James Madison University JMU Scholarly Commons Masters Theses The Graduate School Summer 2013 Developing a learning environment for the Edwards Aquifer with a base in systems thinking and dynamics James Everette Simon III James Madison University Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019 Part of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons Recommended Citation Simon, James Everette III, "Developing a learning environment for the Edwards Aquifer with a base in systems thinking and dynamics" (2013). Masters Theses. 326. https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019/326 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the The Graduate School at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Developing a Learning Environment for the Edwards Aquifer with a Base in Systems Thinking and Dynamics James E. Simon III A Thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Master of Science Integrated Science and Technology August 2013 Table of Contents List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi Abstract .......................................................................................................................... xxvi I. Problem Statement and Context.....................................................................................1 a. History of the Edwards Aquifer .........................................................................2 b. Present State of the Edwards Aquifer ................................................................3 c. My Project ..........................................................................................................4 d. Justification ........................................................................................................5 e. Past Efforts at Modeling the Edwards Aquifer ..................................................6 f. Methodolgical Outline .......................................................................................7 g. Expected Results ................................................................................................9 II. Systems Thinking and Games as Learning Tools for Environmental Problems Facing the Edwards Aquifer ....................................................................................................10 a. Using Computers and Visualization to Aid in Education ................................11 b. What is “Systems Thinking?” .........................................................................12 i. What is Systems Thinking? ................................................................12 ii. What is a systems thinker? ..................................................................12 iii. Whatever system thinking tools? ........................................................12 iv. Five Systems Thinking concepts? .......................................................13 v. What is dynamic modeling? ................................................................13 c. Benefits of Using Systems Thinking in Education ..........................................14 d. Using Systems Thinking with Education about the Edwards Aquifer ............16 i. EcoFish ................................................................................................16 ii. Systems Thinking and Dynamic Modeling Deliver New Insights into Freshwater Systems .............................................................................17 iii. ALCES Landscape Model Informs Land Use Policies ........................18 iv. STELLA for Environmental Sciences: a Case Study on Depletion of the Ozone Layer ...................................................................................20 v. US-China Project Focuses International Student Teams on Real World Problems ..............................................................................................21 ii e. Are Games an Effective Learning Environment? ...........................................22 f. Examples of Learning Environments That Use Systems Thinking .................23 g. Best Practices ...................................................................................................25 i. the facilitator ........................................................................................25 ii. the game design....................................................................................25 iii. the learning environment .....................................................................25 III. Ecosystem Services and Endangered Species: Creating an Age Appropriate Storyline for Young People .........................................................................................................26 a. Ecosystem Services ..........................................................................................27 i. What Are Ecosystem Services? ..........................................................27 ii. Value of Ecosystem Services ...............................................................28 b. Edwards Aquifer Ecosystem Services .............................................................28 i. Drought and Flood Mitigation .............................................................29 ii. Cycling and Moving of Nutrients ........................................................29 iii. Waste Removal and Water Purification ...............................................29 iv. Biodiversity ..........................................................................................31 v. Pollination ............................................................................................32 vi. Fisheries Habitat ..................................................................................32 vii. Recreation and Tourism .......................................................................32 viii. Education .............................................................................................33 c. Modeling Ecosystem Services .........................................................................34 i. Systems Modeling Concepts and Notation ..........................................34 ii. Variables ..............................................................................................34 iii. Delays ..................................................................................................35 iv. Causal Links and Link Polarity............................................................35 d. The Endangered Species of the Edwards Aquifer ...........................................36 i. Texas Wild Rice ...................................................................................39 ii. Texas Blind Salamander ......................................................................42 iii. Comal Springs Dryopid Beetle ............................................................43 iv. Comal Springs Riffle Beetle ................................................................45 iii v. Peck’s Cave Amphipod........................................................................45 vi. San Marcus Gambusia .........................................................................46 vii. Fountain Darter ....................................................................................47 viii. San Marcos Salamander .......................................................................48 e. Modeling the Endangered Species of the Edwards Aquifer ............................49 IV. Texas Water Policy and Its Impact on the Edwards Aquifer .......................................52 a. History of Texas Water Policy on the Edwards Aquifer .................................54 b. Texas Water Laws............................................................................................55 i. Prior Appropriation ..............................................................................55 ii. Groundwater Law and the Rule of Capture .........................................56 iii. Texas Senate Bill 1477 ........................................................................57 iv. The Endangered Species Act ...............................................................58 c. the Texas State Water Plan ..............................................................................58 d. Water Agencies in Texas .................................................................................58 i. US Army Corps of Engineers ..............................................................59 ii. Texas Water Development Board ........................................................59 iii. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ....................................60 iv. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department .................................................60 v. Texas Railroad Commission ................................................................61 vi. The Edwards Aquifer Authority ..........................................................61 vii. River Authorities ..................................................................................64 e. Representing Water Policy in the Systems Model ...........................................66 i. Balancing vs. Reinforcing Feedback ...................................................66 ii. Water Restrictions and Artificial Water Storage .................................66