Further study, discussion, and/or research:
Thank you for your participation in Barton Springs University. If you have any questions, suggestions, or feedback for us, please contact us.
SOS Alliance offers year-round guided eco-tours (hiking and/or snorkeling), in-classroom presentations, and educational events, subject to Covid-19 limitations and safety measures.
We encourage all teachers and students to start with our Barton Springs University Day 2020 videos and presentations, along with the curated videos and materials from other sources linked on the Barton Springs University website. Also, we invite you to sign up for SOS Alliance email news here.
Thank you for your participation in Barton Springs University. If you have any questions, suggestions, or feedback for us, please contact us.
SOS Alliance offers year-round guided eco-tours (hiking and/or snorkeling), in-classroom presentations, and educational events, subject to Covid-19 limitations and safety measures.
We encourage all teachers and students to start with our Barton Springs University Day 2020 videos and presentations, along with the curated videos and materials from other sources linked on the Barton Springs University website. Also, we invite you to sign up for SOS Alliance email news here.
Water Supply and Conservation
Where does the water come from where you live? How does it get from the source to your spigot? What entity or person provides your water? Look for your water provider’s required water conservation plan online. If it is not posted, call them and ask them to email you a copy, along with their most recent, required annual report of water use. What water conservation measures are planned? What is the average daily per capita water use for people served by your utility? How does that compare to per capita water use goals for the state? Look at a few of your own family’s water bills and calculate your daily per capita water use based on the number of people in your home. Is your family above or below average in water consumption? What water conservation measures could you and your family embrace that you are not currently practicing?
Read the Texas Water Plan. Is total statewide use of water going up or down over the last 30 years? How is our use of water changing? What parts of Texas face the most severe threats of running out of water? Why? Does the Texas Water Plan account for changes in water availability resulting from climate change? How is climate change likely to affect our water supply over the next 20 years? 50 years? 100 years?
What is the “water/energy nexus”? How does the source of energy for electric power production affect our water supplies? What sources of power production consume the least amount of water? The most? Why?
Read the Texas Water Plan. Is total statewide use of water going up or down over the last 30 years? How is our use of water changing? What parts of Texas face the most severe threats of running out of water? Why? Does the Texas Water Plan account for changes in water availability resulting from climate change? How is climate change likely to affect our water supply over the next 20 years? 50 years? 100 years?
What is the “water/energy nexus”? How does the source of energy for electric power production affect our water supplies? What sources of power production consume the least amount of water? The most? Why?
The Pandemic of Nutrient Water Pollution
Watch SOS’s 27 minute video on wastewater and nutrient pollution in Hill Country streams (which includes Baylor biology professor Ryan King’s summary of his 2019 research on the Blanco River). How does nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in treated municipal wastewater discharges harm native aquatic life in Texas streams? What alternatives are there to discharging treated sewage to our streams, lakes, and oceans?
Where does the wastewater from your home go? Where is the treatment facility that receives the waste that flows down your sinks and toilets? Is this treated wastewater then discharged to a stream, lake, or ocean? If so, have you ever observed the water below this discharge to see if it is causing harmful algae blooms?
Is it, instead, being reused or irrigated on fields or landscaped areas? If it is being discharged, are steps being taken to reduce or eliminate this discharge? If not, why not?
What is “direct potable reuse,” or DPR? Is DPR safe? What cities have DPR facilities?
Research the “dead zone” in the Gulf Mexico. Where is it? What causes this “dead zone”? Is it getting worse or better? How does nutrient pollution cause lower levels of dissolved oxygen? Will climate change make nutrient pollution of our Nation’s waters worse, better, or have no effect?
What are the sources of nutrient pollution in coastal waters in Florida? What are the harmful effects on aquatic life? On Florida’s tourism economy? What’s being done to remedy the problem?
