGE ONLINE COURSE

Professor Mauri S. Pelto, 508-213-2168 peltoms@nichols.edu   

Water Resources

Home Page Plate Tectonic Setting Earthquakes Volcanic Hazards Glaciers-Sea Level Rise Coastal Management
Water Resources Groundwater Management Global Warming Fossil Fuel Resources Alternative Energy Sources River Types-Flooding


 		 The Clean Water act aims to make waters fishable and swimmable.  By improving and protecting the biologic, physical and chemical integrity of the water.  In this section we examine the forces that impact available water resources.  

Readings: 458-459; 245-260

Concept Questions:

1.  What are the objectives of the Clean Water Act and are we meeting them?

2.  Are there impaired waters in your area, what is the cause? Impaired Waters.  (If you live in CT or RI just change the last two digits in the web address from MA to CT or RI)

3.  Take a look figures on pages 250-251 and 253.    Explain what the main consumer of water is.  Explain why irrigation is highest where it is.

Assignment:  Examine the water usage in the Blackstone River at Millbury for the current week   What is causing fluctuations in flow?  To identify the causes of flow fluctuations examine the following examples.

1.  Diurnal changes due to wastewater

2. Sharp changes due to dam release or retention.

3. Precipitation events.

Is the flow below what it should be?  Flow should be greater than 0.5 CFS/per square mile.  T o determine this divide the average weekly flow by the area of the Blackstone River Watershed at Millbutry and it should not be lower than other streams in the state.