12/21/2024 8:16:03 AM	NRM 88 Course Outline as of Fall 2009	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  NRM 88	Title:  WATRSHD ECOL/RESTORATION
Full Title:  Watershed Ecology and Restoration
Last Reviewed:1/25/2021

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	2.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	35.00
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	3.00		17.5 min.	Lab Scheduled	52.50
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	5.00			Contact Total	87.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  NRM 280.25

Catalog Description:

An introduction to the methods, techniques, and tools used to restore and enhance watershed health.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

An introduction to the methods, techniques, and tools used to restore and enhance watershed health.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2003	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1.  Define the hydrologic cycle and explain the various processes of the cycle.

2.  Define and describe physical and biological processes that affect watershed health and function.

3.  Identify the biologic and economic need for restoring and maintaining watershed health in California.

4.  Identify topographical maps, assessments and hand tools and equipment used by watershed restorationists.

5.  State criteria for choosing "hard" versus "soft" streambank repair techniques and identify instream structure suitability relative to stream channel type and function.

6.  Demonstrate techniques for reducing sediment from roads and making other up-slope repairs and improvements as a field trip activity.

7.  Compare and contrast local watersheds, and discuss land use impacts (both perceived and real) relative to cause and effect.

8.  Evaluate local restoration projects, both completed and planned, and develop and demonstrate prescriptions for repair.

9.  Analyze and discuss important water issues in California.

10. Demonstrate a working knowledge of watershed restoration techniques and the ability to communicate with other resource professionals.

11. Use quantitative techniques for riparian habitat assessment including various accepted sampling protocols.

Topics and Scope

I.   The California Hydrologic Cycle and Water Resource Issues

    a. The Hydrologic Cycle in California: climate, topography, geographic location

    b. Overview of water usage development in California: modifications to natural hydrologic regime, supply and demand, and conflicting uses

II.  Upslope Processes/Routing

    a. Sediment delivery, storage and yield

    b. Hillslope processes

    c. Surface erosion from hillslopes

    d. Restoration techniques for erosion from human activities

    e. Survey of local watershed restoration efforts and projects, including successes and failures

III. Hydrology/Ecology

    a. Conceptual framework of healthy and impaired watershed processes and function relative to local and regional land use practices

    b. Stream processes as a river continuum concept

    c. Stream channel morphology and function

    d. Physical and biological processes

IV.  Ecological Restoration - Project Planning

    a. Overview of watershed and fishery restoration techniques, methods, and tools.

    b. Riparian corridor restoration: planning, appropriate species,location, scheduling

    c. Upslope restoration: grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, intermittent streams, erosion control

    d. Invasive species: issues and problems related to restoration projects

V.   Restoration of In-stream Habitat Conditions

    a. Identification of land use impacts and innovative solutions for restoring functional processes

    b. Recreating riffle-pool-flatwaters, increasing pool volume, spawning and rearing habitat

    c. Bio-engineering techniques for erosion control and restoring channel process

VI.  Riparian Restoration - Implementation Techniques

    a. Survey of appropriate restoration techniques relative to stream channel function

    b. Successful native plant revegetation

    c. Methods for controlling invasive species

    d. Pierce's Disease and riparian corridors and stream/agricultural interface.

Assignments:

The student may be required to complete:

1.  Reading assignments that will average 20 pages per week.

2.  Group projects in hands-on use of topo maps, demonstration techniques for sediment measuring and oral discussion/research of land use and impacts on watersheds.

3.  Writing assignments, reading reports, and term papers that deal with the biological and economic restoration needs, watershed restoration techniques, and water issues in California to total 500 words during the semester.

4.  Skill demonstration and written exams for riparian habitat assessment using sampling protocols, developing and demonstrating prescriptions for riparian repairs and in making upslope repair.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 10 - 45%
Written homework, reading reports, term papers
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 20%
Group projects; critical thinking focus on watershed health in California.
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 10 - 40%
Class performances, technical measures and reports
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 20 - 30%
Multiple choice, true/false, matching items, completion
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 15 - 35%
Attendance and class participation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

California Salmonid Stream Restoration Manual (3rd), by Flosi, et.al., California Department of Fish and Game, 1998 (Classic).

Stream Corridor Restoration:  Principles, Processes & Practices, Federal Stream Interagency Work Group, 1997 (Classic).

(Government documents updated as available.)

Print PDF