1. Introduce hydrology and delta dynamics.

Explain to students that hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and functions of water in an area. One of the key drivers of hydrology is the water cycle. Have students read the encyclopedic entry for the water cycle. Ask: What kinds of features are part of hydrology? (rivers, precipitation, lakes, water tables, sea level, currents) Then explain that for the New Orleans area specifically, delta dynamics are a central hydrological feature. Have students read the National Geographic encyclopedic entry for deltas. This time, give students a piece of paper and ask them to write at least three interesting facts they learned about deltas around the world. Then, have students watch two National Park Service videos on delta dynamics: “How Water Builds Land” and “How Have We Changed the Delta?” Have students write a brief description of how a delta works in their own words, using the same paper with their delta facts. Finally, explain the concept of a preserve. Explain how the Barataria Preserve, which students will investigate in this activity, is dedicated to the wetland ecosystems of New Orleans and is just one part of the six-part Jean Lafitte National Park. As a wetland, hydrology plays an important role in forming the habitats of this preserve.

2. Build understanding about water resource management.

Explain to students that hydrology impacts where people can live, and people often manage water resources to expand where they settle. An important example for the New Orleans region, as well as other delta ecosystems, is the creation of human-made levees to hold water back from human settlements. As students saw in the encyclopedic entry and video on deltas, these ecosystems are constantly changing. To deal with this change, people create levees to manage where water flows. But water is hard to keep in one place, making management very challenging. Have students read the National Geographic encyclopedic entry for levees to deepen their understanding of this hydrological management tool.

3. Explore the hydrology of the New Orleans region using FieldScope.

Access the FieldScope website for the Barataria Preserve and New Orleans area. Follow the short tutorial in FieldScope with students to explore how it works. Then, work alongside students and carry out the following instructions:

• In FieldScope, turn on the Boundaries and Places layer as well as the Coastal Land Loss layer. Examine this layer by looking at the legend to identify the different categories of land loss. Identify the number of years the land loss represents. Ask: What types of areas seem to have the most land loss? What areas have land gain? (Hint: they show up as green and you might have to zoom out to find them.) Is there any land loss in the Barataria Preserve?
• Zoom out so you can see all of New Orleans and some of the surrounding landscape. Identify on which side (east/west) of the Mississippi River most of the land loss occurs. Ask: How might this relationship relate to the ocean?
• Now turn on the Levees layer. Notice where levees are located. Turn on the Housing Density layer as well. Ask: Are there any patterns between levees and where people live? Now turn on the Land Cover layer. Ask: Are there any patterns between levees and land cover types?
• Keep all layers on and zoom into the Barataria Preserve. Ask: What role do you think levees play in the Barataria Preserve—do they keep water out or let it into the preserve? How do you think this impacts the wetlands ecosystem in the preserve? (If there is not enough or is too much water in the preserve, the different plant and animal species might suffer, decreasing biodiversity or shifting ecosystem compositions.)

As a class, discuss how exploring the hydrology of New Orleans relates back to the delta video students watched. Ask: How do you think the hydrology of this area impacts the people who live here? What are its impacts on the ecosystem?

4. Role-play natural resource management.

Explain to students how we, as people, all need water to function, but so do the ecosystems in which we live. Ask: How might we balance the water needs of people with the water needs of the ecosystem? As a class, brainstorm some ideas to get students thinking about the factors involved in natural resource management. Then, have students get into pairs and play the role of either New Orleans city manager or Barataria Preserve manager. Tell students to think about what it would be like to manage water for either a city or a nature preserve, focusing on the different values and uses of water in these areas. Give each pair a Two-Column Chart to organize their ideas, putting “Barataria Preserve” in one column and “New Orleans” in another and listing water values and uses under each. For example, under Barataria Preserve some water uses and values could be ecotourism, environmental health, wetland function, recreation, and habitats for animals/plants. For New Orleans, some water uses and values could be drinking water, recreation, human health, and agriculture. Finally, have each pair discuss how they would try to balance these two columns to make a decision about how to manage their water resources together. Some ideas include putting a limit on the amount of water used in each area, building more levees, tearing down levees, creating a water management group to make joint decisions, or asking the state government to come up with rules. Once finished, have each pair share their ideas with the class. Encourage students to explore potential conflicts between their roles; city managers and preserve managers might see their water resources differently. Ask: How might differences between the two types of managers influence hydrology in an area?

5. Engage students in a wrap-up discussion.

To wrap-up the activity, discuss natural hazards such as hurricanes and the ways we try to control or reduce their impacts. Tie in students' ideas from the role-playing. Emphasize how decisions can impact both ecological features as well as human lives. You can also use this discussion to explore Hurricane Katrina as an example of the complex relationship between levees, human natural resource management, and the hydrology of this area.