Watershed Education Program – EARTH SCIENCE LESSONS

Topographic Maps Name ______

My first quadrangle map is ______1. What three units are used to measure distance?______2. What is the numerical scale used on this map?______3. What is the total distance across the bottom of the map in miles?______4. What is the latitude of the southern parallel of this map?______5. What is the latitude of the northern parallel of this map?______6. How many minutes of latitude does this map include?______7. Is this north or south latitude? ______How do you know?______8. What is the longitude of the eastern meridian of the map?______9. What is the longitude of the western meridian of the map?______10. How many minutes of longitude does this map include?______11. Is this east or west longitude? ______How do you know?______12. What color are the contour lines?______Waterbodies?______13. What is the contour interval on this map?______

Millbrook Quadrangle 1. What type of waterbody is located at approximately 73041’15”W at the southern edge of the map?______2. Find the stream that feeds into this waterbody and trace it upstream to its northern most point until it stops. This is the beginning of . At what elevation does Sprout Creek begin?______3. Most of this map is not in the Sprout/Fishkill Creek Watershed. What watershed is it in?______4. What 4 types of road classifications are on the map?______5. What is the road classification of Verbank Road?______

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Verbank Quadrangle 1. Name one tributary to Sprout Creek.______2. Name one tributary to Fishkill Creek______3. What is the highest elevation on the map?______4. What is at the top of this mountain?______5. This mountain is part of a ridge that forms the watershed divide between what two streams?______6. At what longitude does Sprout Creek enter this map?______

Poughquag Quadrangle 1. How much higher is Little Whaley Lake above Whaley Lake?______2. What is the distance in kilometers that the stream travels from Little Whaley Lake to Whaley Lake?______3. What is the gradient (in ft/km) of the stream that connects the 2 lakes? SHOW WORK.

4. Do the lakes eventually flow into the Fishkill Creek?______5. In what compass direction does the stream flow connecting Lake Dutchess with Browns Pond?______How can you tell?______

Pleasant Valley Quadrangle 1. What are the approximate coordinates (to the nearest ½ minute) of Arlington High School?______2. The Arlington High School stream survey site is on Sprout Creek where it crosses under Stringham Road (at Stringham Bridge). What is the distance in kilometers between Arlington High School and this stream site?______3. Find the tributary to Sprout Creek that is closest to Arlington High School. What compass direction does this stream flow toward Sprout Creek?______4. What is the elevation of Arlington High School?______5. What is the elevation of Sprout Creek as it flows off the southern edge of the map?_____

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Hopewell Junction Quadrangle 1. What is the declination (difference between true North and magnetic North) for this area?______2. In what compass direction does the Fishkill Creek generally flow?______3. Find John Jay High School, at 41032’30”N and 73050’ W. What is its elevation?______4. What is the closest named stream to the school?______5. What is the largest tributary to the Fishkill Creek on this map? 6. Calculate the gradient (in ft/km) from the Taconic State Parkway to the highest point on Hosner Mountain. Use the shortest distance (measured in km). SHOW WORK.

Wappingers Falls Quadrangle 1. What major creek flows into the Hudson north of the Fishkill Creek? 2. Find Ketcham High School at approximately 41036’N and 73053’30”W. Is it in the Fishkill or Wappingers Creek Watershed?______3. Find the gaging station a little more than a mile upstream from where the Fishkill Creek flows off the southern border of the map. Would you expect the discharge here to be greater or less than the discharge measured on Sprout Creek?______4. What is the distance, in feet, between Beacon High School and the Fishkill Creek?_____ 5. Name 6 human built structures or land uses you can find on the map: 1______4______2______5______3______6______

West Point Quadrangle 1. What ridge forms the watershed divide between Valhalla Lake and the Beacon Reservoir NW of the Lake? ______2. Which side of this ridge has the steeper gradient?______3. Find the mouth of Fishkill Creek. What waterbody does it empty into? ______4. What is the elevation of the bench mark at the mouth of Fishkill Creek?______5. What is the deepest depth in the ?______6. Is this depth at a wide or narrow point in the Hudson?______7. What are the longitude lines that border West Point Academy from Silver Depository to Gees Point? ______3 Return to Topo Main Page Go To Answer Key