Mapping My River Basin
You will be creating a map that shows various physical features of your river basin and researching
information pertaining to your drinking water.
Part 1: Research (1 point for each blank)
1. What is the name of your river basin?_____________________________________________
2. What are the names of at least 5 major tributaries that flow into my river basin?
a) ________________________
b) ________________________
c) ________________________
d) ________________________
e) ________________________
3. What are the names of the mountain ranges (4 of them) that surround our river basin?
a) ________________________
b) ________________________
c) ________________________
d) ________________________
4. What specific directions (North, south, east, west?) does the river flow in my river basin?
___________________________________________________________________________
5. What estuary does the main river in our river basin empty into before flowing into the Atlantic
Ocean? ___________________________________
6. What are 5 human activities that affect our water quality?
a) ________________________
b) ________________________
c) ________________________
d) ________________________
e) ________________________
7. Locate 3 possible point source pollutants and three non-point source pollutants in our river basin.
Point:
a) _______________________________
b) _______________________________
c) _______________________________
Non-Point
a) _________________________________
b) _________________________________
c) _________________________________
Part 2: Creating Your Map
Step 1: Use different colors (Brown = high elevation, orange = mid elevation and yellow = low
elevation) to LIGHTLY shade in the different elevations in VA, NC and SC. Create a key for this on
the back of the paper. All the land on your map should be colored.
Step 2: Use your pencil to label all of the counties in OUR river basin. Write small and in all capital
letters.
Step 3: In blue colored pencil, draw in and label the names of the major rivers (both of them) and
tributaries (5 minimum) that drain our river basin. Use arrows on the river lines to show the direction
the water is flowing.
Example: ------------
Step 4: Use triangles as symbols to show where the four mountain ranges are that border our river
basin. Use different colored triangles to represent different mountain ranges. Put this on your key.
(Your map should just have triangles, and your key should have the mountain range label. We should
not see labels on your map)
Step 5: Use a red asterisk to represent the location of our school. Put this in your key (Your map
should just have the asterisk, and your key should have our schools name labeled. We should not
see labels on your map)
Step 6: Use your pencil to label the name of the estuary that the Yadkin Pee –Dee empties into.
Step 7: Use small purple rectangles to draw in where hydroelectric plants (at least 2 of them) are
located on the Yadkin Pee-Dee River. Number the rectangles in purple on your map. Label these in
your key. (Your map should just have the rectangles and numbers, and your key should have the
plant’s label. We should not see labels on your map)
Step 8: Locate and plot 3 possible point source and non-point source pollutants. Use pink numbers to
represent these (1-6) and put them on your key. (Your map should just have numbers, and your key
should have the pollutant label. We should not see labels on your map)
Step 9: Title your map on the front and put your name, date and class period below the title, in
smaller writing.
Part 3: Use your notes from your river basin scavenger hunt and data from your map to answer the
questions below.
1. Harrisburg has been continually growing over the last several years. Where would you expect to
see better water quality, in the North Yadkin River or Rocky River? Explain why. (2pts.)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
2. The Winyah Bay has reported having larger quantities of excess nutrients in the water system. You
have been asked to investigate these water findings to find the cause of these excess nutrients. In
order to start your investigation, you need to hypothesize some possible point source and non- point
source contaminants. Using your map, suggest three locations (at least one point source and at least
one non-point source) where you think these contaminants originate and why. Label these locations
as either point source or non-point source contaminants. (9 pts.)
1._______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. Based off of your hypothesized origins above, what recommendations would you give to people
living in each location to reduce the excess nutrients they are causing? (3 pts.)
1._______________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________________
4. Explain why the Yadkin River flows north and then makes a 90 degree turn to flow south. (1 pts.)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Rubric
Task
Research complete
Shading is used to mark changes in elevation
Counties labeled
Main rivers are drawn in and labeled in blue
5 tributaries are drawn in and labeled in blue
At least 4 mountain ridges that boarder our river
basin are drawn as Δ
Location of our school
At least two hydroelectric power plants drawn
The correct estuary is labeled in the correct
place.
3 point source pollutants numbered
3 non-point source pollutants numbered
The name of your river basin is your title
The key on the back of you map is complete and
accurate
Questions
River basin scavenger hunt
Points
_________ / 23
3
2
1
6
5
4
2
1
0
5
4
3
4
3
2
1
2
2
0
1
1
3
3
1
10
2
2
0
8
0
3
2
1
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
6
4
2
0
_________/15
_________ / 20
Total ___________ / 100 points
___________ %