Environmental Science Lab Unit 1

Name: Mario Rogers

Date: 04 April 2013

Instructor’s Name: Dr. Nieratka

Assignment: SCIE211 Phase 1 Lab Report

Title: Human Impacts on the Sustainability of Groundwater

Instructions: You will need to write a 1-page lab report using the scientific method to answer the following question:

• If current human development does not change, will groundwater sustainability be affected?

When your lab report is complete, post it in Submitted Assignment files.

Part I: Using the time progression of industrialization and human development, fill in the data table below to help you write up your lab report.

Time Period |Impact to Forest |Groundwater Levels |Saltwater Intrusion |Farming |Industrial development |Population | |1800s |Large Forests |Lot of Groundwater |No Saltwater Intrusion |Small Farms |No Cities |Limited Housing | |1900s |Decreased by 50% |Decreased by 50% |Ocean moved into Groundwater |Farms are larger, but there are fewer |Exceptional growth of cities and industrial development |Substantial increase in housing | |2000s |Decreased by 90% |Decreased by 90% |Greater movement of ocean into groundwater |Same number of farms, but size decreased by 20% |Industrial development decreased by 10-15% |Housing development decreased by 10-15% | |

Part II: Write a 1-page lab report using the following scientific method sections:

• Purpose

The purpose of this lab is to observe the levels of groundwater and find out the sustainability of the groundwater if human development doesn’t change.

• Introduction

What is currently known about the sustainability of groundwater is that it will not last. Ponce (2006) states “ The unsustainable use of groundwater stands to significantly impact a host of hydrological, ecological and other natural resources and services, including freshwater bodies, and aquatic, riparian, transitional, and ecosystems.” Certain parts of the world that contains groundwater should not be...