Physical and ecological processes in rivers and watershedsGeog 360: Watershed Science and Policy
Winter 2007; Prof. Patricia McDowell
TR 10:00-11:50, 41 Knight Library
Course content:
Physical and ecological processes in rivers and watersheds
Water pollutants and water quality, and how the Clean Water Act
works
Water supply and water rights
Endangered fish and how the Endangered Species Act works
Course goals:
To combine scientific understanding of river and watershed
processes with study of policies and laws to address water problems.
To serve as a bridge between broad introductory science courses
and narrower 400-level courses where science and social science are
compartmentalized.
Format:
Meet twice a week for 1.5 to 2 hours, with lecture, discussion and
labs interwoven.
Use the wireless notebook computer lab (Knight 41) to do on-line
research during class periods.
Prerequisites:
Completion of an introductory natural science course sequence
such as GEOG 141-143, GEOL 101-103 or 201-203, BI 211-213, or BI 130 plus 308
Requirements:
No textbook; required readings available on Blackboard as pdfs, or
on the web.
Complete a term paper that is a report on water problems in a
watershed of your choice.
Grading based on:
5 assignments that are research components of the term paper (25%
total)
Term paper (30 %)
2 tests (45% total)
Optional field trips. A field trip report can be substituted for
one assignment.
EWEB drinking water treatment facility and Eugene-Springfield
Wastewater Treatment facility. Date to be determined.
McKenzie River: natural resources and how we use them. Date to be
determined.
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Preliminary Schedule for GEOG 360 |
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Week |
Date |
Lecture topic |
In-class activity |
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1 |
1/09/07 T |
Introduction to the
course; |
Assignment 1: |
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1/11/07 R |
Hydrology: precipitation to streamflow |
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2 |
1/16/07 T |
Water use, water availability and water law |
Assignment 2: River flow regime |
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1/18/07 R |
Channels, sediment and land use |
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3 |
1/23/07 T |
Physical and chemical characteristics of water in rivers |
EPA’s Surf your watershed |
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1/25/07 R |
Riverine aquatic ecosystems |
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4 |
1/30/07 T |
Water pollutants 1: pathogens, oxygen-demanding wastes, sediment |
Assignment 3: Characterizing your watershed |
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2/1/07 R |
Water pollutants 2: nutrients, toxics |
State government web pages on water |
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5 |
2/6/07 T |
Clean Water Act 1: history of the act, effluent standards, water quality standards |
Assignment 4: Water quality criteria and impaired waters |
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2/8/07 R |
Clean Water Act 2: 305(b); 303(d); TMDLs |
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6 |
2/13/07 T |
Test 1 (in class) |
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2/15/07 R |
Fish life cycles and habitat needs |
Term project research |
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7 |
2/20/07 T |
Salmon in the Pacific Northwest |
Assignment 5: Info on Endangered species |
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2/22/07 R |
Endangered Species Act 1: history, definitions, listing process, 4(d) rules |
Term project research |
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8 |
2/27/07 T |
Endangered Species Act 2: recovery planning, Hogan decision, recent events |
Term project research |
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3/1/07 R |
Dams: history and impacts |
Term project research |
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9 |
3/6/07 T |
Instream flow: water for the ecosystem |
Term project research |
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3/8/07 R |
Changing watershed management |
Term project research |
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10 |
3/13/07 T |
Klamath Basin water crisis; new trends in watershed management |
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3/15/07 R |
Test 2 – in class |
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3/16/07 F |
Term project due at 5:00 pm |
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