Cash Award Opportunity for Columbia County Students
The Ichetucknee Partnership is pleased to announce it will present $50 cash awards to the students with the best projects that focus on water issues and solutions at the 2011 Columbia County Science and Engineering Fair. One award will be presented at the high-school level and one at the middle-school level. Judging will be done by The Ichetucknee Partnership. Students in public school, private school and home-school are eligible.
General project categories:
- Water Quality (Characteristics): Nutrients (nitrate, phosphorous), Dissolved oxygen, pH
- Water Supply: Water use, Water conservation
- Land Use/Spring Use: Springshed (watershed), Recreation
- Geology: Overall karst geology, Caves, Sinkholes
- Restoration: Projects, Prevention of excessive nutrients
Following are some examples of the types of projects we'd hope to see. But the possibilities are endless and we encourage students to come up with their own project ideas!
- Soil Quality: Do remote-sensing systems lead to more environmentally friendly farming?
- How human activities affect the quality of water in our springs and rivers.
- How agricultural practices (irrigation, fertilizers, waste management) affect the water quality of our groundwater, river, springs. How water quality can be improved by implementing certain best management practices. How agricultural practices (irrigation, fertilizers, waste management) affect the water quality of our groundwater, river, springs. How water quality can be improved by implementing certain best management practices.
- How human activities (residential, agricultural, industrial, commercial) affect our groundwater supply.
- How water conservation practices can help protect our groundwater supply.
- What water conservation measures result in greatest water savings?
- Does water conservation education/awareness affect people's behavior regarding their personal water use?
- What types of contaminants are found in runoff from local parks, neighborhoods or highways?
- How do human activities at the top of a springshed (upstream) affect water quality at the bottom of a springshed (downstream)?
- Other projects could be related to stormwater, wastewater, septic systems, animal waste, etc.
- Are there differences in water quality between a local spring and pond/lake, and why?
- What do the macroinvertebrates found in a local river/lake/spring tell me about its water quality?
- Which type of water treatment/filter works best for removing different contaminants?
Download the poster (PDF, 269KB)
Download project information (PDF, 55KB)
