The Task

You now know that you must find a solution, or solutions, to alleviate the problem of storm runoff and flooding at Wolf Pen Creek. How will you solve this problem? A little planning will be needed so that you can determine:

• What information you already know;
• What information you need to know, and,
• Where you will find that information.

Once you have the necessary information, you will be able to analyze it and determine some possible solutions to this problem.

What information do you already know?

• How much do you know about flooding, storm runoff, city planning?

Consider what you know first. Generate a list of what you already know, and then...

What information do you need to know?

Generate a list of what you need to know. Below are some suggestions. There are other considerations you must take into account – the list below will help you begin your brainstorming!

• Do you need to know the basics about flooding?
• What causes it?
• How does the existing environment contribute to or exacerbate flood conditions?
• What can be done to prevent flooding?
• Are there different types of floods?
• What other things about flooding might you need to know?

• What do you need to know about the environmental conditions?
• Does the type of vegetation (trees, shrubs, grass) have an effect?
• Can some environments “soak up” more water than others? Why or why not?

• How do humans affect flooding?
• What ways do humans try to control flooding?

Once you have identified what you need to know...

Determine where you will find that information:

• Who, or what source, can answer the list of questions you have determined are necessary to find a solution to the flooding problem at Wolf Pen Creek? (There are many resources to help you on the website!)

And, once you have amassed all of this information, you need to:

Formulate a solution to the Wolf Pen Creek problem

To do this final step, you must take all of the data you have collected, and:

• Synthesize it (organize the data)
• Analyze it (determine what is pertinent and discard what is not)
• Make inferences
• Draw conclusions as to what is the “best” solution for Texas A&M and Wolf Pen Creek.

And now you have a potential solution...