Soil Deposits in Pond

This is a ¾ acre Iowa farm pond. The surface area of the pond has remained unchanged from year to year. Unfortunately, the water depth and quality have suffered from the effects of soil disposition. The once nearly 13-foot-deep water is now in jeopardy as soil continues to wash in. This video was taken from nearly 30 feet off of the shoreline.
 

• What would lead to this pond filling in with soil from a neighboring field?

• What effects might this form of eroding soil have on the ecosystems within the pond?
• What effect might this erosion of soil have on livestock, birds and other mammals who drink from this pond?
• How will this erosion impact the usefulness of this farm pond?
• How might this have been prevented?
• Is there any way to fix it?

Students could:

• Discuss the main sources of erosion in Iowa.
• Discuss or journal possible solutions.

• Iowa Geographic Map Server: Teachers and students can use this website to track how streams have meandered over time by clicking on the aerial images of the stream during different time periods. Aerial photos can date all the way back to 1930.
• PBS LearningMedia | Spot on Science: Weathering, Erosion, Deposition? What's the Difference?: What is weathering, erosion, and deposition? This video explores these three environmental impacts.