Rainwater Runoff 1st Lab

     For my first lab for introduction to environmental science, I explored how many gallons of water will a 2- inch rainstorm produce at Willett Science Center Parking Lot at Mercer Universities' Macon campus. For my calculations, I discovered that during a 2- inch rainfall, about 77,827 gallons of water will fall on Willett Science Center Parking Lot. This substantial amount of water could fill up approximately 7 large pools since pools hold an estimate of about 10,000 gallons of water. Therefore, it is important for places like Willett Science Center to have good drainage systems or else large amounts of water will becoming standing water. 77, 827 gallons of water would undoubtedly flood the area and cause many cars and buildings to accrue damage. So, Willett Science Center is a good example of putting in good drainage systems that allow water to move when there is heavy rainfall. The elevation of Willett Science Center makes it so that water can flow down into drainage systems.

     This lab is also important because it shows the importance of knowing and recognizing rainwater runoff and its impact on a particular area. If people cannot predict how much water will fall on a certain area, then they cannot be fully prepared to act if necessary. Knowing rainwater runoff also allow engineers and scientists to correctly put drainage systems wherever necessary. Calculating rainwater runoff can also be a good indication if an area is safe enough for a building or home to be built.  

Gifford Pinchot- A Prominent Figure in Environmental Studies

Gifford Pinchot was America's first professional forester and founder of the U.S. Forest Service. Gifford Pinchot was born in 1865 in Simsbury, Connecticut.Pinchot was an early advocate of wildlife and forestry in the United States. He set the standard for other foresters and environmentalists such as John Muir, who he met in New York in 1893. However, John Muir and Pinchot saw a clash in their different beliefs.Pinchot was the leader of the utilitarian wing of the early conservation movement,under President Theodore Roosevelt. Muir took the opposing side.On one hand, Muir crusaded for the preservation of wilderness, while Pinchot campaigned for utilitarian use of public lands. Their major battle came with the protection of the Hetch Hetchy Valley. Their conflict ultimately saw a split between the preservation wing and the utilitarian wing of the conservation movement. Furthermore, the Hetch Hetchy Valley was a small land area in Yosemite National Park. The City of San Francisco wanted a dam to be built in Hetch Hetchy Valley, which would supply much needed water to the city.The Preservationists, led by John Muir, were hugely opposed to the building of this dam. They felt that building a dam would destroy the natural beauty of the area. The Conservationists,led by Gifford Pinchot, felt that a dam would benefit the people greatly. In America, every newspaper jumped at the chance to follow the story and it even captured the nations' attention.The Hetch Hetchy Valley battle was the first controversy about environmental issues that garnered the whole country's attention. Hetch Hetchy Valley was a very important part of U.S. Environmental history. So, Gifford, in turn, is seen as an important catalyst for environmentalism and the preservation of forests and areas like Hetch Hetchy Valley in America.

Gifford Pinchot and Hetch Hetchy Valley