Water Resource EngineeringWater Resource Engineering& Environmental Risk Assessment& Environmental Risk Assessment

Roxanna SchaffinoRoxanna Schaffino

Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University

June 29, 2004June 29, 2004

Environmental Risk AssessmentEnvironmental Risk Assessment

Dr. Francisco OliveraDr. Francisco Olivera Geograhic Information Geograhic Information

Systems (GIS)Systems (GIS)• Combines layers of Combines layers of

information about a information about a certain place to give a certain place to give a better understanding.better understanding.11

1www.gis.com

Environmental Risk Assessment Environmental Risk Assessment (cont.)(cont.)

Dr. Robin Autenrieth and Ms. Erica ReeseDr. Robin Autenrieth and Ms. Erica Reese Assess the risk associated within a specific Assess the risk associated within a specific

area.area.• Data Collection & Eval.Data Collection & Eval.• ExposureExposure• Toxicity AssessmentToxicity Assessment• Risk CharacterizationRisk Characterization• Communication & ManagementCommunication & Management

http://www.nos.noaa.gov/topics/oceans/spills/welcome.html

Water Resource PlanningWater Resource Planning

Dr. Kelly BrumbelowDr. Kelly Brumbelow Determine the amount

of available water according to annual rainfall, local water resources, and climate change and variability.

http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/southtex/other/linkpg2.html

The Lesson PlanThe Lesson Plan

Format: 5E Format: 5E EngagementEngagement ExplorationExploration ExplanationExplanation ElaborationElaboration EvaluateEvaluate

EngagementEngagement

Class DiscussionClass Discussion What is engineering?What is engineering? What is Water What is Water

Resources Planning?Resources Planning?

ExplorationExploration

Soil Profile activity. Soil Profile activity. Uses food to build a Uses food to build a

soil profile.soil profile.• O – shredded coconutO – shredded coconut• A – crushed chocolate A – crushed chocolate

graham crackers graham crackers• E – rice crispy cerealE – rice crispy cereal• B – peanut butterB – peanut butter• C – m&m’sC – m&m’s• R – rice crispy treatR – rice crispy treat

Water w/food coloring Water w/food coloring is used to simulate is used to simulate irrigation.irrigation.

http://soils.usda.gov/education/resources/k_12/lessons/profile/

ExplanationExplanation

Class discussionClass discussion ObservationsObservations

Importance of water Importance of water for crop yieldfor crop yield

Importance of Importance of nutrients to crop yieldnutrients to crop yield

http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/film/regionalinfo/locations/location-crops_html

Crop Yield vs IrrigationCrop Yield vs Irrigation

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Dr. Kelly Brumbelow, Texas A&M 2004

http://www.icarda.cgiar.org

Net Profit vs IrrigationNet Profit vs Irrigation

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Dr. Kelly Brumbelow, Texas A&M 2004

http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/CROP/sugarcane/

Valley AgricultureValley Agriculture

RGV Chamber of RGV Chamber of CommerceCommerce $500 million annually$500 million annually

http://www.valleychamber.com/visitor-guide/agriculture.htmlhttp://

aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/southtex/other/linkpg2.html

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/onions/1015y.jpeg

The ChemistryThe Chemistry

What happens when farmers supply What happens when farmers supply sufficient water but harvest a poor quality sufficient water but harvest a poor quality crop? Insufficient plant nutrients may be crop? Insufficient plant nutrients may be the issue.the issue.

Crop Yield vs FertilizerCrop Yield vs Fertilizer

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The ChemistryThe Chemistry

Crops take up nutrients in the form of ions.Crops take up nutrients in the form of ions. Most fertilizer is in a solid state of matter. Most fertilizer is in a solid state of matter.

Therefore, the irrigation (water) is not only Therefore, the irrigation (water) is not only needed to supply crops with water but also needed to supply crops with water but also to ionize the fertilizer. to ionize the fertilizer. ElectrolytesElectrolytes

NHNH33 + H + H220 0 NH NH44++ + OH + OH--

The Chemistry (cont.)The Chemistry (cont.)

Solubility RulesSolubility Rules Liming (CaCOLiming (CaCO33))

• Only Slightly SolubleOnly Slightly Soluble

Acid-Base ReactionsAcid-Base Reactions Occur when water Occur when water

dissolves fertilizers dissolves fertilizers Oxidation NumbersOxidation Numbers

NHNH44++ NO NO22

-- NO NO33--

http://www.barc.usda.gov/graphics/bpdkids/soil_dilutions2.jpg

ElaborationElaboration

WorksheetsWorksheets Magic Square Activity (ions)Magic Square Activity (ions) Solubility Rules/Oxidation NumbersSolubility Rules/Oxidation Numbers

Closure: What do you think about Closure: What do you think about engineering now? engineering now?

EvaluateEvaluate

Quiz/TestQuiz/Test IonsIons Solubility RulesSolubility Rules Oxidation NumbersOxidation Numbers

SupplementalSupplemental

Field TripField Trip Texas A&M Agriculture Research and Texas A&M Agriculture Research and

Extension Center in Weslaco, TexasExtension Center in Weslaco, Texas Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers Inc. in Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers Inc. in

Santa Rosa, TexasSanta Rosa, Texas

Special Thanks to the SponsorsSpecial Thanks to the Sponsors

 The Dwight LookCollege of

EngineeringTexas A&M University

The TexasEngineering Experiment

Station

The NationalScience

Foundation

Special Thanks to All the E3 Special Thanks to All the E3 Teachers and StaffTeachers and Staff

Photo courtesy of Adrian Welsh © 2004

More Special Thanks to the More Special Thanks to the ProfessorsProfessors

Dr. BrumbelowDr. Brumbelow Dr. OliveraDr. Olivera Dr. AutenriethDr. Autenrieth and Ms. Erica Reese and Ms. Erica Reese