Environmental Education

Geology of Local Area

Introduction to Watersheds
Website: http://tycho.knowlton.ohio-state.edu/intro.html
"Everyone lives in a watershed.  A watershed is the area of land that drains into one particular stream or lake.  We depend on reliable water sources for drinking, bathing, cooking, recreation and as a necessary resource for agriculture and manufacturing . Yet many of these same activities and uses can harm the watershed by changing how the river flows, how often and where it floods, and how clean it is.  At this site and related sites, you can explore how people's activities can harm the watershed and how these activities can be managed to avoid such harm."

  • Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index
    Website: http://tycho.knowlton.ohio-state.edu/qhei.html
    "The qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI) gives scientists a quantitative assessment of physical characteristics of a sampled stream similiar to IBI and ICI biological data.  QHEI represents a measure of instream geography.  By combining   evaluations of QHEI and IBI, for example, researchers can gain a well-rounded perspective of both the physical and biological    conditions of a particular stream site."
  • Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index Explanation, additional photo examples
    Website: http://rock.geo.csuohio.edu/norp/qhei.htm#metric
    "Regulatory activities under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 and 1977 and 1987 amendments require    knowledge of the potential fish or biological community that can be supported in a stream or river.  A procedure for relating stream potential to habitat quality would provide some insight into how habitat might affect biological expectations in a given    water body . The QHEI is designed to do just that by providing a measure of the qualitative habitat corresponding to the    physical features that affect fish and invertebrate communities.  In other words, the monitor is to take the fish's point of view    and decide 'would I like to live here?' "
  • Ohio EPA: Interpreting the QHEI
    Website: http://rock.geo.csuohio.edu/norp/qhei.htm#metric
    "The Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index gives an estimate of the suitability of a stream segment to meet warmwater habitat    for aquatic organisms.  This is the usual 'natural' habitat type in Ohio.  When each metric is scored, and the scores are added up, you will calculate an aggregate QHEI."

City of Cincinnati

Geologic History

  • Cincinnati Fossils From the Ordovician Period
    Website: http://members.wri.com/jeffb/Fossils/
    This website is "a guide to the ordovician fossils of Southeast Indiana Collected by Jeff Bryant."
  • Paleontological Research Institute
    Website: http://priweb.org/ed/TFGuide/tfg_main.htm
    "It is PRI's mission to increase and disseminate knowledge about the history and evolution of the Earth and its life."
    This site offers geologic history, mineral resources, and more of the southern United States.  There are downloadable teacher's resources.