Lesson 15 – Water Protection in Rural Communities – Examples of Funding and Technical Assistance
This is Lesson 15 (“Water Protection in Rural Communities: Examples of Funding and Technical Assistance”) from the Drinking Water: Protecting the Source curriculum. It teaches students about federal sources of funding and technical assistance available to protect drinking water sources in rural communities, focusing on the Clean Water Act/State Revolving Funds and USDA/NRCS conservation programs (EQIP, AWEP, CRP) used to implement Best Conservation Practices (BCPs). Students explore these programs via internet research, a worksheet, and a real-world success story about a Texas rancher.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- 15.1 Describe sources of funding for projects to protect drinking water sources in their communities.
- 15.2 Identify sources of funding and assistance for completing Best Conservation Practices (BCPs) for source water protection.
- Time required
- Instruction time for this lesson: 50 minutes, with research for 15.2 completed as homework.
- Grade level
- 9-12
- Materials
-
- Water Quality – slide SW.15.1.TM
- Water Infrastructure, U.S. EPA (http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/)
- Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund (http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/cwsrf/cwsrf_index.cfm)
- Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Fund (http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/dwsrf/pdfs/dwfact.pdf)
- SW.15.2.AS.A – Worksheet: Technical Assistance and Funding for Drinking Water Protection
- SW.15.ASSESS – Handout
- Internet access to the following sites: USDA/NRCS EQIP, USDA/NRCS AWEP, EQIP Application Information by State, EPA Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Conservation Reserve Program (USDA FSA), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (USDA FSA)
- Conservation Planning, USDA NRCS New Hampshire site
- USDA/NRCS State Technical Committees site
- Lesson
- 15
- Unit/Series
- Drinking Water: Protecting the Source
- Key Terms
- Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP); Clean Water Act (CWA); Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF); Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP); Conservation Reserve Program (CRP); Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP); Productivity; Responsibility; Technical Service Provider (TSP); Water infrastructure
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
National Science Education Standards for Grades 9 – 12
- Content Standard EScience and Technology: Technology, by its nature, has a more direct effect on society than science because its purpose is to solve human problems, help humans adapt and fulfill human aspirations.
- Content Standard FScience in Personal and Social Perspectives: Natural Resources – Human populations use resources in the environment in order to maintain and improve their existence. Natural resources have been and will continue to be used to maintain human populations.