Water Woes - Introduction

As you begin this game of strategy and environmental knowledge, your house lies at the brink of disaster. Erosion has destroyed the shoreline, endangering your foundation and excessive flooding has occurred due to the spring thaw, leaving your back lawn covered in a severe amount of water. Your mission is to save your home from the sure disaster it faces and relieve your backyard from the flooding. However, there are certain obstacles which will make your job difficult:

1. You have only $100 000 to work with.

2. Tampering with wetlands can cause serious damage to the stream and wildlife.

3. You are only able to use two solutions and cannot use the same one twice. Each tool has a location where it can be most useful, but there are two specific solutions that are the most environmentally friendly and the most cost efficient.

4. Keep in mind that your neighbours don't want to be under water because of your decisions.

5. To choose a tool click on the button with the tool's name, and place it on your property map.

The following is a list of the tools along with a brief description that may help you choose the right answer and solve your flooding and erosion problems:

Dam: A barrier constructed across a stream or river to stop water and control water levels.

Retaining wall: A structure that is placed on the shoreline to help keep the soil dry and to prevent erosion.

Weir: It is like a dam but has a slot of a certain width and length cut into it that controls the upstream water level.

Help line: The help line is a phone call that can assist you to possibly solve problems which originate on other properties.

Filling wetland: An inexpensive way to stop flooding but it can destroy habitat.

Pond: A small lake that you dig, it allows a certain amount of water storage. A pond is home to many wildlife creatures.

Diversion: Water is sent in a different direction from the natural one, by digging a separate way for the water to travel through.

Grass: When planted, helps to give the soil a protective layer that will resist erosion.

Trees: When planted, helps reduce the risk of water erosion by giving the soil a protective layer that helps against the impact of raindrops.

Water
Woes
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