Formative Assessment 3: Water and Agriculture

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Instructions

Answer each question in 2-3 complete sentences. Consider each question carefully and be sure to provide a complete answer.

Questions

  1. Look at Figure 15 below. Does the lack of water withdrawal for agriculture mean that there is no – or much less – farming in the Eastern than the Western U.S.? (hint: Aren’t Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, or Pennsylvania known for their agriculturally-based economies?) What natural or human processes do you suppose underlie the pattern shown in Figure 15?
     
    Total water withdrawals for agricultural (irrigation) uses shown in map view (top), and arranged from West to East (bottom)
    Figure 15 Total water withdrawals for agricultural (irrigation) uses shown in map view (top), and arranged from West to East (bottom).
    Click link to expand for a text description of Figure 15
    Total Water Withdraws for Agriculture **approximate numbers
    State Water Withdraws million gal/day
    Hawaii 200
    Alaska 200
    Oregon 6000
    Washington 3000
    California 24000
    Nevada 1500
    Idaho 16000
    Arizona 5000
    Utah 4000
    Montana 10000
    Wyoming 4000
    New Mexico 2000
    Colorado 13000
    North Dakota 200
    South Dakota 200
    Nebraska 9000
    Texas 8500
    Kansas 2000
    Oklahoma 500
    Minnesota 300
    Iowa 200
    Missouri 1500
    Louisiana 900
    Arkansas 9000
    Wisconsin 300
    Mississippi 2000
    Illinois 500
    Alabama 200
    Tennessee 200
    Indiana 200
    Kentucky 200
    Michigan 300
    Georgia 750
    Ohio 200
    Florida 3500
    South Carolina 200
    West Virginia 200
    North Carolina 200
    Virginia 200
    Pennsylvania 200
    Maryland 200
    D.C. 200
    New York 200
    Delaware 200
    New Jersey 200
    Connecticut 200
    Vermont 200
    Massachusetts 200
    Rhode Island 200
    New Hampshire 200
    Maine 200
    Puerto Rico/US Virgin Islands 200
    Source: J.F. Kenny et al., U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1344 (2009).

Worksheet

Download the worksheet to use when subnmitting your assessment.

Submitting Your Answers

Bring your written answers to class. If they are hand-written, be sure your writing is legible. If your handwriting is not clear, please type and print your answers.

Scoring and Rubric

Each answer will earn a maximum of 5 points, as described in the rubric below.

Rubric
Work Shown Possible Points
Answer reflects careful consideration of the question 2
Answer is appropriate in length 1
Answer is legible 1
Answer given in complete sentences, correct spelling and grammar 1