Challenge Rationale

When rain falls or snow melts, it does not simply stay in one place or seep into the ground to replenish groundwater; most of it begins to move. When water flows over land, it is called surface runoff, and it is an important part of the water cycle, but have you ever wondered where your runoff is running off to? What’s in your runoff? What is the runoff doing to the environment once it has settled? Around the world, there are more than 400 dead zones in oceans and lakes, where the water contains so little oxygen that aquatic life can no longer survive. In large part, this is due to excess nutrient pollution found in our runoff as a result of home, agricultural, and industrial practices as well as population growth. In this challenge, students will learn about the impact of runoff in rural and urban areas and its effects on the environment as well as plan for solutions to this growing issue of dead zones, hypoxia, and overall water quality.

VIDEO

Establishing the Challenge

Identify a Challenge

Eutrophication is a big word that describes a big problem in our world’s estuaries. Harmful algal blooms, dead zones, and fish kills are a result of eutrophication. Nitrogen and phosphorous are the culprits that come from runoff sources like fertilizer, untreated wastewater, and atmospheric fallout from burning fossil fuels. This problem should matter to you whether you live near an ocean or not because the problem starts where you live and ends in resources we all use and enjoy. In this challenge, students will learn about protection of marine resources through home practices, agricultural practices, and waste management practices. We all play a part in ensuring a thriving planet which includes ensuring water quality for generations to come.

Eutrophic events have increased because of the rapid rise in intense agricultural practices, industrial practices, and population growth. These three processes emit large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus in runoff which cause dead zones also known as hypoxic zones. These are areas that are so deprived of oxygen that aquatic life can no longer survive.

Different areas of the world emit different levels of these nutrients. The United States, along with nations in the European Union, use animal manure and commercial fertilizers in agriculture and are the main contributors to eutrophication. Runoff from larger agricultural fields enters creeks and bays because of rain, snow melt, or irrigation practices. In the developing countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia, untreated wastewater from sewage and industry are the main contributors to eutrophication. Land development through urbanization such as pavement, rooftops, roads, etc. also increases surface runoff as the water cannot seep through these impervious surfaces. Urban runoff carries with it many pollutants such as petroleum, sediment, and fertilizers. Atmospheric sources of nitrogen also contribute to eutrophication.

Eutrophication has severe environmental impacts on ecosystems and poses major problems for all living things. Reducing eutrophication, while also maintaining natural runoff, is an important component to ensuring a sustainable future.

Challenge Question

How can we improve the quality of our runoff and, in turn, reduce dead zones in our water resources?

This solution must address the following needs

• Address dead zone concerns through industrial, agricultural, or population growth
• Reduce amounts or sizes of dead zones
• Reduce contaminated runoff
• Ways we can improve the quality of our runoff
• Trade-offs of using eco-friendly practices as it relates to runoff
• Economic, environmental, and societal needs

Success will be determined by

• Producing and sharing a presentation of knowledge gained
• Production of a model solution for higher-quality water runoff or the reduction of highly-polluted runoff

Challenge Question

How can we improve the quality of our runoff and, in turn, reduce dead zones in our water resources?

GUIDES

Purple Plow Guide

Challenge Guide

Student Guide

Lesson Packet

Video Submission Form

Judging Rubric

Student Reflections

IMPORTANT PRIVACY INFORMATION

This experience is designed for kids, but must be submitted by an adult over the age of 18. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) prevents The Purple Plow Challenge from collecting personal information online from children under age 13.

• Do not include student names, school name or any other personal information in the body of the response questions. Enter school and contact information only in the specific designated areas of the form.

Do your photos need a release? Any photo that shows the face of a student or recognizable characteristics of that student requires an official AFBFA photo release form. (DOWNLOAD HERE). Here are some tips for taking pictures that Do Not require a photo release: Take pictures of

• Student prototypes only
• Students’ hands working on projects
• Over-the-shoulder pictures of students working from behind.