James River Association
Soil & Water Conservation
Merit Badge


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"When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves."

- David Orr

Mr. R.

 
Mr. R's Soil & Water Conservation Passport© (a 4"x5" pocket guide) is available in PDF format to print out for non-profit use (requires free Adobe Acrobat© Reader).  Passports are copyrighted, but scouts and troops may use them free of charge if they create only one per scout.  BSA councils must first contact Mr. R. before creating large quantities for scout camps, merit badge fairs, etc. (a small nominal fee will be charged).

 
Req#
1
 Do the following:
a. Tell what soil is. Tell how it is formed. 
b. Describe three kinds of soil. Tell how they are different. 
c. Name the three main plant nutrients in fertile soil. Tell how they can be put back when used up. 
  • NASA  Soil Texture (advance slides by clicking on the arrow  )
  • NASA  Soil Sizes - Some Surprises!
  • NASA  Filtering Qualities of Soils
  • NASA  Plant Nutrient Team Activity Book (printable version) 
  • NASA  Soils - Texture by feel guide

Soil Triangle
Excellent site with material based 
upon work supported by the 
National Science Foundation
Grind two rocks together for a long time you'll form a pile of dust.  Because it contains no nutrients or organic material yet we just call it DIRT.  If we combine it with some organic matter (decaying plant or animal life) along with some nutrients (from the air, rain, or ground), we will then have SOIL.  It takes nature about 1,000 years to grind up enough dirt and mix in enough organic matter and nutrients to create just 1-inch of soil!
 

 
Req#
2
 Do the following:
a. Define soil erosion. 
b. Tell why it is important. Tell how it affects you. 
c. Name three kinds of soil erosion. Describe each. 
d. Take pictures or draw two kinds of soil erosion. 		  
  • Soil Erosion  Sheet, rill, gully, tunnel, streambank, wind and other types of erosion (excellent)
  • NASA  About Weathering
  • USGS What’s the difference between weathering and erosion?

Rill Erosion
www.netc.net.au
 

 
Req#
3
 Do the following:
a. Tell what is meant by conservation practices. 
b. Describe the effect of three kinds of erosion- control practices. 
c. Take pictures or draw three kinds of erosion- control practices. 

Credit: California Straw Works
© Used with permission
Conservation Practice: Any technique or measure used to protect soil and water resources for which standards and specifications for installation, operation, or maintenance have been developed.
 

 
Req#
4
 Do the following:
a. Explain what a watershed is. 
b. Outline the smallest watershed that you can find on a contour map. 
c. Then outline on your map, as far as possible, the next larger watershed which also has the smallest in it. 
d. Explain what a river basin is. Tell why all people living in it should be concerned about land and water use on it. 

Credit: Mari Eliza
© Used with permission
Watershed: The divide separating one drainage basin from another and in the past has been generally used to convey this meaning. However, over the years, use of the term to signify drainage basin or catchment area has come to predominate, although drainage basin is preferred. Drainage divide, or just divide, is used to denote the boundary between one drainage area and another. Used alone, the term "watershed" is ambiguous and should not be used unless the intended meaning is made clear.
http://water.usgs.gov/wsc/glossary.html

 
Req#
5		 Do the following:
a. Make a drawing to show the water cycle. 
b. Show by demonstration at least two of the following actions of water to the soil: percolation, capillary action, precipitation, evaporation, transpiration. 
c. Explain how removal of vegetation will affect the way water runs off a watershed. 
d. Tell how uses of forest, range, and farm land affect usable water supply. 
e. Explain how industrial use affects water supply.

Water Cycle
  • USGS  How industrial use affects water supply
  • USGS  Water Use in the United States (good)

 
Req#
6
 Do the following:
a. Tell what is meant by water pollution. 
b. Describe the common sources of water pollution and explain the effects. 
c. Tell what is meant by "primary water treatment," "secondary waste treatment," and "biochemical oxygen demand." 
d. Make a drawing showing the principles of complete waste treatment. 

Credit: University of Florida
© Used with permission

 
Req#
7
 Do TWO of the following:
a. Make a trip to two of the following places. Write a report of more than 500 words about the soil and water and energy conservation practices you saw.
  • An agricultural experiment 
  • A managed forest or woodlot, range, or pasture 
  • A wildlife refuge or a fish or game management area
  • A conservation-managed farm or ranch 
  • A managed watershed 
  • A waste-treatment plant
  • A public drinking water treatment plant
  • Industry water use installation 
  • Desalinization plant
b. Plant 100 trees, bushes and/or vines for a good purpose. 
c. Seed an area of at least 1/5 acre for some worthwhile conservation purpose, using suitable grasses or legumes alone or in a mixture. 
d. Study a soil survey report. Describe the things in it. On tracing paper over any of the soil maps, outline an area with three or more different kinds of soil. List each kind of soil by full name and map symbol.  e. Make a list of places in your neighborhood, camps, school ground, or park having erosion, sedimentation, or pollution problems. Describe how these could be corrected through individual or group action. 
f. Carry out any other soil and water conservation project approved in advance. 

ACES-ITCS Photo
Credit: David Riecks
© Used with permission

 
HELPFUL LINKS:

 
 
Soil & Water Conservation
BSA Advancement ID#: 106
Pamphlet Revision Date: 1995
Requirements last updated in 1998
  


 

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Web page updated December 2003
Web master, Mr. R.