ACTIVITY 30CHALLENGES OF THE

MISSISSIPPI DELTA

Challenge: How has the Mississippi River challenged the people of New

Orleans?http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/8F6A7F38-63AA-4CD6-AD45-A5653CE8C6C4

A river channel describes the path of a riverbed that is carved into the land.

A geologist is a scientist who studies rocks, minerals and other non-living (i.e., abiotic) parts of the earth.

An engineer is a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems. Engineers are involved in designing most items that are used in everyday life.

An ecologist is a scientist who studies the interrelations of organisms with each other and with their environment.

KEY VOCABULARY

GETTING STARTED

1. Copy the following three lists of terms . . .LIST 1 LIST 2 LIST 3sediments deposition marshwater average depositionweathered rocks floodplain sedimentserosion sediments mouth of rivertopographic map slowing water rainfallmovement constructive force delta

2. Look for a relationship between the words in each list.

3. Cross out the one term that does not belong in the group.

4. Circle the term that should be the title of the list.

STILL GETTING STARTED

LIST 1 sediments water weathered rocks EROSION topographic map movement

EROSION is the movement of weathered rocks, or sediments, by water, ice and air.

STILL GETTING STARTED

LIST 2DEPOSITIONaveragefloodplainsedimentsslowing waterconstructive force

DEPOSITION is a constructive force that happens when slowing water drops sediments onto a floodplain.

FINALLY DONE GETTING STARTED!

LIST 3marshdepositionsedimentsmouth of riverrainfallDELTA

A DELTA, or marsh, is a place where the deposition of sediments occurs at the mouth of a river.

Both large river systems, like the Mississippi, or small river systems, like the Rolling River in Boomtown, have a natural balance of erosion and deposition.

This balance of erosion and deposition, creates ongoing changes in deltas, as the land is built up by deposition, lost through erosion, and replenished during fl oods .

What do you think happens if the balance between those two processes is disturbed?

In this activity, you will investigate what has happened to the natural cycle of erosion and deposition along the Mississippi River in southern Louisiana.

RIVER SYSTEMS

Read the introduction on page 28.

Each member of your group will play the role of a different person as you read the transcript aloud . . .Teresa Corelli (interviewer for Student Science Hour)

Natalie Ludlow (ecologist)Dr. K.C. Sandoval (geologist at Boomtown University)

Ethan Porter (engineer from Builders, Inc.)

Read the interview on pages 29-33.

PROCEDURE: PART 1

After finishing the reading, groups should discuss the question, “What can the people of New Orleans do about the long-term problem they face?”

After discussing the question above, complete the “Intra-Act Discussion: Challenges of the Mississippi Delta” sheet for all four roles. This should be completed individually – not as a group.

Each group member should share their opinion about each statement and explain why they agreed or disagreed.

PROCEDURE: PART 2

Work in your groups to answer questions #1, #2 and #3. (#3 should read, “Compare and contrast . . .”) Answers should be written in your journal.

ANALYSIS QUESTIONS (PAGE 34)

1. Some of the major problems that New Orleans faces include: flood risk; the loss of wetlands in the delta; the land sinking in the city; and, the potential for the river to change its channel.

ANALYSIS ANSWERS (#1)

Erosion and deposition relate to the problems in New Orleans because they are the primary earth processes in that region. The natural balance of these two earth processes has been disrupted by humans. The river’s inability to drop sediments in the new Orleans area has contributed to the problems listed in your answer to question #1.

ANALYSIS ANSWERS (#2)

3A. Compare (i.e., similarities)Both communities have a delta.Both have a river system.Both have a marsh.Both are concerned about the safety of the

community.

3B. Contrast (i.e., differences)No structures have been built on Boomtown’s Delta

Marsh.Boomtown has a much smaller river system.Boomtown has a smaller population.New Orleans experienced a devastating event.Boomtown is a fictitious community.

ANALYSIS ANSWERS (#3)