Using USGS Watershed Data in the Classroom Nick Bader (Whitman College) & Steve Petsch (UMass Amherst)

Using USGS Watershed Data in the Classroom http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt

Using USGS Watershed Data in the Classroom http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/new/

Using USGS Watershed Data in the Classroom http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt A scientist using this website … … Gimme the data! Students using this website … … “content” goals … “skill” goals … “attitude” goals

(separating observations from interpretations) What do you see? (separating observations from interpretations)

Drawing from your recent experiences, what might explain this? content goals – recognize that stream discharge is spatially and temporally varying across the USA skill goals – read data off of a map, understand percentile rankings attitude goals – recognize that“they” is us, that much scientific information is continuously being collected and made publically available Drawing from your recent experiences, what might explain this? (separating observations from interpretations)

Rating curve Q (cfs) Gage height (feet)

Flood frequency analysis Peak Q (cfs) Recurrence interval (y)

Simple flood stage inundation map