ENVC 304 - River Ecology & Watershed Management

Credits: 5
Variable Credit Course: No

Lecture Hours: 44
Lab Hours: 22
Worksite/Clinical Hours: 0
Other Hours (LIA/Internships): 0

Course Description: Watershed perspective to learn about rivers and streams with special emphasis on the Pacific Northwest coastal ecoregion. Topics include hydrology, hyporheic flow, geomorphology, stream classification, riparian ecology, and biogeochemical cycles. Development of watershed and ecosystem management at the appropriate spatial and temporal scales including adaptive management processes incorporating cultural values and philosophies allowing successful watershed management.

Prerequisite: GIS 101 with a C or higher; and Admission to BAS-EC, or Department Chair permission.
Meets FQE Requirement: No
Integrative Experience Requirement: No

Student Learning Outcomes

Utilize stream classification systems to inventory stream conditions.
Evaluate the biotic integrity of streams using primary production, macroinvertebrate communities, and water quality.
Evaluate fish communities in various stream habitats.
Evaluate how riparian conditions affect wildlife and nutrient spiraling.
Identify landscape processes responsible for anthropogenic changes to hydrology and water quality.
Propose solutions to river and watershed management issues that acknowledge streams as socio-ecological systems with respect to differing cultural values.

Course Contents

Channel processes, classifications, and responses.
Hydrology and stream quality including hyporheic zone.
Biotic stream classification.
Decomposition.
Primary production.
Macroinvertebrate communities.
Fish communities.
Riparian wildlife.
Ecosystem process; dynamic landscape process, riparian forests, LWD.
Watershed management.
Rivers as sentinels.
Cultural values associated with river systems and their riparian zones in a historical context.

Instructional Units: 5.5