Resources for Activity 8: Regional Community Issues: The Ogallala Aquifer

Overview:
In this activity, students investigate a regional issue as they adopt the roles of shareholders and debate solutions to the depletion of North America's largest aquifer.

Student Pages:
Case Study - Ogallala Aquifer
Role #1 - Citizens Alliance for the Aquifer
Role #2 - Colorado High School Student
Role #3 - Ecologist from Nebraska
Role #4 - Meat Industry Representative from Texas
Role #5 - Farmer from Kansas
Role #6 - Agricultural Engineer from Wyoming
Role #7 - Toxicologist from Nebraska
Role #8 - Economist from South Dakota
Shareholder's View

Websites Referenced In Activity 8:
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) Proposed Rule Supporting Documents (http://epa.gov/guide/cafo)
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation.... Resources for Environmental Responsibility (http://www.groundwatersystems.com/agwaste.html)
Keep Animal Waste Out of Our Waters Stop Factory Farm Pollution (http://www.sierraclub.org/factoryfarms/)
World Commission to study Grand Coulee Dam (http://www.dams.org/kbase/studies/us/us_background.htm)
Delaware Estuary (http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/programs/de.htm)
Crandon Mine (http://www.epa.gov/region5/water/crandonmine)
Chao Phraya river basin, Thailand (http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/chao_phraya/index.shtml)
Greater Tokyo Region, Japan (http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/tokyo/index.shtml)
Lake Peipsi/Chudskoe Ozero, Estonia and Russia  (http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/peipsi_lake/index.shtml)
Lake Titicaca Basin, Bolivia and Peru (http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/titicaca_lake
Ruhuna Basin, Sri Lanka (http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/ruhuna_basins/index.shtml)
Seine-Normandy Basin, France (http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/seine_normandy/index.shtml)
Senegal River Basin, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal (http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/senegal_river/index.shtml)
UNESCO Case Studies (http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/index.shtml)

Additional Resources
The People Speak Global Debates – October 2007 & March 2008
This UN Foundation will work with high school students across the U.S. and select countries. During ten-day periods in October 2007 and March 2008, students across the globe will be organizing public debates in their high schools and coordinating a global vote on the debate topics. October’s debate topic is on the best way to lower carbon emissions and March will focus on water rights.

State Specific Resources
Article on Galveston, TX development plans. Critics say the plans are dangerous because homes and hotels are being built on a ridge that some say protects the island

Earth & Sky Radio Correlations
This activity can be supplemented with related Earth & Sky radio shows that you can download for use in your classroom. Learn about the PLT and Earth & Sky Initiative.

Related Earth & Sky Shows:
- Paul Ehrlich on Water and our Human Population  (2009)