the streets to the sea challengedpw.lacounty.gov/prg/generationearth/pdf/streets to the sea... ·...
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The Streets to the Sea Challenge Teacher/Advisor Competition Application
Name _________________________________________________________________________________
School Name __________________________________________________________________________
Street Address _________________________________________________________________________
City _________________________________________________ Zip ______________________________
Work Phone ________________________________ E-mail __________________________________
Cell Phone _________________________________ Fax _____________________________________
Additional Teachers or School Staff participating in the Challenge _______________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Student Leaders: (5 max per school team; to represent team during final round of competition)
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2.
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Number of additional students participating in the Challenge __________________________
E-mail or fax to Edward Murphy no later than May 1, 2015 Fax (818) 623-4957 | E-mail: [email protected]
Generation Earth is an environmental education program of the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, presented by TreePeople
The Streets to the Sea Challenge
Instructions
1. Form a Challenge Team with at least five student leaders and one adult supervisor (teacher or campus advisor), and complete the Competition Application.
2. Obtain a campus map and use the Campus Water Audit included in this packet to complete a survey of your school site to identify excess water flows, drainage problems, or other water-based impairments. Write a three paragraph summary of your findings, highlighting key problem areas.
3. Research or invent a simple, easy to implement solution (stormwater pollution prevention hack) to one of the problems identified in your Audit, using readily available materials.
4. Complete a working model for your stormwater pollution prevention hack for testing and demonstration. Document using photos and/or diagram, or a video.
5. Develop an outreach campaign using infographics, videos, posters, flash-mobs, plays or social media to help show your campus peers how your stormwater pollution prevention hack works, and how they can assist in implementing it throughout the campus or community.
6. Document your stormwater pollution prevention hack and your outreach campaign in action, and evaluate its success using a metric of your choosing (hacks installed, students reached, trash screened, water captured or reused, etc.).
7. Submit your materials to the Generation Earth Competition Coordinator, Edward Murphy, for participation in the competition: Edward Murphy | Generation Earth Stormwater Specialist [email protected] | phone (818) 623-4857 | fax (818) 623-4957
The Streets to the Sea Challenge
Official Rules
1. At least one teacher and five students must be part of the Challenge Team in order to participate.
2. Use only the Campus Water Audit provided in the competition packet to survey, evaluate, and analyze the campus watershed for potential impairments in surface flow or pollution.
3. Stormwater pollution prevention hack designs must include at least one measureable element, such as number of hacks installed, students reached, trash screened, water captured or reused for evaluation and comparison.
4. All materials, including Campus Water Audit, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Hack Design, and Outreach Campaign (and supporting media such as videos, posters, and social media) must be submitted no later than midnight on May 1, 2015.
Helpful Resources
1. EPA’s Interactive Water Filtration Lesson www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/flash/flash_filtration.html Lesson on natural water filtration with build instructions, and example video that teaches about pollution issues and provide a resolution.
2. Instructables www.instructables.com Website that features do-it-yourself projects and guides for simple installations featuring everything from simple to complex technology
3. Pinterest www.pinterest.com Great resource for looking up and sharing various project and outreach ideas using simple household materials (requires account)
THE UR
BAN W
ATER CYCLE
HOW TO SU
RVEY
WATER FL
OW ACROSS
YOUR CAM
PUS
WATER AUDIT
Name(s) _________________________________________________ Date _____________
Location ___________________________________________________________________
1) Obtain a map of the school. A simple, hand drawn map can be used, if a map is not available.
2) Use colored markers or pencils to mark the map and identify what is found.
3) Walk around the entire area looking for the items listed below on the audit and marking their location on the map.
LOOK FOR…
1
Places where water can get into the ground (grass, bare dirt, garden, etc.)Use GREEN to show these places on your map.
2 Sources of water (faucets, drinking fountain, sprinkler, hose, etc.)Use BLUE to show these places on your map.
3 Places where water travels (gutters, down spout, drain, concrete, asphalt, etc.)Use PURPLE to show these places on your map.
4 Trash and other things that could be harmful to water (food trash, candy wrappers, motor oil, pet waste, etc.) Use a RED X to show these items on your map.
a) Use arrows to show the direction water would travel. Remember water fl ows from
higher points to low ones.
b) Circle on your map where you found trash and other areas of concern.
The continual circulation of water from
the atmosphere to the earth and its return to the
atmosphere through precipitation, percolation,
and evaporation is also known as the water cycle.
