Water Catchment Geography & Science Years 7, 8 & 9

Lesson Plan

About the lessons:

Use these lessons, designed for years 7-9, to draw links between soil and water catchment, and the geography and land use of the Port Phillip region.

This lesson, Water Catchment shows students that water catchments link places in the city to the food About Farms2Schools bowl, and examines some of the decisions people make in managing the health of the catchment. Farms2Schools was a six-month program (delivered in 2020) that used online school The lesson, Soil Health includes hands-on activities incursions to provide students with insights into that explore soil types while students learn some of how agricultural products are produced and the the ways plants work in a symbiotic relationship with many career opportunities the agricultural soil microbiota. industry offers.

Both lessons build on and refer to material in the The program introduced students living in the Soil Type and Water Catchment videos, and can be Greater Melbourne area to local farmers and used to cement and extend learning from the case agricultural industry workers, who shared study videos. information about farming through a range of visual and practical activities.

For more information, visit the Farms2Schools website.

Farms2Schools was delivered by the Port Phillip & Westernport CMA in partnership with AUSVEG VIC and was supported by the Victorian Government

VICTORIAN CURRICULUM LINKS

Years 7 & 8

Geography Code Description Relevance to this lesson Place, space and VCGGC101 Identify, analyse and explain Exploring how waterways connect interconnection interconnections within places and places within a catchment. between places and identify and explain changes resulting from these interconnections Data and VCGGC104 Analyse maps and other geographical data Examining maps of Port Philip Bay information and information using digital and spatial bathometry and water catchment technologies as appropriate, to develop area data collection sites. identifications, descriptions, explanations Student-directed projects related to and conclusions that use geographical local waterways. terminology Water in the world VCGGK106 Ways that flows of water connect places Examining maps of local waterways as they move through the environment and the places they connect. and the ways this affects places

Science Code Description Relevance to this lesson Science as a VCSSU089 Scientific knowledge and understanding Many fields have contributed to Human Endeavour of the world changes as new evidence the new understanding of how becomes available; science knowledge catchments work. can develop through collaboration and connecting ideas across the disciplines and practice of science Science as a VCSSU090 Science and technology contribute An increased focus on ecological Human Endeavour to finding solutions to a range of health of natural systems has changed contemporary issues; these solutions human activity in catchments, may impact on other areas of society and including but not limited to involve ethical considerations civic planning, natural resource management and agriculture. Earth and Space VCSSU101 Water is an important resource that cycles Catchments cycle water to the ocean Sciences through the environment – in this case, Port Philip Bay. Biological Sciences VCSSU093 Interactions between organisms can be The health of a waterway affects the described in terms of food chains and biodiversity of all living things around food webs and can be affected by human it, including soil organisms and fungi, activity plants, animals and birds.

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VICTORIAN CURRICULUM LINKS

Years 9 & 10

Geography Code Description Relevance to this lesson Data and VCGGC132 Analyse and evaluate data, maps and Examining maps of Port Philip Bay information other geographical information using bathometry and water catchment digital and spatial technologies and area data collection sites. Geographical Information Systems as Student-directed projects related to appropriate, to develop identifications, local waterways. descriptions, explanations and conclusions that use geographical terminology Biomes and food VCGGK135 The interconnection between food Video, website and lesson content security production and land and water about the decisions made by degradation; shortage of fresh water; regenerative farmers to protect competing land uses; and climate change, production though encouraging for Australia and other areas of the world biodiversity, waterway health and soil health. Biomes and food VCGGK136 Human alteration of biomes to produce Video and lesson content exploring security food, industrial materials and fibres, the impact of human activity on and the environmental effects of these waterway ecosystems. alterations

Science Code Description Relevance to this lesson Science as a VCSSU115 Advances in scientific understanding often Data monitoring of waterways Human Endeavour rely on developments in technology and can be made more consistent and technological advances are often linked to data compared through the use of scientific discoveries technologies such as sensors and databases. Science as a VCSSU116 The values and needs of contemporary An increased focus on ecological Human Endeavour society can influence the focus of scientific health of natural systems has changed research human activity in catchments, including but not limited to civic planning, natural resource management and agriculture. Biological sciences VCSSU121 Ecosystems consist of communities of Matter such as particulate matter interdependent organisms and abiotic from erosion and dung from livestock, components of the environment; matter changes the properties of waterways, and energy flow through these systems which can lead to algal bloom and deoxygenated water. Human activity, flood and drought can change waterway ecosystems. Science Inquiry VCSIS134 Formulate questions or hypotheses that Optional stream health data collection Skills can be investigated scientifically, including in Part 3. identification of independent, dependent and controlled variables

Version history: first published by the VCAA in September 2015

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Key concepts

● The function of a water catchment is not just to move water to the ocean or the lowest point.

