Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 3:15 PM
153-4
Chopper Ride: Linking Water Quality and Land Use.
Water is an essential global resource. Often, people see changes in their water quality as being good or bad. Pollutants from agricultural and urban sources have made many of our waters unsuitable for consumption and recreation. Changes in land use have had a dramatic effect on both surface and groundwater. Unfortunately, rarely do people with low literacy skills grasp how land use actions lead to water related problems. Quite simply, few water experts try to produce tools that bridge technical water data with people’s learning skills. However, civic officials know that everyone has a responsibility to conserve water, use it wisely, and protect it. Land mangers, community planners, and watershed residents can all use The Water Guardian: Chopper Ride. This “edutainment” CD-ROM reveals 36 land use risks that affect watersheds. Learn how youth as well as adults can fly our chopper in search of the risks spread over urban, suburban, rural, and forested land. See how users can test their knowledge of water related issues by answering questions linked to the risks. Hear how water quality and youth experts use this “fun learning adventure” to get various audiences to see how humans and landscape features can change water quality. Leave with a free copy of the software. Use the tools to help build community awareness and knowledge in order to facilitate responsible action, foster conservation and management of water supplies.
Recorded presentation