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\n\tYou’ve explored how your species is impacted by poor water quality, and examined your species’ relationships with other living and nonliving things in its ecosystem. It’s time to make a plan to help the animal you have chosen. The first step in designing your project is to decide where it will happen. Depending on how close you are to a river, lake, or wetland, you can either directly improve the health of that freshwater site near you by conducting a Site Project, or you can help the larger watershed you live in by conducting a Watershed Project.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t
If you are not able to find or visit a site that your species could live in, consider choosing a watershed project. This project will help your species and many others by improving the health of your larger watershed!<\/p>\n\t
If you are near a site that your species might live in, you can design and do a Site Project.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExplore Survey\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\tIf you are near a site that your species might live in, you can design and do a Site Project.\nSelect a freshwater ecosystem near you that could be home for your species.\nYou may perform a site survey on one or more sites. Below are some examples:\n Survey<\/b> the site(s) to find signs of your species and what it needs to survive and thrive in its habitat. Note signs of water quality and human impact. Make sketches, or take pictures or videos of the area. Talk with people who use the area to begin piecing together clues for why the ecosystem is unhealthy for your species.\u00a0<\/p>\n Map<\/b> your site as you conduct your survey. Add labels and notes that describe what you see, such as plants and animals, habitat features, or human impacts and interactions with the site. Mark one or more places where a project could occur.\u00a0<\/p>\n Repeat Step 1-3 at other sites you want to consider, compare survey results, and choose your\u00a0 project site.<\/p>\n Heads-up!<\/b> Make sure you get permission<\/b> to work in that space before you consider it for a project.<\/p>\n This site survey will help you define the problem you want to solve at your site. <\/p>\t\n\t If you are not near a site where your freshwater species could live, you can do a Watershed Project to improve the health of your community’s water ecosystems by raising awareness and encouraging positive action in your community!<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExplore Survey\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t If you are not near a site where your freshwater species could live, your project might focus on changing a specific type of activity in your community that is harmful to the watershed and species living there. You would become experts on this human impact and raise awareness about it in your community with people who could help create positive change. The effects from your Watershed Project would make their way to your local rivers, lakes, and wetlands, and help the species that live there.\u00a0<\/p>\n Survey<\/b> the site to track the path of water from where it falls to where it moves through the watershed. All\u00a0water that falls on your school grounds, home garden or community park becomes part of your local watershed. Track the path of rainwater that falls on your watershed site during rain shower or while the area is being watered with sprinklers or a hose.<\/p>\n Survey<\/b> the site(s) to find signs of your species and what might be missing at the site that your species needs to survive and thrive. Note signs of water quality and human impact. Make sketches, or take pictures or videos of the area. Talk with people who use the area to begin piecing together clues for why the ecosystem is unhealthy for your species.\u00a0<\/p>\n Map<\/b> your site as you conduct your survey. Add labels and notes that describe what you see, such as plants and animals, habitat features, or human impacts and interactions with the site. Mark one or more places where a project could occur.\u00a0<\/p>\n Repeat Step 1-3 at other sites you want to consider, compare survey results, and choose your\u00a0 project site.<\/p>\n Heads-up!<\/b> Make sure you get permission<\/b> to work in that space before you consider it for a project.<\/p>\n This site survey will help you define the problem you want to solve at your site. <\/p>\n\t If you are not near a site where your freshwater species could live, your project might focus on changing a specific type of activity in your community that is harmful to the watershed and species living there. You would become experts on this human impact and raise awareness about it in your community with people who can help create positive change. The effects from your Watershed Project would make their way to your local rivers, lakes, and wetlands, and help the species that live there.\u00a0<\/p>\n Go out to your schoolyard and look for drops of water. These drops can be from rain, dew, or even a sprinkler. Visualize many of these drops all pooled together. Where do you think these many drops of water might go as they flow across the land and through your watershed? Think about their path from where you stand right now or in your garden, your community park, or other places around you.<\/p>\n Map<\/strong> the site to show the path water takes after it falls on the site and moves into the watershed, and possibly into a nearby river, lake, or wetland.<\/p>\n\t\t Lessons: Mapping Skills<\/a><\/strong> for Elementary Students, from National Geographic<\/p>\n\t\t solve Survey Your Site How can your project help a freshwater ecosystem in your community? You’ve explored how your species is impacted by poor water quality, and examined your species’ relationships with other living and nonliving things in its ecosystem. It’s time to make a plan to help the animal you have chosen. The first […]<\/p>\n\n \t
Watershed Survey<\/h3>\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Site Survey<\/h3>\t\t\n\t\t\tIf you are near a site that your species might live in, you can design and do a Site Project.
\nSelect a freshwater ecosystem near you that could be home for your species.
\nYou may perform a site survey on one or more sites. Below are some examples:\n\n
Watershed Survey<\/h3>\t\t\n\t\t\t
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ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR SURVEY, IT IS TIME TO define the problem facing your species<\/a><\/h5>\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLet’s Go\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"