ENVC 201 - Watershed Restoration

Credits: 5
Variable Credit Course: No

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

Course Description: Techniques and ecological context for restoration and its application in the conservation of biodiversity. Covers state and federal laws pertaining to ecological field work and potential funding sources. Evaluation of social and economic impact of restoration to diverse groups of people. Includes methods in biological engineering.

Prerequisite: None.
General Education Requirements:

Fulfills Integrate General Education Requirement
Fulfills Think General Education Requirement

Meets FQE Requirement: No
Integrative Experience Requirement: No

Student Learning Outcomes

Describe the connection between ecological restoration and conservation biology.
Monitor restoration efforts for indicators of success.
Develop a comprehensive proposal for ecological restoration of a given site.
Perform ecological restoration of terrestrial and aquatic systems using modern methods.
Identify the appropriate local, state, and federal agencies involved in ecological restoration.
Interpret the guidelines of the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) as they apply to ecological restoration.

Course Contents

Natural landscape communities in the Pacific Northwest; the templates.
Restoration of ecosystem function and biodiversity.
Project planning; agencies and permits.
Bank stabilization; bioengineering.
Restoration of riparian areas for fish and wildlife.
Instream structures and engineered log jams.
Obstructions/fishways/fish passage.
Wetlands and marshes.
Road abandonment.
Biodiversity, socio-economics, and restoration.
Research technical journals.
Group presentations. Presentation regarding the ecological restoration project must include considerations to different socioeconomic constraints from project neighbors.

Instructional Units: 5.5