● In a catchment, inputs that affect the water upstream can have an effect on everything downstream.

● Recent scientific and ecological understanding has changed people’s understanding and altered the way people manage water courses and catchments. LEARN Water > ● Modern agricultural practice focuses on reducing pollutants and organic matter in waterways.

Key terms

Introduce key terminology and revisit any terms that need reviewing, such as:

● catchment, evapotranspiration, groundwater, infiltration, precipitation, river discharge, seepage, stream flow, surface runoff, wetlands.

Use the Glossary for these terms and others, and the video on Water Catchment will also explain some of these concepts.

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Part 1: Viewing rain as a resource – city and country Rain is a valuable resource. Explain that there is a big shift in urban planning and design under way right now. The shift views storm water in major rain events as a resource not as a waste product.

Although we are all familiar with news articles about WATCH ABC News: Flash flooding, hail the problems caused by flood waters, storm water can and damaging winds hit Melbourne as be managed, harvested, used, and the effects of major storms sweep across Victoria storm events can be mitigated by design.

» Remind students that water flows to the lowest point and, if time permits, view the associated news item in the box at right.

Low-impact design

Low-impact design harvests and benefits from water on-site, treating it like the resource that it is.

» Explain that low-impact development uses water and stops it from shedding off concrete surfaces in flooding events. Places like parks and trails, and permeable pavement deal with the influx of water.

Key concept:

The function of a water catchment is not just to move water to the ocean or the lowest point.

Natural systems in catchments use water:

● as habitat

● to recharge aquifers and groundwater storage

● within the soil to boost microbial activity

● as a means of harvesting particulate matter (sediment and organic matter) that feeds the soil.

» Explain that natural systems reduce flooding by slowing down water at the source, for example in a series of pools or ‘chain of ponds’ that allows water to pause and seep into the soil or into groundwater storage.

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Human activity and the catchment

Many aspects of human activity affect the catchment. Discuss these examples and any other from your local environment (such as covered creeks or large storm water channels):

● Civic planning and regulation – including but not limited to roads, drains, bridges, canals, policies, planning regulations and laws.

● Natural resource management and conservation – including but not limited to erosion control works, parkland and wetlands, groundwater recharge zones.

● Agriculture, horticulture and growing – including but not limited to large- and small- scale farming, livestock management, horticulture, viticulture, arboriculture, market gardening and home gardening.

Focus on agriculture:

Agriculture is changing as related disciplines of science (such as freshwater and marine ecology, soil science and the biological sciences) add to our understanding of how a healthy catchment works.

Regenerative farmers make decisions related to these questions. They consider how to use water as a resource, in and on the soil, for biodiversity of plants, microbes, fungi, animals and birds, and for waterway health.

Watch the video now Water Catchment

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Part 2: Water in the food bowl » Show a map of Port Phillip Bay and explore it together, looking for features of the natural and built environment, and locating your nearest water way.

The formation of Port Phillip Bay

» Using the map and resources provided here, show and explain that Port Phillip Bay was once a lake. Or part of it was, at the southern end towards the IMAGE OF THE BAY Heads. The lake was the end of the Yarra River and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/com- its tributaries. The river flowed through what is now mons/a/a9/Port_Phillip_10%2C000.PNG > the centre of the bay.

Port Phillip Bay Catchment area map

https://www.ppwrcs.vic.gov.au/interactive-map/

Aboriginal settlement evidence under the water shows that people were here before the bay was formed. Marine geology of Port Phillip, Victoria Evidence of human occupation of the area dates from about 40,000 years ago. ● Holdgate, Guy & Geurin, B. & Wallace, Malcolm & Gallagher, Stephen. (2001). Marine geology of Port Phillip, Victoria. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences. 48. 439 - 455. 10.1046/j.1440- Rising sea levels flooded through the Heads after the 0952.2001.00871.x. end of the last Ice Age (about 8000-6000 BCE). The water level equalised inside and outside the basin, and Bathymetric map of Port Phillip Bay with the sea level outside the heads remaining high, the sea water stayed inside the bay. ● Bathymetric map of Port Phillip, Victoria (adapted from Commonwealth of Australia Port Phillip 100 000-scale map).

