Watershed & Sinkholes

Another day at Crystal Springs Preserve brings us to a class on the watershed, aquifers, and sinkholes.

After a brief description about the watershed and pollution, the class was split into teams.  Of course, we went for a boys team and a girls team.  This division brought very interesting results!

The kids had about 15 minutes to design a small town that had to include a river, two ponds, a zoo, a farm, a construction area, a golf course, a neighborhood, and a garbage dump.

The boys had a town with protective walls, army men, and lots of bridges.

The girl's town was really pretty, neatly organized and cute.

However, the girl's town had more pollution run off (golf course right on the river, garbage dump surrounded by water, etc.

Before they were finished, they created three sinkholes (a problem in our part of the start).  The sinkholes were made by  burying a water balloon and covering it with dirt.  This simulates the aquifer system that is just beneath our feet here in Florida.  Usually, the aquifers (like underground caves) are filled with water.  However, when there is a drought, or we use to much water, the aquifers begin to recede and can no longer hold up the ground that is just above it.  So, when the children "pop" their water balloon, the ground above the balloon collapses and creates a sinkhole.

For the first time ever...I understand what a sinkhole is!

We love Crystal Springs Preserve!