The cycle begins when rainwater falls onto the earth and percolates down into the soil. The soil acts as a natural fi lter, cleaning the water that collects in aquifers (underground layers of soil that store water). This underground water is called ground water and supplies water to wells and natural springs. When it rains, water that is not absorbed by soil travels over land as runoff, fl owing downhill and collecting in streams and rivers, which fl ow into lakes and oceans. Evaporation occurs when the sun draws water from lakes, rivers and oceans into the atmosphere where rain clouds form, completing the cycle.
Water goesback upinto the air.
Rivers flowto the ocean.
Some rain flowsinto rivers.
Some rain dripsinto the land.
Rain falls fromthe clouds.
RAIN FALLS FROM THE CLOUDS
SOME RAIN DRIPS INTO THE LAND
SOME RAIN FLOWS INTO RIVERS
RIVERS FLOW TO
THE OCEAN
WATER GOESBACK UP
INTO THE AIR
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THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CYCLE IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT?
THE CAMPUS WATERSHED
Your school campus is part of this urban
water cycle. The land area of the school
directs water from rain, sprinklers, faucets
and garden hoses across your campus
everyday. As the water travels, it picks up
trash and other pollutants and carries them
into the storm drain system, negatively
impacting the environment beyond your
campus. You, your peers, teachers,
administrators, and maintenance staff are
responsible for what fl ows off the campus,
into the storm drains and to the ocean.
WHY IS URBAN RUNOFF DANGEROUS?
Urban runoff from rainwater and water from garden hoses,
sprinklers, and other outdoor sources, travels over concrete and
asphalt picking up pollutants (cigarette butts, automotive fl uids, trash,
pesticides, and pet waste) and carrying them straight to the ocean.
In our neighborhoods, clogged catch basins fi lled with trash attract rats
and rodents, and create unpleasant odors. Clogged storm drains increase
street fl ooding and cost millions of tax dollars to clean. At the ocean local
offi cials close beaches regularly after rain storms due to the pollutants and
toxins fl owing through storm drains into Santa Monica Bay and San Pedro
Bay; swimmers who swim near these discharge areas have increased risk
of viral infections and illness; and marine life is harmed or killed.
WHAT IS HAPPENING ON YOUR CAMPUS?1 Conduct a water audit on your campus.
2 Record where water fl ows over the watershed, what it may take with it, and where it goes.
3 Use the attached audit to record what you fi nd.
4 Continue your investigation by seeking answers to the questions on the back of the audit.
Generation Earth Student Action Guides are available to students working
on a project. These guides are designed to help you plan a project, create
and prioritize tasks, keep track of progress, and evaluate the results.
CHECK WITH YOUR TEACHER OR ADVISOR FOR HOW TO GET THESE FREE GUIDES, OR CALL 818.623.4870.
RAIN FALLS FROM THE CLOUDS
SOME RAIN DRIPS INTO THE LAND
SOME RAIN FLOWS INTO RIVERS
RIVERS FLOW TO
THE OCEAN
WATER GOESBACK UP
INTO THE AIR
RAIN FALLS FROM THE CLOUDS.
RAIN HITS CITY STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND PARKING LOTS, AND SLIDESOFF INTO THE GUTTER AND CHANNELED INTO A CATCHBASIN.
THEN, RAIN AND DEBRIS IS CARRIED
INTO THE STORM DRAIN,
EMPTIED INTO THE LOS ANGELES RIVER,
WATEREVAPORATESBACK INTO THE SKY.
AND SENT TO THE OCEAN.
RAIN FALLS FROM THE CLOUDS.
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RAIN HITS CITY STREETS,SIDEWALKS, AND
PARKING LOTS, IT SLIDES OFF INTO THE GUTTER
AND IS CHANNELED INTO A CATCHBASIN.
THEN, RAIN AND DEBRIS
ARE CARRIED INTO THE
STORM DRAIN.
EMPTIED INTO THE LOS ANGELES RIVER.
AND SENT TO THE OCEAN.
WATEREVAPORATESBACK INTO THE SKY.
THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CYCLE IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT?
