GEOG 362
Geography of Rivers
GEOG 362 Geography of Rivers
Three hours lecture (3)
Prerequisites: GEOG 130. Physical Geography or permission of the instructor and junior or senior standing.
An overview of the physical, ecological, social, and regulatory aspects of river systems. This is an issues-oriented course but with a foundation of basic understanding of rivers as physical and ecological systems.
The course will cover hydraulics and hydrology; stream channels, channel morphology, and transported materials; river statistics :floods and droughts; stream ecosystems; rivers and watersheds; effects of channel and flow modifications; pollution sources and impacts; river development ;
and law and policy.
Course will consist primarily of lectures, supplemented with research papers, applied projects, and other learning opportunities.
Having successfully completed this course, students will be able to:
1.Describe the physical forces and principles involved in the work of water in stream systems.
2.Perform calculations of streamflow and pollutant concentration, and analyze discharge data.
3.Describe stream ecosystems and the major groups of organisms in them.
4.Describe the effects of altered flows, channelization, and land use changes on stream ecosystems and human uses of streams.
5.Describe the sources and effects of the major categories of water pollution, and methods of reducing their impacts.
6.Describe the major features of the policy, legal, regulatory, and institutional framework for stream use, allocation, and protection.
Students will be assessed on the basis of written examinations, other written assignments, class projects, and class participation.
None
Date Action Reviewed by
September 2005 Reviewed Bernd H. Kuennecke