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The Rivers of Port Phillip Catchment Area Optional Extension

Watch this video from a geotechnical engineer about Rivers flowing into Port Phillip Bay: how groundwater flows around an obstruction in a predictable pattern called a flow net. ● Little River ● Maribyrnong River ● Groundwater flow demonstration model ● Patterson River (video, duration 3:49) ● Werribee River ● Yarra River

Principal creeks: WATCH Groundwater flow demonstration model ● Chinamans Creek ● Cowies Creek ● Kananook Creek ● Kororoit Creek ● Sweetwater Creek » Discuss: ● How is this relevant to civic planning, natural resource management or agriculture? » With students, look at the catchment rivers and ● What other thoughts or questions does it raise their tributaries. about how water moves through soil?

» In groups of 3-4, students identify: Optional Extension activity 1. Where are the inlets? This exploration could lead to a hands-on project 2. Find the largest inlet in the shoreline of Port Phillip exploring aspects of flow, seepage, or erosion in the Bay. Which river is this? environment.

3. Find the river or creek that is nearest to you / your school.

4. Using a map, trace its course out of the city.

5. Check the foodbowl map, what is growing there?

6. Check the list of videos with regenerative farmers 1. VELISHA FARMS 7. GAZZOLA FARMS and watch any that are close to the waterway you Catherine Velisha | Paul Gazzola | are looking at (see list on box at right). Precipitation Design Decisions 2. BOOMAROO NURSERIES 8. PENINSULA VINECARE Nick Jacometti & Peter Tyson Lewis | Smith | Design Decisions Aspect & Slope

3. BUFTON FARMING GROUP 9. LUXTON BLACK James Bufton | Wind John Pederson | Microclimates 4. DALHOUSIE FARM Annemaree Docking | 10. MAIN RIDGE DAIRY Soil Structure Bess Noxon, Kevin Wyatt | Climate, Water Catchment 5. YARRA FARM Luke Sadler | Soil Water 11. MOSSY WILLOW FARM Thomas Kennett, 6. CONGLETON Declan McDonald | Ann Frazer | Microclimates Soil Health

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Part 3: Waterway health » With what students know and have learned about As a class or in groups, using the Waterwatch sites map, the formation and geography of Port Phillip Bay, answer the following questions: explore the health of the waterways and what indicators (physical, biological, chemical) we use to ● Which is the closest catchment water health monitor waterway health. site to your school? ● What are some of the tests that are regularly conducted at Waterwatch sites? » Watch the video with Bess Noxon and Kevin Wyatt exploring how the health of Main Creek is ● Choose one of the tests (e.g. turbidity) and monitored and managed on their adjoining write an explanation of what it is, how it is properties. done, and what it indicates about the water quality and its capacity for supporting a healthy ecosystem. (For example, turbidity is measure of sediment in the water – a healthy catchment filters this but a storm drain of concrete does not).

Optional Extension activity

Students conduct a site visit and hands-on water testing and data collection at a local river, creek or inlet.

● Swinburne University, Healthy Rivers, Healthy Bay. Pay particular attention to the explanation of water testing, the physical and chemical tests that are regularly conducted on Main Creek, and the effect on the waterway if sediment, animal dung and chemical run-off enter the stream system.

» Discuss one or more examples in the video and explore what effect this example has on freshwater ecology and waterway health.

Waterwatch

Waterwatch monitors the health of rivers, creeks, reservoirs and other important water sites in Victoria.

» Explore the data for Waterwatch.

● Waterwatch data portal

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Research and useful sources:

Agriculture Victoria – Land and Water Management: http://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/ dpi/vro/portregn.nsf/pages/port_landwtrmgmt

DELWP – Wetlands and Floodplains: https://www. ari.vic.gov.au/research/wetlands-and-floodplains

Marine Geology of Port Phillip Bay, Victoria: https://www.researchgate.net/ publication/229859143_Marine_geology_of_ Port_Phillip_Victoria

Melbourne Water – Yarra Valley catchment information: https://www.melbournewater.com.au/water- data-and-education/water-facts-and-history/river- health-and-monitoring/yarra-catchment

Stormwater drains and how they work (video): https://youtu.be/ wdcXmerZWDc?list=PLTZM4MrZKfW-_ GFGXeWYgQ5zfC29Om1Np&t=230

Waterwatch map portal: http://www.vic.waterwatch.org.au/water_watch_ map

Waterwatch catchment data portal: http://www.vic.waterwatch.org.au/water_data_ portal.php

Water cycle (U.S. Geological Survey): https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water- science-school/science/fundamentals-water- cycle?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_ center_objects

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