Soil and Water Conservation
Compiled by Jim Szpakowski

Soil Conservation: is a set of management strategies for prevention of soil being eroded from the earth’s surface or becoming chemically altered by overuse, salinization, acidification, or other chemical soil contamination. (Wikipedia)

Water Conservation: refers to reducing use of fresh water, through technological or social methods. The goals of water conservation efforts include:

  • Sustainability - To ensure availability for future generations, the withdrawal of fresh water from an ecosystem should not exceed its natural replacement rate.
  • Energy conservation - Water pumping, delivery and wastewater treatment facilities consume a significant amount of energy. In some regions of the world (for example, California [1]) over 10% of total electricity consumption is devoted to water management.
  • Habitat conservation - Minimizing human water use helps to preserve fresh water habitats for local wildlife and migrating waterfowl, as well as reducing the need to build new dams and other water diversion infrastructure. (Wikipedia)
Examples:
  1. Work with local park authorities to develop and maintain trails and paths, control streambank erosion (with water bars, ripraps, grass and shrub planting), conduct a wildlife census, and "adopt" a stream.
SHAC Completed Projects:
*Bold completed projects = done by Troop 100
Current Projects Search
Interactive conservation map
Projects by Hornaday Category
Links

Google - Soil and Water Conservation
Wikipedia: Water Conservation

Wikipedia: Soil Conservation
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board

EPA: Storm Drain Stenciling
Greening Schools: School Projects - Storm Drain Stenciling

Google - Wetlands
USFWS: Wetlands Information
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Wetlands
US Army Corps of Engineers: The Young Scientist's Introduction to Wetlands

Contacts .
Related Merit Badges

Environmental Science
Forestry
Nuclear Science
Oceanography
Soil and Water Conservation
Weather

©A.B.C. Consulting Company 1994-2008
This page was last updated: Monday, January 7, 2008 12:02 PM