Objectives
After participating in this activity, students will be able to:

• Discuss land-use practices that affect Great Lakes wetlands
• Make decisions and recognize personal priorities with regard to wetlands
• Describe some of the economic factors that often drive land use
• Explain how water quality in both groundwater and surface systems is impacted by land use decisions
• Share ideas about science through purposeful conversation in collaborative groups
• Evaluate data, claims and personal knowledge through collaborative science discourse
• Describe how human beings are part of the ecosystem of the Earth and that human activity can purposefully, or accidentally, alter the balance in ecosystems
• Explain how human activities change the surface of the Earth and affect the survival of organisms

Summary
Every day we make choices. We decide simple things like what to wear, what to eat, or how much time to allow for homework. Some decisions, however, require us to think critically and consider the potential consequences of our actions. Through the various land-use choices posed in the board game Hydropoly, students must consider both the economic and environmental consequences of their decisions. This type of decision-making helps prepare young people for situations they’ll encounter throughout their lives.

Background
Coastal and inland communities in the Great Lakes region face difficult land use decisions every day. Land use refers to how land within a community is used—whether for houses, businesses, agriculture or natural areas. Local leaders must decide where to build houses and what type of industry to support. Communities must also consider another important factor—the health of the environment. A healthy environment that allows for natural areas, open green space, and clean water attracts residents and enhances quality of life.

Protecting wetlands is another way to enhance our natural environment. Wetlands provide important ecological benefits—such as water filtration, habitat and flood control—that need to be considered in land use decisions. Yet wetland benefits are frequently overlooked. Financial gain and economic concerns often override environmental issues. Despite this historic trend, some communities are recognizing that a healthy environment is closely tied to a healthy economy. We could call this principle “eco-nomics”—the healthy marriage of ecological protection and economic growth.

In essence, all land use decisions have short- and long-term consequences that affect the environment. It’s important to weigh the pros and cons of every decision and make the best choices possible.

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