Where does the wastewater from your home go? Where is the treatment facility that receives the waste that flows down your sinks and toilets? Is this treated wastewater then discharged to a stream, lake, or ocean? If so, have you ever observed the water below this discharge to see if it is causing harmful algae blooms?
Is it, instead, being reused or irrigated on fields or landscaped areas? If it is being discharged, are steps being taken to reduce or eliminate this discharge? If not, why not?
What is “direct potable reuse,” or DPR? Is DPR safe? What cities have DPR facilities?
Research the “dead zone” in the Gulf Mexico. Where is it? What causes this “dead zone”? Is it getting worse or better? How does nutrient pollution cause lower levels of dissolved oxygen? Will climate change make nutrient pollution of our Nation’s waters worse, better, or have no effect?
What are the sources of nutrient pollution in coastal waters in Florida? What are the harmful effects on aquatic life? On Florida’s tourism economy? What’s being done to remedy the problem?
More on Anguilla Rostrata... before it slips away!
What do we know about Anguilla rostrata’s life history? How does it compare to the life history of Anguilla anguilla? Where do eels that show up in Barton Springs from time to time come from? Are Barton Springs eels male? Female? Both? Neither?
What do eels have to do with medieval England culture and commerce? Read up on the “Surprised Eel Expert” and follow him on twitter!
Have you ever caught an eel when fishing? Know anyone who has? How are they different from other kinds of fish? Ever eaten eel? What countries eat the most eel? Does it taste like chicken?
Read Richard Schweid’s consider the eel: a natural and gastronomic history. Write a book report on it.
Go see the Texas Memorial Museum eel’s in Texas exhibit when it opens.
What do eels have to do with medieval England culture and commerce? Read up on the “Surprised Eel Expert” and follow him on twitter!
Have you ever caught an eel when fishing? Know anyone who has? How are they different from other kinds of fish? Ever eaten eel? What countries eat the most eel? Does it taste like chicken?
Read Richard Schweid’s consider the eel: a natural and gastronomic history. Write a book report on it.
Go see the Texas Memorial Museum eel’s in Texas exhibit when it opens.
Climate Change and the Future of Central Texas
What are the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions? Research, discuss or write a paper about what you can do help reduce global warming in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead.
What are the political and cultural barriers to society taking action to prevent further global warming? Watch Texas Tech Professor Katherine Hayhoe’s 45-minute Hot Science – Cool Talk and then answer or discuss these questions.
Who is Zero Hour? Watch Khristen Hamilton’s 20 minute presentation on the Green New Deal. What is the Green New Deal? Why is it important? Email Khristen if you have any questions for her. Is there a climate change youth group at your school? If so, what are they doing? If not, consider starting one with the help of your friends and guidance from Zero Hour.
Read this 2018 New York Times feature Meet the Teenagers Leading a Climate Change Movement.
Has your life been directly affected by climate change? What about the lives of the people you know? How does a changing climate cause greater harm to lower income people than to others with more resources?
Does your city or county have a climate change action plan? What about your school district? If so, read it and research whether the action plan is being implemented. Why is action important at the local level when climate change is a global problem?
What are the political and cultural barriers to society taking action to prevent further global warming? Watch Texas Tech Professor Katherine Hayhoe’s 45-minute Hot Science – Cool Talk and then answer or discuss these questions.
Who is Zero Hour? Watch Khristen Hamilton’s 20 minute presentation on the Green New Deal. What is the Green New Deal? Why is it important? Email Khristen if you have any questions for her. Is there a climate change youth group at your school? If so, what are they doing? If not, consider starting one with the help of your friends and guidance from Zero Hour.
Read this 2018 New York Times feature Meet the Teenagers Leading a Climate Change Movement.
Has your life been directly affected by climate change? What about the lives of the people you know? How does a changing climate cause greater harm to lower income people than to others with more resources?
Does your city or county have a climate change action plan? What about your school district? If so, read it and research whether the action plan is being implemented. Why is action important at the local level when climate change is a global problem?