The NOAA Ocean Exploration program strives to engage broad audiences to enhance America's environmental literacy through the excitement of ocean discovery. Increasing this literacy requires high-quality, effective collaborations between ocean explorers and America's teachers. NOAA is forming such collaborations to reach out in new ways to the public to improve the literacy of learners with respect ... Full description.

This publication provides an overview of groundwater occurrence and of the main issues affecting its quantity and quality. It shows how the resource is used in our cities, in industry and mining, in agriculture and rural water supply; how it sustains many of our wetlands; how in its own undramatic way groundwater has become an integral part of billions of people's lives. Numerous examples illustrate ... Full description.

The materials presented here help make the case for water conservation by residential water users. Users can study conservation tips, suggestions for leak detection and repair, and learn about program services provided by the Portland Water Bureau such as cash incentives for buying water-saving appliances, a request form for ordering conservation devices, and community events and workshops. Though ... Full description.

February 2nd of each year is World Wetlands Day, which marks the date of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands in 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. As part of the observance, the Ramsar Convention makes available to order a variety of materials such as posters, leaflets, logos and stickers, and a video. Many of these materials are available in French and Spanish. ... Full description.

This lesson plan will help students to understand that the way a community disposes of its wastewater may negatively affect local aquatic habitats, that it is possible to find wastewater-disposal methods that do not pollute, and that both governments and citizens can take action to ensure that waste water will be disposed of in a way that is not destructive. As part of the lesson, students will discuss ... Full description.

As part of this lesson plan, students will be asked to read a news article and to construct and explain theories for the decline of the water level of the Great Lakes. They should be able to locate the Great Lakes on a map, compare them to lakes in other parts of the world, hypothesize what might happen in the short term if global temperatures continue to rise, and to consider these seemingly contradictory ... Full description.

The Antarctic Meteorological Research Center provides recent and archived imagery of icebergs, including movies. Icebergs from the Ross, Ronne, and Larsen ice shelves are pictured. Links to a webcam, a Frequently Asked Questions page, and other sites providing pictures and information about icebergs are also provided. Full description.

Earth 911 is an organization focused on empowering the public with community-specific resources to improve their quality of life. To accomplish this goal, they provide information on a wide range of environmental topics including recycling (several types of materials), household hazardous waste, water quality, composting, air pollution prevention, fire prevention, green shopping tips, and mercury ... Full description.

This guide to organisms and environmental issues of the Chesapeake Bay and Mid-Atlantic Coast addresses restoration and protection of bay habitats, bay grasses, harmful algae, bay monitoring efforts, and organisms that live in the bay. There is also education section that features materials for teachers, students and volunteers, frequently asked questions about the bay, and a set of links to related ... Full description.

Population growth in the District of Squamish, British Columbia has placed increasing pressure on many of the area's natural resources. Visitors to this site can learn practical tips for individuals on such topics as wetlands, back yard conservation, environmentally sensitive areas, watercourse protection, urban runoff; and lawn, garden, and sidewalk tips. Other topics include a case study of an initiative ... Full description.