Envirothon Study Resources

Key Topic #1: Non-Point Source Pollution Status

• Define non-point source (NPS) pollution and differentiate it from point source pollution using real-world examples from urban and rural settings.
• Explain changes in watershed ecology that influence NPS pollution (Water cycle, nutrient cycles, carbon cycles, river continuum concept).
• Identify major types, sources and pathways of NPS pollution in surface water systems, including stormwater runoff, agricultural fields, and impervious surfaces.
• Describe the impacts of NPS pollution on water quality and designated water uses (e.g., recreation, fisheries, drinking water).

Key Topic #2: NPS is a Growing World and Your Role in It

• Explain how population growth, urban expansion, and agricultural intensification contribute to increased non-point source pollution globally and locally.
• Compare the effects of land use types (e.g., urban, suburban, agricultural) on runoff volume and pollutant loading.
• Identify common products or practices in daily life that contribute to non-point source pollution through indirect pathways (e.g., fertilizers, car washing, pet waste).
• Illustrate the concept of a personal environmental footprint as it relates to NPS pollution, using tools such as footprint calculators.

Key Topic #3: The Role of the Individual/Community in NPS Issues and Solutions

• Describe the role that individuals, families, and local communities can play in reducing NPS pollution through behavior change and local initiatives.
• Identify examples of community-based solutions to NPS pollution (e.g., storm drain marking campaigns, rain garden installations, stream cleanups).
• Compare the effectiveness of individual vs. collective actions in mitigating NPS pollution at the watershed scale.
• Demonstrate how to design or participate in a local outreach or monitoring project that addresses NPS pollution, such as conducting a stormwater audit or organizing a pollution prevention campaign.
• Interpret the benefits and limitations of volunteerism, citizen science, and public- private partnerships in addressing NPS issues.

Key Topic #4: Strategies to Evaluate NPS Sources, Issues, and Solutions

• Identify tools and techniques used to assess non-point source pollution, including watershed mapping, stormwater flow tracing, and visual assessment methods.
• Explain how monitoring data (e.g., water quality indicators such as turbidity, E. coli, nutrients) can be used to evaluate the presence and severity of NPS pollution.
• Describe the challenges in monitoring, quantifying, and managing NPS pollution compared to point source pollution.
• Apply simple field protocols to evaluate land use and physical features (e.g., slope, impervious cover, vegetative buffers) that influence runoff and pollutant transport.
• Interpret basic maps, aerial imagery, or field data to locate potential sources of NPS pollution in a given watershed.
• Recommend appropriate solutions based on identified issues in a mock or real world NPS pollution scenario, drawing on field evidence or data interpretation.

Key Topic #5: Legislation, Regulations, and Voluntary Measures

• Summarize major U.S. policies and programs that address non-point source pollution, including the Clean Water Act (especially Sections 303 and 319) and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs).
• Differentiate between regulatory and voluntary approaches to controlling NPS pollution and identify examples of each.
• Describe how federal and state agencies support local communities in managing NPS pollution through funding, education, and technical assistance.
• Simulate a decision-making process where students must select appropriate policy or program tools to manage a fictional watershed’s NPS challenges.

Key Topic #6: Your Best Management Practices for NPS

• Identify common BMPs used to reduce NPS pollution in urban, suburban, and agricultural environments (e.g., rain gardens, cover crops, buffer strips, pervious pavement).
• Explain how selected BMPs reduce pollutant loads or improve stormwater infiltration, using diagrams or real-world examples.
• Compare the costs, benefits, and feasibility of different BMPs in various land use contexts (e.g., a schoolyard vs. a farm vs. a residential street).
• Demonstrate how to plan or assess a BMP using a field checklist, photo documentation, or a site sketch (e.g., rain garden layout or runoff path).
• Recommend appropriate BMPs for a hypothetical site based on land use, soil conditions, and observed pollution risks.