RNR PLN 256 Midterm 2 Study Guide Water Quality 1 What is groundwater How s it different from an aquifer Any water below the surface Aquifers are useful supplies of groundwater 2 What is nonpoint pollution Runoff including sediment fertilizer chemicals and animal waste SOURCES CAN T BE TRACED TO SPECIFIC SITE Point pollution has pollution sources that can be traced factories wastewater 3 Where does urban runoff rank as a source of impairment of US water quality 5th 4 What s the biggest source of water quality impairment in the US rivers and streams Agriculture 5 What is a wellhead protection area Area around public well where land uses must be compatible with the preservation of water quality 6 Define a watershed Area in which all rainfall drains to the same location 7 What s a Hydrograph Graph that shows the rate of flow vs time past a certain point in a river or stream 8 How does urbanization affect peakyness They have peaky hydrographs high 9 What problem does this cause Pollution erosion flooding lower groundwater storage lower dry weather steam flows scouring of river and riparian habitat 10 What is the objective of Low Impact Development Maximize infiltration by reducing and disconnecting impervious surface 11 What are some ways it s done Rain gardens grass swales Hollywood driveways curb cuts permeable sidewalks Water Supply Lecture 1 What are the top environmental concerns in the USA What is number 1 Number 1 is pollution of drinking water pollution of rivers lakes reservoirs maintenance of 2 3 4 5 6 7 fresh supply of water follow respectively In the US what are the 2 biggest water users Power plants and agriculture What is subsidence Motion of a surface downwards THINK GIANT POTHOLE Has per capita water use in the US been growing or declining Have water withdrawals in the US been increasing or declining Increasing Does economic growth always depend on increasing water use Increasing What is an inclining or increasing block rate structure and how does it affect water use Unit price increases as volume increases gives you incentive to use less water 8 What is xeriscaping and why is it important Landscaping or gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water uses less water 9 Is water underpriced or overpriced How much decrease in use comes from a 10 increase in price Underprices 10 increase in price would decrease water use by 6 10 In what ways is Tucson leading the US in water conservation First in USA 50 of water for landscaping projects must be from rainwater and largest 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 Lecture 1 What sorts of ecosystem services do wildlife provide Pollination germination seed dispersion soil generation pest control nutrient cycling etc 2 How does urbanization affect wildlife Habitat Loss Removal of food degradation around homes Habitat fragmentation reduces dispersal and repopulation increases risk of extinction edge effects Alteration of ecological processes Predation Elimnation of predators allows pests to breed overpopulation Pollution 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 As habitat patch gets larder edge effect influences smaller percentage 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 along the rural urban gradient How do native and non natives differ Native species decreases non native species increase 5 What are the 4 major factors that may explain biodiversity responses to exurban and urban development Habitat alteration alteration of ecological processes alteration of biotic interactions human disturbance 6 What s better for wildlife a single large patch of habitat or several smaller fragments connected with wildlife corridors Wildlife corridors Health and Safety Lecture 1 What the difference between Hazards Vulnerability and Exposure and how do they interact to produce Risk of Disaster Risk Hazard Exposure Vunerability 2 What is the difference between Avoidance Mitigation and Compensation in the management of natural hazards Avoidance Move people away PREVENT any exposure Mitigate Reduce hazard reduce exposure and reduce vulnerability Compensation Provide relief pay people back doe 3