Soil Erosion on the High Point Greenway
Objectives:
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That students be able to identify and distinguish between natural channel erosion and human
induced erosion
That students be able to place erosional features on a map
That students be able to document erosional features
That students be able to recognize erosion control features
That students be able to document erosion control features
That students can demonstrate the ecological significance of increased sediment in streams
Materials Needed:
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Clipboard
Pencil
Map of Greenway
One 30m tape
At least two smaller measuring tapes (~ four meters)
2 very large nails
North arrow and scale stick
Compass
Camera
Note paper & graph paper
GPS
Activity:
The students will examine a pre-determined section of the greenway and identify areas of human-induced
erosion, areas of natural channel erosion/deposition, and erosion control features. Each identified feature
will be located on the greenway map. At least one human-induced erosional feature will be documented
in the form a scale drawing and photographed. Erosion control features will be photographed and
described. Channel erosion will be photographed and the processes responsible described.
Background Research:
The students should research the different methods used to control erosion and compare with what they
have identified on the greenway. Secondly, the students should study the ecological significance of
increased sediment within waterways, particularly the effect it has on the habitat of aquatic plants and
animals. The students should be able to predict where along the length of a channel, erosion will
predominate and where deposition will predominate.
Deliverables:
Students will be required to create a classroom presentation and complete a research paper.
Channel Bedload & Floodplain Deposits on the High Point Greenway
Objectives:
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That the students be able to distinguish between channel deposits and floodplain deposits in the
field
That students understand that sediment moves through river channels by different pathways
That students learn the different particle class sizes and how they are related to the different
pathways through the fluvial system
That students understand the relationship between water flow energy and particle size
Materials Needed:
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Clipboard
Map of greenway
Pencil
Compass
North arrow and scale stick
GPS
One 30m tape
At least two smaller measuring tapes (~ four meters)
Two very large nails
Camera
Trowel/small shovel
Work gloves (heavy enough to protect hands from glass and metal shards)
Bucket
Sample cup/bucket
Spring scale
Set of stacked sieves
Notepaper & graph paper
Activity:
The students will examine a pre-determined section of the greenway in which both bedload and floodplain
deposits are exposed. Both types of deposits will be measured (length, width, height), photographed and
sketched to scale. A single sample of a specific volume of floodplain sediment will be excavated,
weighed, and screened. The sediment retained in each sieve will be weighed. The bedload deposit will
be sampled in a downstream and upstream location, and each processed as previously described.
Background Research:
The students should research the different pathways of sediment through the fluvial system and the
relationship of these pathways to sediment particle sizes. Secondly, the students should research flood
size and frequency for the greenway (highpoint)
Deliverables:
Students will be required to create a classroom presentation and complete a research paper.
Channel Form and Flow Characteristics of the High Point Greenway
Objectives:
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That students understand that streams form the channels in which they flow
That students understand that channel characteristics reflect the behavior of the stream
That students understand that channel form will change if the characteristics of the
stream change
That students understand that stream flow varies
That students understand the different types of water input (runoff and groundwater) to
streams
Materials Needed:
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Clipboard
Graph and note paper
Map of greenway
One 30m tape
One smaller tape (5 m)
Camera
Two large nails
Float
Stopwatch
Activity:
Students will pull the large tape from one bank of the stream to the opposite bank, at a predetermine section of the channel, leveling it as best as possible and securing in place with the
nails. Then the channel cross section will be drawn to scale on the graph paper using the large
tape as the base line and distances to the channel and water surface measured using the small
tape. The float will be timed moving downstream over a determined distance (1 m) and the
speed of flow calculated.
Background Research:
The students will be required to study different channel forms and the fluvial processes that
create them. Students should understand the difference between runoff and groundwater and
how each contributes to stream flow.
Deliverables:
Students will be required to create a classroom presentation and complete a research paper.
The Geochemistry of the High Point Greenway
Objectives:
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That students will understand that stream water carries pollutants derived
from activities conducted on land
That students will know what some of these pollutants are and how they
enter and move through the stream
That students will understand some of the ecological consequences of
selected stream borne pollutants
Materials Needed:
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Clipboard and notepaper
Map of greenway
GPS
Camera
Probe wear including probes for flow, turbidity, flow, temperature, pH, and
dissolved oxygen
Plastic beakers
Distilled water
Activity:
At one or more pre-determined sections of the greenway, students will record their
location on the greenway and then take water samples from the channel. They will
record water temperature, pH, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen. Flow will be measured
mid-stream.
Background Research:
The students will be required to gain an understanding of what chemical parameters
define a healthy stream and which define an unhealthy stream. Students should gain
an understanding of which land-based activities produce pollutants and the processes
responsible for delivering pollutants to streams. Students should understand the
ecological significance of unhealthy levels of pollutants.
Deliverables:
Students will be required to create a classroom presentation and complete a research
paper.