As a city grows, land is cleared and developed creating miles of paved surfaces (streets and parking lots), buildings and houses. These surfaces severely limit the amount of rainwater that can be absorbed by soil. To prevent this water from fl ooding streets, engineers created a fl ood control or storm drain system. This complex system of catch basins, underground pipes, and open fl ood control channels carry urban runoff straight to the ocean, without any treatment. This, however, interrupts the natural hydrologic cycle by discharging water directly to the ocean, rather than allowing much of it to absorb slowly into the ground. Without this natural system of fi ltration, water reaches the ocean directly, carrying with it any pollutants it may have picked up along the way.
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Does your school campus have dry, compacted ground that doesn’t absorb water and sends dirt and debris into the street gutters and drains?
Are there any areas of concern, such as clogged catch basins, blocked storm drains, leaky faucets or areas where water fl oods?
Are there areas where concrete and asphalt can be removed to make space for trees and areas that allow water to soak into the ground?
Based on the path water takes across campus, what pollutants does it pick up along the way?
Set up an interview with the facilities manager and/or maintenance staff to fi nd out what potentially harmful products they use including fertilizers and cleaning products.
After nutrition and lunch, what happens to the trash that is sprayed off the ground with hoses?
MORE TO DO AND QUESTIONS TO ASK
TAKE ACTION
BASED ON YOUR FINDINGS, CREATE A PLAN TO REDUCE POLLUTED RUNOFF. IDEAS INCLUDE:
1 Get mulch (ground up leaves and branches) from the school district or other local source and place it below trees, in planters, and on bare, exposed dirt. Mulch absorbs water, and slows the fl ow of water so it can seep into the ground.
2 Create an awareness campaign on the benefi ts of keeping trash and other pollutants off the ground.
3 Talk to campus maintenance about buying and using non-toxic fertilizers, cleaning products, etc.
4 Design a rain garden or planted swale (a slightly depressed area of land) in an area that typically fl oods to allow water to soak into the landscape.
5 Write articles in the school newspaper on how your campus is helping to reduce urban
runoff based on people making different choices.
DETERMINE YOUR URBAN RUNOFF REDUCTION GOALS AND CHALLENGE STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION TO MEET THEM.
RAIN FALLS FROM THE CLOUDS
SOME RAIN DRIPS INTO THE LAND
SOME RAIN FLOWS INTO RIVERS
RIVERS FLOW TO
THE OCEAN
WATER GOESBACK UP
INTO THE AIR
RAIN FALLS FROM THE CLOUDS.
RAIN HITS CITY STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND PARKING LOTS, AND SLIDESOFF INTO THE GUTTER AND CHANNELED INTO A CATCHBASIN.
THEN, RAIN AND DEBRIS IS CARRIED
INTO THE STORM DRAIN,
EMPTIED INTO THE LOS ANGELES RIVER,
WATEREVAPORATESBACK INTO THE SKY.
AND SENT TO THE OCEAN.
RAIN FALLS FROM THE CLOUDS.
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RAIN HITS CITY STREETS,SIDEWALKS, AND
PARKING LOTS, IT SLIDES OFF INTO THE GUTTER
AND IS CHANNELED INTO A CATCHBASIN.
THEN, RAIN AND DEBRIS
ARE CARRIED INTO THE
STORM DRAIN.
EMPTIED INTO THE LOS ANGELES RIVER.
AND SENT TO THE OCEAN.
WATEREVAPORATESBACK INTO THE SKY.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CYCLE IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT?
THE UR
BAN W
ATER CYCLE
1 Reduce, reuse and recycle, and keep litter and hazardous waste off the ground.
2 Fix sprinklers and other sources of water so they don’t spray onto concrete and asphalt surfaces.
3 Direct water from hoses and other sources of water into grass and planters, instead of the street.
4 Place mulch (ground up leaves and branches) below trees, in planters, and on exposed, bare dirt.
5 Direct rain downspouts from the roof to fl ow into grass and planters instead of across concrete, gutters and the storm drains.
6 Plant trees to capture rainfall and direct the water into the soil below.
7 Create berms (small embankments) around the edges of grass and other planters to prevent water from fl owing over concrete, and enabling it to seep into the ground.
8 Report clogged stormdrains to 1-888-CLEAN LA.
9 Keep cars tuned up to prevent oil leakage onto the street.
10 Pick up after pets.TE
N TH
INGS
YOU
CAN
DO T
O HE
LP R
EDUC
E PO
LLUT
ED R
UNOF
F
AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
WWW.GENERATIONEARTH.COM WWW.888CLEANLA.COM
OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS