Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge Requirements

Requirements

1. # Copy link to requirement 1
   Do the following:
   1. # Copy link to requirement 1.a
      Tell what soil is. Tell how it is formed.
   2. # Copy link to requirement 1.b
      Describe three kinds of soil. Tell how they are different.
   3. # Copy link to requirement 1.c
      Name the three main plant nutrients in fertile soil. Tell how they can be put back when used up.
2. # Copy link to requirement 2
   Do the following:
   1. # Copy link to requirement 2.a
      Define soil erosion.
   2. # Copy link to requirement 2.b
      Tell why soil erosion is important and how it affects you.
   3. # Copy link to requirement 2.c
      Name three kinds of soil erosion. Describe each.
   4. # Copy link to requirement 2.d
      Take pictures of or draw two kinds of soil erosion.
3. # Copy link to requirement 3
   Do the following:
   1. # Copy link to requirement 3.a
      Tell what is meant by conservation practices.
   2. # Copy link to requirement 3.b
      Describe the effect of three kinds of erosion-control practices.
   3. # Copy link to requirement 3.c
      Take pictures of or draw three kinds of erosion-control practices.
4. # Copy link to requirement 4
   Do the following:
   1. # Copy link to requirement 4.a
      Explain what a watershed is.
   2. # Copy link to requirement 4.b
      Outline the smallest watershed that you can find on a contour map.
   3. # Copy link to requirement 4.c
      Outline, as far as the map will allow, the next larger watershed that also has the smallest one in it.
   4. # Copy link to requirement 4.d
      Explain what a river basin is. Tell why all people living in a river basin should be concerned about land and water use in the basin.
   5. # Copy link to requirement 4.e
      Explain what an aquifer is and why it can be important to communities.
5. # Copy link to requirement 5
   Do the following:
   1. # Copy link to requirement 5.a
      Make a drawing to show the hydrologic cycle.
   2. # Copy link to requirement 5.b
      Demonstrate at least two of the following actions of water in relation to soil: percolation, capillary action, precipitation, evaporation, transpiration.
   3. # Copy link to requirement 5.c
      Explain how removal of vegetation will affect the way water runs off a watershed.
   4. # Copy link to requirement 5.d
      Tell how uses of forest, range, and farmland affect usable water supply.
   5. # Copy link to requirement 5.e
      Explain how industrial use affects water supply.
6. # Copy link to requirement 6
   Do the following:
   1. # Copy link to requirement 6.a
      Tell what is meant by “water pollution.”
   2. # Copy link to requirement 6.b
      Describe common sources of water pollution and explain the effects of each.
   3. # Copy link to requirement 6.c
      Explain the terms: primary water treatment, secondary waste treatment, and biochemical oxygen demand.
   4. # Copy link to requirement 6.d
      Make a drawing showing the principles of complete waste treatment.
7. # Copy link to requirement 7
   Do TWO of the following:
   1. # Copy link to requirement 7.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.
      1. # Copy link to requirement 7.a.1
         An agricultural experiment
      2. # Copy link to requirement 7.a.2
         A managed forest or woodlot, range, or pasture
      3. # Copy link to requirement 7.a.3
         A wildlife refuge or a fish or game management area
      4. # Copy link to requirement 7.a.4
         A conservation-managed farm or ranch
      5. # Copy link to requirement 7.a.5
         A managed watershed
      6. # Copy link to requirement 7.a.6
         A waste-treatment plant
      7. # Copy link to requirement 7.a.7
         A public drinking water treatment plant
      8. # Copy link to requirement 7.a.8
         An industry water use installation
      9. # Copy link to requirement 7.a.9
         A desalinization plant.
   2. # Copy link to requirement 7.b
      Plant 100 trees, bushes, and/or vines for a good purpose.
   3. # Copy link to requirement 7.c
      Seed an area of at least one-fifth acre for some worthwhile conservation purposes, using suitable grasses or legumes alone or in a mixture.
   4. # Copy link to requirement 7.d
      Study a soil survey report. Describe the things in it. Using tracing paper and a pen, trace over any of the soil maps, and outline an area with three or more different kinds of soil. List each kind of soil by full name and map symbol
   5. # Copy link to requirement 7.e
      Make a list of places in your neighborhood, camps, school ground, or park that have erosion, sedimentation, or pollution problems. Describe how these could be corrected through individual or group action.
   6. # Copy link to requirement 7.f
      Carry out any other soil and water conservation project approved by your counselor.