Expectations
Students are expected to:
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Know the processes and phases for each part of the water cycle and understand the water cycle's role in soil nutrient erosion, salinization of agricultural lands, and climatic influences.
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Understand the concept and components of a watershed and be able to identify stream orders and watershed boundaries.
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Know the features of a healthy watershed and an unhealthy watershed.
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Know how to perform and interpret chemical water quality tests and understand why aquatic organisms and water quality is affected by the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the water.
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Understand the dependence of all organisms on one another and how energy and matter flow within an aquatic ecosystem.
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Understand the concept of carrying capacity for a given aquatic ecosystem, and be able to discuss how competing water usage may affect the ability of the system to sustain wildlife, forestry and anthropogenic needs.
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Identify common, rare, threatened and endangered aquatic species as well as Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) through the use of a key.
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Know how to perform biological water quality monitoring tests and understand why these tests are used to assess and manage aquatic environments.
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Identify common stream organisms and use Pollution Tolerance Indices to evaluate stream health.
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Identify aquatic and wetland environments based on their physical, chemical and biological characteristics.
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Know characteristics of different types of aquifers, and understand historical trends and threats to groundwater quantity and quality.
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Understand societal benefits and ecological functions of wetlands.
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Understand the functions and values of riparian zones and be able to identify riparian zone areas.
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Understand how education programs and enforcement agencies are working together to protect aquatic habitats and preventing those who use our waterways from inadvertently transporting Aquatic Nuisance Species ANS from one river to another.
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Interpret major provincial and /or federal laws and methods used to protect water quality (i.e. surface and ground water). Utilize this information to propose management decisions that would improve the quality of water in a given situation.
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Be familiar with the Federal, Provincial and state agencies that provide oversight of water resources, and understand that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a useful and important tool in the management of water resources.
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Identify global and local sources of point and non-point source pollution and be able to discuss methods to reduce point and non-point source pollution.
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Understand the interaction of competing uses of water for water supply, hydropower, navigation, wildlife, recreation, waste assimilation, irrigation, and industry.
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Know the meaning of water conservation, and understand why it is important every time you turn on a faucet.
(Adapted from 2015 Cannon National Envirothon Website - Aquatics Competition Key Points)
Aquatics Study Guide
Study Guide 2024
These materials were provided by the 2024 test writer
A Guide to Ohio Streams / Ohio Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
www.potomacaudubon.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ohiostreamguide.pdf
Pages (this refers to the pdf page number): 5, 7, 9, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 31, 32, 33, 34, 40.
Common Wetland Plants of Ohio Field Guide by Ohio Division of Wildlife
https://ohiodnr.gov/static/documents/wildlife/backyard-wildlife/Pub5530_WetlandPlantsWEB_R1221.pdf
Page 45
Trees of Ohio Field Guide by Ohio Division of Wildlife
Pages 12, 15, 40, and 46
Ohio Field Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species
https://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/p/4j7wz/view/print
Pages 120, 121, 130, 131, 132, 133
Stream Fishes of Ohio Field Guide by Ohio Division of Wildlife
Pages 6-10
Ohio Pond Management Handbook – A Guide to Managing Ponds for Fishing and Attracting Wildlife by ODNR, Division of Wildlife- Publication 5432
http://ohiodnr.gov/static/documents/wildlife/fish-management/Pond%20Management%20Pub432.pdf
Pages 20, 21, 22, 29-30 and Page 37
Amphibians of Ohio Field Guide by Ohio Division of Wildlife
Pages 5, 6, 11,12,19, 20, 21, and 22
Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative Resources: Cavity Nesting Birds
https://obcinet.org/resources/cavity-nesting-birds/
Inland lake habitats critical to maintaining healthy lake ecosystems: Michigan State University Extension
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/inland_lake_habitats_critical_to_maintaining_healthy_lake_ecosystems
Harmful Algal Blooms Brochure by Ohio Sea Grants Fact Sheets https://epa.ohio.gov/static/Portals/35/inland_lakes/HABBrochure.pdf
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
https://www.epa.gov/npdes/npdes-permit-basics
Technical Report: Ohio’s Primary Headwater Streams- Fish and Amphibian Assemblages
https://epa.ohio.gov/static/Portals/35/wqs/headwaters/TechRep_FishAmphibian_2002.pdf
(Page 11 Table 4)
NOAA - Hydrologic Cycle
https://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/info/water_cycle/hydrology.cgi
Number of Channels and Sinuosity by Penn State University
https://www.e-education.psu.edu/earth111/print/book/export/html/871
Izaak Walton League of America (Know Your Macros)
https://www.iwla.org/water/resources-for-monitors
Older materials from past years:
These materials have been retained due to their usefulness, but have not been provided by this year's test writer.
Summary of the Clean Water Act:
https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-water-act
Nonpoint Source Pollution basics:
https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/200049A9.PDF?Dockey=200049A9.PDF
Water Cycle basics:
https://water.usgs.gov/edu/graphics/watercycle-usgs.pdf
What is a watershed:
https://water.usgs.gov/edu/watershed.html
Nutrient Pollution basics:
https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution
Water Use basics:
https://water.usgs.gov/edu/wateruse.html
Ohio’s aquatic invasive species:
Stream Order Explanation
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/19e2af_a46710d357b248169893f227a68de4ed.pdf
Ohio Sediment Stick Instructions
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/19e2af_49d904f0d11b42d6a6abde0470a39d43.pdf
Stream Quality Monitoring Assessment Form
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/19e2af_af0720d23d5b41339ae653c19622bf9e.pdf
Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Key
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/19e2af_195e491d3fd24ce3b518ef08205228dd.pdf
Macroinvertebrates Key
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/19e2af_ab4935e9ac5f4d5abdfd0f7507cac1e5.pdf
River Life
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/19e2af_ebde24e0c7ca488ea6bf94aa94a7c3a1.pdf
Native Trees for planting alongside scenic rivers
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/19e2af_934d025960a743c6bb2987ae13cbccbe.pdf
Groundwater Program
https://epa.ohio.gov/ddagw/#116665775-about-the-ground-water-program
Ambient Groundwater Monitoring Network
https://oepa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=b39b9cbeb3834e9ca598d968d16333ce
https://epa.ohio.gov/ddagw/swap/LiveTabId/114918#114912863-publications-and-resources
https://epa.ohio.gov/ddagw/pws#113432743-basics
https://epa.ohio.gov/ddagw/dwgwbasics
Groundwater Monitoring Network
https://epa.ohio.gov/ddagw/gwqcp
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Tests
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