This is the study guide for advisors and students participating in the Maryland State Envirothon competition. The four topic areas and listed objectives are similar to the Envirothon curriculum guidelines but note that changes have been made to reflect Maryland’s main topics for 2021. Fifth topic questions are sprinkled throughout the test; due to the transient nature of the 5th topic, specific objectives have not been defined. Questions for the test were generated from each resource. At the least, students will be responsible for the information related to the specific objectives listed below. In the case of web page links, only the opening page of the link was used for question generation unless marked otherwise. With PDF documents, students should study the complete document, unless specific pages are listed. Please feel free to contact Chelsea Miller at Chelsea.Miller@maryland.gov if you have any questions.
This year's training will be optional and virtual. We recommend watching the training videos and reading through the study material first, so you can ask questions during the discussions. Each training will be recorded, but all identities of students will be kept confidential.
Register for Optional Aquatics Training here:
I. Abiotic Factors
- Know the processes and phases for each part of the water cycle and understand the water cycle’s role in soil nutrient erosion, and climatic influences.
- Understand the concept and components of a watershed and be able to identify stream orders and watershed boundaries. Know the feature of a healthy watershed and an unhealthy watershed. Understand why aquatic organisms and water quality is affected by the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the water; this includes changes caused by climate change.
II. Biotic Factors
- Understand the dependence of all organisms on one another (food web) and how energy and matter flow within an aquatic ecosystem. This includes oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon.
- Identify common, rare, threatened, and endangered aquatic species as well as Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) through the use of a key.
- Know how to use a dichotomous key to identify animals.
- Be familiar with aquatic plants and animals visually and descriptively.
III. Aquatic Environments
- Identify aquatic and wetland environments based on their physical, chemical, and biological characteristics.
- Know characteristics of different types of aquifers, and understand historical trends and threats to groundwater quantity and quality.
- Know Maryland’s physiological provinces.
- Be able to describe the difference between native, non-native, and invasive species
IV. Water Protection and Conservation
- Interpret major provincial and/or federal laws and methods used to protect water quality (surface and ground water)
- Be familiar with the federal, state, and county agencies that provide oversight of water resources.
V. Water Resource Management: Local Control and Local Solutions
VI. Resources:
Basic Information about Watersheds (home page only)
https://www.epa.gov/hwp/basic-information-and-answers-frequent-questions
Conservation Choices for Maryland Farmers (Know the appropriate names for the BMPs described, and special attention to pages 7 & 13.)
https://mda.maryland.gov/resource_conservation/counties/ConsChoices_FINAL2020.pdf
EPA Chesapeake Bay TMDL
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-07/documents/bay_tmdl_fact_sheet.pdf
Georgia Adopt a Stream Manual Chemical Stream Monitoring, (Chapter 2 Chemical tests)
https://adoptastream.georgia.gov/sites/adoptastream.georgia.gov/files/related_files/document/MC_Ch2.pdf
Intro to an Ecosystem
http://www.Chesapeakebay.net/content/publications/cbp_13039.pdf
Invasive Description
http://dnr.maryland.gov/Invasives/Pages/Invasive-Description.aspx
Learn About Watersheds (home page only)
https://www.epa.gov/hwp/benefits-healthy-watersheds
*Macroinvertebrate Dichotomous Key (section 7).
http://vaswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Key-to-Stream-Macroinverts.pdf
*Stroud Water Research Center – Macroinvertebrate Identification Key https://3jgs2o4a02n22u73bi2gnd3l-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/StroudWebsiteMacroKeyFNL.pdf
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Invasives (review fact sheets)
http://dnr.maryland.gov/invasives/Pages/default.aspx
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Invasive and Exotic Species https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/plants_wildlife/Invasives/invintro.aspx
Maryland Fish Facts
https://dnr.maryland.gov/Fisheries/Pages/fishfacts-index.aspx
*Maryland Freshwater Fish Dichotomous Key
http://dnr.maryland.gov/streams/Documents/fishkey_2003_09edits.pdf
Maryland Streams: Take a Closer Look (pages 7, 9, 12, 16, 21 ,33 ,34, 35)
http://dnr.maryland.gov/ccs/Publication/00012830.pdf
Summary of Estimated Water Use in the United States in 2010 (front page only)
https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2014/3109/pdf/fs2014-3109.pdf
USGS, Water Science School - Water-Cycle Summary (Home page and table at the bottom)
https://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesummary.html
USGS, Water Science School – Streamflow and the Water Cycle (mechanisms that cause changes)
https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/streamflow-and-water-cycle?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects
The Global Conveyor Belt – Thermohaline circulation, Effects of Climate Change
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_currents/05conveyor3.html
Climate Adaptation and Saltwater Intrusion
– (both home pages)
Maryland Department of the Environment – Water Resource Management
(focus on climate change)
https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/water/water_supply/Pages/waterresourcemanagement.aspx
Maryland Department of the Environment – Water Conservation Fact Sheet
https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/Water/waterconservation/Pages/water_factsheet.aspx
*Anne Arundel County Annual Water Quality Report – 2019
https://www.aacounty.org/departments/public-works/utilities/forms-and-publications/WaterQuality2019.pdf
* Provided at State Test
VII. Other Resources (good for background or general knowledge)
In addition to the resources listed above, you can find useful information below about various aquatic topics. Keep in mind that test questions do not come directly from these sources.
Renewable Energy Rundown: Hydropower
https://www.saveonenergy.com/learning-center/post/renewable-energy-rundown-hydropower
Chesapeake Bay - Official Chesapeake Bay Program Website
http://www.chesapeakebay.net
EPA Water Conservation Plan Guidelines
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pubs/guide.html
Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
http://www.invasive.org/
VIII. Teacher Resources
Project WET/Healthy Water, Healthy People/Discover a Watershed
For information on these materials, please contact Chelsea Miller at Chelsea.Miller@maryland.gov or visit The Aquatics Resource Education website
Eyes on the Bay
http://www.eyesonthebay.net
WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands
Environmental Concern visit: http://www.wetland.org/