• What are the most important needs in your watershed?
• What is your evidence of the need?

Watershed District said phosphorus is biggest problem. It comes from fertilizers, leaves and grass clippings, dog waste, and geese. The "Phosphorus and the Green Scum" fact sheet on-line explained why it's a problem.

• Exactly what will you do to meet the chosen need?
• How will you know you have succeeded?

We'll test the soil at 15 student houses to see if lawns really need fertilizer. Then we'll stencil storm drains and make a flier to put on doors which includes the results of our soil study. We will tell 250 households how to reduce phosphorus pollution. This is an entire sub-watershed of Blue Lake. We will use a checklist to show that we have met the Graduation Standard.

• Brainstorm the tasks needed to do your project.
• List these tasks in order down the left side of the Time Line. Start from the date by which you must finish the whole project. Then work backward, figuring out how long each task will take.
• Decide Who will do What by When? Person(s)

Resources:

• What books, videos, tools, equipment, busses, etc. will you need?
• What curricula (if any) do you plan to use?
• What people will you need help from?

Friends of the Mississippi will provide paint and stencil kits. Order soil test kits from Extension a month before soil sample collection. Need $7 per test = $105. Copies of brochures. Copies of "Phosphorus and the Green Scum" Fact Sheet. Environmental Resource Guide activity, "Too Many Nutrients." Two five-gallon aquariums, pond water, and phosphorus fertilizer.