Geog 360:  Watershed Science and Policy Spring 2002  Prof. Patricia McDowell   Department of Geography, University of Oregon

Course content and goals:  This course combines scientific understanding of watershed processes with study of policies and laws to address water problems.  We will focus on the U.S. in general, and the Pacific Northwest in particular.  The course is designed to serve as a bridge between introductory science courses and 400-level science courses that cover one subsystem of the environment in more depth.  Specific topics include:  

• Physical and ecological processes in watersheds:  precipitation and streamflow; sediment erosion and transfer; river channels; aquatic ecosystems; fish and their habitat; connections between the riparian zone and the channel.  
• Water quality:  Sources of water pollution; non-point pollution and land use; how the Clean Water Act works; Oregon 303D list; TMDLs and water quality management plans
• Endangered fish:  how Endangered Species Act works; fish listings under Endangered Species Act; policies and management approaches in response to fish listings
• Water supply, water rights, drinking water
• Dams:  types of dams; impacts on flow regime; benefits from dams; dam removal
• Watershed management:  integrated watershed management; watershed councils; watershed assessments; stream restoration 

Course format:  Class meets for two hours twice a week 2:00-3:50 Tuesday and Thursday, with lecture, discussion and lab activities interwoven.  We will meet in the wireless notebook computer lab and use the computers in class for web research on watershed issues.  Your research will culminate in an original research report on a watershed of your choice.  No separate lab section meeting.  There will be a field trip (optional) to look at watershed issues.  

Prerequisites:  Completion of an introductory natural science course sequence such as GEOG 141-143, GEOL 101-103 or 201-203, BI 211-213 or 130 + 308 or 264.  

Instructor:  Prof. Pat McDowell, e-mail: pmcd@oregon.uoregon.edu, phone 346-4567, with the assistance of Patrick Hurley and Michael Hughes (GTFs).  

Course grading: This is a preliminary grading plan, it may change before the term starts.  Grades will be determined from four components: Test 1 (25%),  Test 2  (25%),  Assignments (20%, several small assignments started in class and turned in later as written work), and a Final Project (30%, report on a watershed). 

Course materials: Readings will be assigned from readings on reserve on the web, a reading packet, and one book.  Expect 30 to 50 pages of required readings each week.  There will be a course web page with lecture and lab information and links to some of the readings.  Two major sources are Stream Corridor Restoration, Principles Processes and Practices and The Clean Water Act, An Owner's Manual.  

last update:  02/12/07 10:45 PM
Department of Geography, University of Oregon, Eugene OR, 97403-1251