a delta at the bottom of the table.
River/Stream Table
RCRCA has created an educational tool called a River/Stream Table. The table is a standard door laying horizontally with 4" wood sides. The table is elevated on one end with jacks to create the river running downstream. The sand is several sizes of plastic granular pellets that simulate the different soils and sediment. A battery powered pump circulates the water through a plastic hose hidden under the sand and drains through a hole at the mouth of the river.
The River/Stream Table is a great visual tool to teach about the different characteristics of a river and about erosion.
RCRCA staff are available to bring the River/Stream Table for large group presentations only, because of the table's size and weight. However, we hope to create a similar smaller version of the table in the future.
|
|
|
|
River/Stream Table - note how the
sediment is forming a delta at the bottom of the table. |
The same River/Stream Table several hours later. The river width has widened due to unprotected stream banks and sediment has completely filled in the lower portion of the table. |
Students at the 2005 Environmental Fair in Marshall, learning about
erosion and river dynamics with the River/Stream Table.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Events the River/Stream Table has been at include:
| Cottonwood River Restoration Project Open House, Springfield |
| 90th Anniversary Expo of Girl Scouts, Peacepipe Council, Redwood Falls |
| Children's Water Festival, Mankato |
| Summer Field Day, U of M Southwest Research and Outreach Center |
| Agricultural Drainage Day, U of M Southwest Research and Outreach Center |
| Farmfest, Gilfillan Estates |
| Elementary Field Days, U of M Southwest Research and Outreach Center |
| GREEN Expo, New Ulm |
| Earth Day at the Redwood County Hazardous Waste Facility |
| Earth Day at Reede Gray Elementary School, Redwood Falls |
| 4-H Nature Camp in Ramsey Park, Redwood Falls |
| Environmental Fairs 2003 to Present - Various Locations |
| Girl Scouts Summer Water Quality Program, Redwood Falls |
| Yellow Medicine County Conservation Day, Upper Sioux Agency State Park |
~~~~~~~~~~
A few comments from Elementary Field Days . . .
"After viewing the stream table, students have a good understanding of erosion."
"What a great visual for kids (and adults) too learn more about our rivers."
~~~~~~~~~~
Call or
email RCRCA, if you would
like the River/Stream Table
at your next school/organization large group event!
Home | About RCRCA
| Cottonwood |
Redwood |
Education
State Cost Share |
Citizen
Stream Monitoring | Images
News Releases |
Staff |
Board Members | Calendar/Events |
Links
Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers
Control Area (RCRCA)
1241 East Bridge Street
Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone: 507-637-2142, ext. 4
Fax: 507-637-2134
E-mail: rcrca2day@yahoo.
com