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Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Define the hydrologic cycle and explain the various processes of the cycle.
2. Construct a stream hydrograph and analyze its various components.
3. Inventory and appraise various watershed characteristics such as area, drainage density, relief ratio, circularity ratio, stream order, etc.
4. Calculate the average precipitation of a drainage basin using various approaches including Theissen polygon method, Isohyetal method, and arithmetic average method.
5. Recognize and demonstrate runoff and infiltration principles and processes.
6. Describe the effects of various resource management practices on water yield.
7. Recognize and discuss important water issues in California.
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I. Introduction to Water Resources in California
A. History of water development.
B. Regional basis of supply and demand for water.
C. Conflicts among the different user groups.
D. State, federal and local water projects in California.
II. The Hydrologic Cycle, Water and Energy Budgets
A. Physical processes, storage and transport of water.
B. Water: physical properties, molecular structure and phases.
C. Energy exchange and effect on hydrologic functioning.
D. Analysis of urbanization and urban ecology to watershed health.
III. Atmospheric Precipitation
A. Types of precipitation: rain, snow, fog.
B. Measurement: annual amounts, intensity and seasonal variation.
C. Geographic and topographic variation of precipitation.
D. Basin precipitation: measurement and analysis, Theissen polygon method, Isohyetal method, and arithmetic average method.
IV. Canopy Interception and Redistribution of Water
A. Vegetation canopy characteristics and water storage capacity.
B. Canopy throughfall and stemflow.
C. Litter interception and potential infiltration.
D. Evapotranspiration of water.
V. Infiltration and Runoff
A. characteristics, vegetation disturbance and effect on infiltration rates.
B. Surface and subsurface flow of water.
C. Measurement of water yield, and stream hydrograph construction and analysis.
VI. Measurement of Watershed Characteristics
A. Basin area, aspect and topographic relief.
B. Stream order, drainage density, and total length of perennial and intermittent streams.
C. Streamflow, discharge rates, erosion and sedimentation.
VII. Resource Management Activities and Effect on Water Quality and Quantity
A. Timber harvesting and log road construction.
B. Gravel mining and related impacts
C. Wildland fire and cumulative management effects.
| Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing. | Writing
0 - 0% |
| None | |
| This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because problem solving assessments and skill demonstrations are more appropriate for this course. |
|
| Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills. | Problem Solving
30 - 50% |
| Homework problems, river hydrograph, lab reports | |
| Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams. | Skill Demonstrations
40 - 60% |
| Class performances, river hydrograph, field work, performance exams, design of drainage structure | |
| Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams. | Exams
10 - 25% |
| Midterm and Final: Multiple choice, true/false, matching items, completion | |
| Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories. | Other Category
0 - 0% |
| None | |
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Watersheds: Processes, Assessment and Management, by Paul A. DeBarry. Wiley, John & Sons, publisher. 2004. (Classic)