Department of Geography

GE111 – Physical Geography – Weather and Climate

Video Review Exercise – Ground Water Resources

Objective: To give students an understanding of human impact on ground water resources.

Learning outcomes: At the end of this exercise, students will be able to 1) Identify and articulate issues related to human impact on ground water resources; 2) Offer strategies society may employ to address challenges related to depletion of non-renewable resources such as water.

Activity: Students are to watch three videos:

• The Ogallala Aquifer of the Texas High Plains: A Race Against Time – 26 min. Url:

Pumped Dry: A race to the bottom of the Ogallala in Kansas – 14 min. Url:

Pumped Dry: Dry wells, sinking ground in Calf. – 17 min. Url:

(section 1 and Honors GE111 to watch video #3 on their own).

Student response:

1. Summarize the main issues raised in these three videos – names of people, places, dates, issues are key to getting full credit.
2. List three main environmental and ecological problems that may be caused by overuse of underground water resources (a.k.a ground water mining)
3. Discuss three strategies society may use to address the challenges of depletion of non-renewable resources such as water.

What to turn in: In about 400 but not exceeding 500 words, provide answers to the above questions in the order they are listed. Upload your responses as a MS Word document of .pdf on Canvas by due date.