GEOG 256 1nd Edition Exam 2 Study Guide Water Quality 1 What is groundwater How s it different from an aquifer Groundwater is any water below the surface often in pores or cracks Aquifers are useful supplies of groundwater 2 What is nonpoint pollution Sources that can t be traced to a specific cite Examples runoff including sediment fertilizer chemicals and animal waste from city streets farms fields construction sites mines 3 Where does urban runoff rank as a source of impairment of US water quality 5th after agriculture atmospheric deposition unknown and hydro modification 4 What s the biggest source of water quality impairment in the US rivers and streams Agriculture 5 What is a wellhead protection area An area around a public well where land uses must be compatible with the preservation of water quality 6 Define a watershed An area in which all rainfall drains to the same location 7 What s a Hydrograph Measures increased rainfall and discharge by time 8 How does urbanization affect peakyness High peaky hydrographs Man made conveyances to channels e g gutters impermeable rock and soil or manmade surfaces sparse vegetation and clearing no dams steeper slopes heavy fast rains hard to absorb a smaller drainage basin it takes less time for the water to reach the channel frozen or saturated compacted soils 9 What problem does this cause Pollution flushing sediments nutrients organics etc erosion flooding lower groundwater storage and elevation low dry weather stream flow sourcing of river and riparian habitat 10 What is the objective of Low Impact Development Maximize infiltration by reducing and disconnecting impervious surface often by preserving pervious ones 11 What are some ways it s done Rain gardens curb cuts permeable paving systems green parking lots LID cluster bio retention area pervious driveways grass swale rain gardens Water Supply 1 What are the top environmental concerns in the USA What is number 1 1 Pollution of drinking water pollution of rivers lakes reservoirs maintenance of fresh supply of water 2 In the US what are the 2 biggest water users Power plants and agriculture 3 What is subsidence The gradual caving in or sinking of and area of land 4 Has per capita water use in the US been growing or declining Declining 5 Have water withdrawals in the US been increasing or declining Increasing 6 Does economic growth always depend on increasing water use No 7 What is an inclining or increasing block rate structure and how does it affect water use Unit price increases as volume increases it is a way to reward conservation 8 What is xeriscaping and why is it important It is a certain style of landscaping an area which requires little or no irrigation It s important because it will help conserve water usage Ways to do this are drought tolerant native plants mulch drip irrigation smart water systems water harvesting and reclaimed water systems 9 Is water underpriced or overpriced How much decrease in use comes from a 10 increase in price Underpriced A 10 increase in price would decrease water use by about 6 but it differs by income 10 In what ways is Tucson leading the US in water conservation First in USA 50 of water for landscaping in commercial projects must come from rainwater Largest in USA reclaimed water system 11 What aspect of sustainability might be harmed by reducing water use for landscaping Increased use of water from other supplies Cooley and Gleick 2009 1 If municipal water use is a relatively small percentage of overall water use in the US why do water managers need to find new ways of balancing supplies and demand in response to population growth Municipal uses have been the drivers for new water acquisitions and significant capital expenditures for water infrastructure 2 What is the traditional approach to meeting water demands of growing populations What are the alternatives And why are agencies increasingly turning to them Develop new sources of supply They are increasingly turning to water conservation and efficiency improvements because they are cheapest easiest and least destructive 3 Which is subject to the most regional variation Indoor or outdoor urban water use Outdoor urban areas 4 What is an inclining or increasing block rate structure and how does it affect water consumption Increased usage rate of water means higher prices gives you incentive to not use as much water 5 Which rate structure will promote more conservation increasing the rate after the first 1000 gallons of use or after the first 2000 gallons of use 1000 gallons 6 Which rate structure will promote more conservation increasing the price by 50 after the first 1000 gallons of use or increasing the price by 100 after the first 1000 gallons of use 100 after 1000 gallons Wildlife 1 What sorts of ecosystem services do wildlife provide Pollination germination seed dispersal soil generation nutrient cycling pest control 2 How does urbanization affect wildlife e g habitat loss etc 1 Habitat loss or degradation removal of food cover water nesting sites Degradation around homes 2 Habitat fragmentation creation of isolated patches or islands Reduces dispersal and repopulation increases risk of extinction from catastrophic disturbances increases edge effect 3 Alteration of ecological processes fire suppression and flood control can alter plant composition and related wildlife 4 Predation elimination and overpopulation 5 Pollution noise chemicals nutrients can harm sensitive species like amphibians 3 What is the Edge Effect and how does it lead to a preference for larger patch sizes in conservation Larger patches reduces the edge effect helping preserve the natural core interior 4 As habitat patch size gets larger does the edge effect influence a larger or smaller percentage of the patch Is this good or bad for the animals that depend on the patch Smaller This is good for animals 5 In addition to Patches what are 2 other key strategies to wildlife conservation Buffer the patches from urban uses and link the patches with corridors 6 What is the buffer overlay zone Separates residential from wildlife to help preserve natural habitat Hansen et al 2005 1 In the US are more people moving toward or away from rural areas Rural 2 What is exurban development and how much of the lower 48 does it cover Low density residential development 25 3 As a general response what happens to species richness as housing density increases along an urban rural gradient Decreases 4 Do all species decline in abundance