On this page, you will find helpful materials for preparing for the aquatic ecology portion of the Indiana Envirothon Competition. 

---

2021 Aquatic Ecology Resources

• Volunteer Stream Monitoring Training Manual by Hoosier Riverwatch
  • https://www.in.gov/idem/riverwatch/2332.htm​ 
• USGS Water Resources           
  • Watercycle: https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/water-cycle-adults-and-advanced-students
  • Water Facts: https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/facts-about-water
  • Watersheds: https://www.in.gov/idem/nps/2369.htm
• Agencies Working on Clean Water:
  • https://engineering.purdue.edu/watersheds/resources/ WatershedAgencies.pdf
  • Be familiar with the agencies, programs, and roles of each agency

---

Aquatic Ecology Objectives

1. Identify assisting agencies and laws that govern Indiana waters, and develop a working understanding of the programs which benefit our water resources.
   
2. Define a watershed and the interaction of its components.
   
3. Define and understand the difference between non-point source and point source water pollution, as well as types of water pollution  (organic, inorganic, thermal, toxic, etc.) and their impacts.
   
4. Be able to conduct water tests and interpret data for assessing water quality ie: dissolved oxygen, BOD5, turbidity, nitrate/nitrite etc.
   
5. Identify aquatic organisms, be able to classify them by pollution tolerance groups, and determine their indication of aquatic health.
   
6. Understand the unique characteristics of freshwater resources (lakes and ponds, rivers and streams, reservoirs, wetlands, and groundwater).
   
7. Understand the basic concepts of hydrology and the water cycle.
   
8. Be familiar with the distribution of the Earth’s water and understand water’s changing states and processes of the Water Cycle.
   
9. Be familiar with citizens’ simple actions that can be implemented to prevent nonpoint source pollution.  
   
10. Be able to identify and understand the interaction of segments of a community where water pollution can occur. 
    

---

Soil & Land Use

Reference Material & Learning Objectives

Wildlife

Reference Material & Learning Objectives

Forestry

Reference Material & Learning Objectives

Current Issue

Reference Material & Learning Objectives

2021 Topic: Water Resources Management:  Local Control and Local Solutions