Water Ecostation

This section of the Envirothon covers numerous topics pertaining to water including: water chemistry, hydrological cycle, water table, aquifers, porosity, movement of groundwater, wells, watersheds, streams & rivers, flow, alterations to a watershed, eutrophication, wetlands, lakes & ponds, lake turnover & stratification, estuaries, oceans, water pollution, movement of contaminants in water, remediation and water quality management.

Water Eco-Station Test Preparation Resources

• Water Ecostation Manual
• 2024 Water Story map
• EPA Fact Sheets
  • Temperature Parameter Factsheet
  • pH Parameter Factsheet
  • Turbidity Parameter Factsheet
  • Macroinvertebrates Parameter Factsheet
  • E. coli Parameter Factsheet
  • Nutrients Parameter Factsheet
  • Habitat Assessment Parameter Factsheet
  • Metals Parameter Factsheet
  • References for Parameter Factsheets
  • Dissolved Oxygen Parameter Factsheet
• Aquatic Invasive Species Brochure
• Water Quality Cheat Sheets
  • Part 1
  • Part 2
• PFAS infosheet

Other Useful Resources

These resources will not be covered on the Water Eco-Station Test but offer fascinating and insightful information to assist you with understanding the bigger picture.

• Videos
  • Check out our YouTube Channel for many relevant water videos.
  • Water Overview – PowerPoint – updated 11/10/14 Recorded Webinar
  • Groundwater Contamination – 11/10/14
  • Water Quality – 4/8/17
  • Designing a Raingarden – 3/30/18
  • Watershed Delineation – PowerPoint – added 2/14
  • Wachusett Watershed Virtual Field Trip: Video | Resource Guide
  • Model Watershed: Video | Resource Guide
  • Watershed Delineation video
  • Delineate a Watershed with Topographical Maps:
    • Topo map introduction
    • Delineate a watershed
• Downloads
  • Dog Waste and Surface Water Quality (pdf) – DCR
  • Aquatic Plants
  • Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Product (PPCP) Pollution – EPA
  • Pharmaceutical Circle Simplified (pdf)
  • Climate Change Impact on Water Resources (pdf) – EPA
  • Unused & Expired Pharmaceuticals (pdf)
  • Thermal Pollution (pdf) – Wikipedia
  • Water Science School “Water Quality” – USGS
  • Climate Change Likely Makes Storms Like Sandy Worse – MIT Technology Review
  • Lakes and Ponds Program
  • Lakes and Ponds Guide
  • Non-point Source Pollution: NOAA Tutorial
  • River Runner
  • Model My Watershed
  • Runoff Simulator
• Books / Articles
  • Principles of Water Resources – Cech, Thomas; J. Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, 2003
  • Dictionary Of Ecology and Environmental Science – Art, Henry; New York, 1994
  • Hands on Save Our Streams – Firehock, Karen; Izaak Walton League of America, Inc; Gaithersburg, MD, 1995
  • Basic Ground-water Hydrology – Heath, Ralph; U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 2220, 1998
  • Environmental Geology – Murck, Barbara; Skinner, Brian; Porter, Stephen C.; John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1996
  • Massachusetts Land and Pond Guide – Office of Water Resources, Lakes and Ponds Program, Boston, 2004
  • A Guide to Aquatic Plants in Massachusetts – New England Aquarium, Boston, 1999
  • Modern Biology – Towel, Albert; Holt, Rinehart & Winston, Inc., Orlando, FL, 1991
  • Ground Water and Surface Water: A Single Resource – Winter, Thomas; Harvey, Judson W.; Franke, O. Lehn; Alley, William M.; U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1139, Denver, CO, 1998

For more information, contact the Massachusetts Envirothon Coordination Team: massenvirothon@gmail.com