Weir

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/weir

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the location?Built across rivers, streams, or other watercourses
2. What is the primary purpose?To raise water levels for navigation, diversion, and flow control
3. How does a weir help farmers and cities get water?By raising the water level, a weir lets farmers and towns take water from the river more easily. It also keeps enough water for irrigation and for drinking.
4. Why do weirs make it easier to travel on rivers?Weirs make rivers deeper and steadier, so boats can travel more safely. They also help keep the water level steady for ships and barges.

Hydraulic Structure: An artificial construction designed to manage or control water flow and levels.
Run-of-River Hydropower: Electricity generated from the natural flow of a river with minimal impoundment.
Riparian Vegetation: Plants that grow along the banks of rivers and streams.
Sediment Transport: The movement of solid particles (like sand and silt) by flowing water.