Provide a concise historical account of agricultural and urban development within the watershed. Define stakeholders and delve into the challenges they encounter, specifically emphasizing water quality, habitat loss, and land-use conflicts, with a primary focus on agriculture, urban development, and the implications of new population growth.
Assignment Question
Page One: Begin with an overview of the Rappahannock River Watershed, highlighting the stark contrasts among its upper (forest), middle, and lower (estuary agriculture) segments. Provide a concise historical account of agricultural and urban development within the watershed. Define stakeholders and delve into the challenges they encounter, specifically emphasizing water quality, habitat loss, and land-use conflicts, with a primary focus on agriculture, urban development, and the implications of new population growth.
Pages Two-Seven: Progress to a detailed exploration of recent developments in agriculture, urban development, and new population growth within the Rappahannock River watershed, drawing connections to relevant stakeholders. Analyze the evolution of land use from the 1970s to the present, addressing crucial questions such as:
1.) “What should dominate land use in the Rappahannock River watershed?”
2.) Examine the impact of new population growth on water quality. Explore ongoing restoration practices designed to alleviate water quality issues and assess which regions of the watershed (upper, middle, or lower) are actively involved in restoration efforts and how these initiatives might influence other areas.
Conclude each section with a discussion of the best, worst, and most likely case scenarios related to the Rappahannock River watershed issue.
Page Eight: Synthesize the best, worst, and most likely case scenarios with the attached readings, establishing connections and drawing insights from relevant literature. This final page should serve as a cohesive conclusion, offering a comprehensive overview of the Rappahannock River watershed issue, tying together the historical context, stakeholder concerns, recent developments, and potential future scenarios.
