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Partners in Time Kits:
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Authors:
Todd Ensign, Aislinn Tierney, Duane Lewis,
Dawn Lewis |
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| Subject(s): Mathematics,
Chemistry, Environmental Science, Engineering,
Biology |
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| Grade Level:
9-12 |
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Unit
Overview
This unit is designed for math teachers and is
based on an authentic environmental engineering problem. In many
areas of rural Appalachia, it is common for abandoned coal mines to
fill with water and begin to overflow. The cold streams that result
are a perfect environment for raising trout. Unfortunately, however, this
water is very acidic, contains dissolved metals, and is unsuitable to
raise fish.
This unit puts the student in the role of an
environmental engineer with the goal of: treating the
water from the mine; designing a suitable fish culture system; and designing the treatment system for the fish waste products before
the stream flows into a local river.
"Acid Mine Drainage" goes beyond the
theoretical and provides students with standard measurement
techniques developed by the GLOBE Program so they may obtain hands-on experiences performing
environmental assessments.
Unit Objectives
The purpose of this unit is for students to gain an
understanding of a real life environmental engineering problem and to
apply mathematics, chemistry, biology, and environmental science concepts
to the process of developing a reasonable solution. During this unit,
students will utilize the
GLOBE Program protocols to measure and assess actual water quality. At the conclusion of the unit, students will be able
to:
- measure dissolved oxygen, pH, total dissolved
solids, turbidity, temperature, and total nitrogen for a body of
water utilizing typical meters and chemical kits
- describe the process to treat acid mine drainage
(AMD) water so it is suitable for growing rainbow trout
- determine the most effective size of fish tank
for raising a large number of rainbow trout when constrained by
geography
- describe the process to treat the waste
(effluent) from a trout hatchery prior to the re-introduction of the trout to a
naturally flowing body of water
- identify different types of engineers and give a
brief job description for each.
- understand and implement the
Engineering Problem Solving Method.
Pre-Assessment
Post-Assessment
Credits and References
The technical information,
tables, and formulas for this unit were collected by Aislinn Tierney
at the WVU civil engineering department.
- Meade, J. 1989. Aquaculture Management. Van
Nostrand Reinhold, New York, NY.
- Piper, R., McElwain, I., Orme, L., McCraren,
J., Fowler, L., and Leonard, J., 1982. Fish Hatchery Management.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C.
- Soderberg, R., 1995. Flowing Water Fish
Culture. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, Florida.
- Skousen, J. and Ziemkiewicz, P., 1996. Acid
Mine Drainage Control and Treatment, 2nd Edition, West Virginia
University and the National Mine Land Reclamation Center,
Morgantown, WV.
- Tchobanoglous, G., and Schroeder, E., 1987.
Water Quality. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Reading, MA.
- Viadero, Jr., R., Rumberg, A., Gray, D.,
Tierney, A., and Semmens, K., 2005. Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry
in Aquaculture Research: Raceway and Quiescent Zone
Hydrodynamics. Journal of Aquacultural Engineering.
- Viadero, Jr., R., Wei, X., and Buzby, K.,
2005. Characterization and Dewatering Evaluation of Acid Mine
Drainage Sludge from Ammonia Neutralization, Environmental
Engineering Science (In Review).
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