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The student will:
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.
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.
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. Soil 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. Range management and grazing influences.
c. Wildland fire and cumulative management effects.
VIII. Other Aspects of Watershed Management.
a. Flooding and flood control structures.
b. Snow hydrology.
c. Watershed restoration and rehabilitation.
| 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, Field work, Lab reports, Exams | |
| Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams. | Skill Demonstrations
40 - 60% |
| Class performances, Field work, Performance exams | |
| Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams. | Exams
10 - 25% |
| 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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WATERSHED HYDROLOGY, by Peter Black, Ann Arbor Press, 2nd Edition, 1997.