Mapping My River Basin MOD
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. What is the name of your river basin?_____________________________________________
2. What are the names of at least 3 major tributaries that flow into my river basin?
a) ________________________
b) ________________________
c) ________________________
3. Where are the Appalachian Mountains located in NC?
Circle one: ( NORTH
SOUTH
EAST
WEST
)
4. What specific directions (North, south, east, west?) does the river flow in my river basin?
First the river flows __________________ then it flows _________________________
5. What estuary does the main river in our river basin empty into before flowing into the Atlantic
Ocean? ___________________________________
6. What are 2 human activities that affect our water quality?
a) ________________________
b) ________________________
7. Locate one possible point source pollutant and one non-point source pollutants in our river basin.
Point:
Non-Point
a) _______________________________
a) _________________________________
Part 2: Creating Your Map
Step 1: Use different colors to LIGHTLY shade in the different elevations/regions of NC
Brown = mountains
Orange = piedmont
Yellow =coast plains
Step 2: Use your pencil to label Cabarrus County, Mecklenburg County and Union county 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 (3 minimum) that drain our river basin. Use arrows on the river lines to show the direction
the water is flowing.
Example: ------------
Step 4: Use a red asterisk to represent the location of our school.
Step 5: Use your pencil to label the name of the estuary that the Yadkin Pee –Dee empties into.
Step 6: Locate and plot a possible point source pollutant and label it 1 using a pink colored pencil.
Step 7: Locate and plot a possible non-point source pollutant and label it 2 using a pink colored
pencil.
Step 8: Title your map on the front and put your name, date and class period below the title, in
smaller writing.
Extra Credit: 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)
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 one location where you think these contaminants
originate and explain why. Identify this location as either a point source or non-point source
contaminant. (9 pts.)
I think the contaminant came from _____________________________________ because
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
This is a ___________________________________ (point source or non-point source) pollutant.
3. Based off of your hypothesized origin above, what recommendation would you give to people living
in this location to reduce the excess nutrients they are causing? (3 pts.)
1._______________________________________________________________________________
4. Explain why the Yadkin River flows north and then makes a 90 degree turn to flow south. (1 pts.)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Rubric
Task
Points
Research complete
Shading is used to mark changes in elevation
Counties labeled
Main rivers are drawn in and labeled in blue
3 tributaries are drawn in and labeled in blue
Location of our school
The correct estuary is labeled in the correct
place.
A point source pollutant is numbered as 1
A non-point source pollutant numbered as 2
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
_________ / 23
3
2
1
6
4
2
2
1
0
5
3
1
1
0
2
1
0
3
3
1
10
0
0
0
8
6
0
0
0
4
2
0
_________/15
_________ / 20
Total ___________ / 100 points ____________________ %