ENV BIOL 3012WT - Integrated Catchment Management III

Waite Campus - Semester 2 - 2014

This course provides students with an understanding of ecological and hydrological processes governing catchment systems and concepts for the assessment and management of catchment systems. Catchments are characterised by their geology, soils, land use, hydrology and water quality. Management of catchments considers changed land use and vegetation, soil treatment, riparian wetlands, water quality management and environmental flows. A multidisciplinary team of lecturers jointly teach the course. Field practicals are conducted in rural and urban catchments.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ENV BIOL 3012WT
    Course Integrated Catchment Management III
    Coordinating Unit School of Earth and Environmental Sci(Inactive)
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s Waite Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week, including fieldwork
    Assumed Knowledge ENV BIOL 2502, SOIL&WAT 2005WT or AGRONOMY 2000ARW/BRW
    Course Description This course provides students with an understanding of ecological and hydrological processes governing catchment systems and concepts for the assessment and management of catchment systems. Catchments are characterised by their geology, soils, land use, hydrology and water quality. Management of catchments considers changed land use and vegetation, soil treatment, riparian wetlands, water quality management and environmental flows. A multidisciplinary team of lecturers jointly teach the course. Field practicals are conducted in rural and urban catchments.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Friedrich Recknagel

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
      Successful students will be able to:
    1 Explain the impact of rain-fall patterns, land uses and vegetation on loadings of nutrients and organics from rural catchments to downstream lakes and reservoirs
    2 Explain impact of soil properties and composition on retention of nutrients and organics in catchments
    3 Advise on sustainable management options for site-specific catchments
    4 Promote ecological service functions of riparian vegetation, reed beds and environmental flows in catchments
    5 Promote use of constructed wetlands for nutrient retention and flood pulse control
    6 Measure, analyse and interpret soil and water quality data of rural and urban catchments
    7 Visualise spatio-temporal catchment data by GIS
    8 Model flow and nutrient loadings from catchments by the Soil and Water Analysis Tool SWAT
    9 Communicate socio-economic and environmental issues of integrated catchment management.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 6,7,8
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 1,2,3,9
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 9
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 7,8
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 9
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 9
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 9
  • Learning Resources
    Recommended Resources
    Cooke et al. 1993. Restoration and management of lakes and reservoirs. CRC Press
    Giupponi et al (eds), 2006. Sustainable management of water resources. An integrated approach. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
    Kalff J 2002 Limnology Inland Water Ecosystems Prentice-Hall Inc, NJ 074586
    Klapper, H., 1989. Control of eutrophication in inland waters. New York, Ellis Horwood
    Online Learning
    MyUni:
    Teaching materials and course documentation will be posted on the MyUni website(http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/).
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Students will carry out individual assignments on catchment management concepts based on thefield practical and literature reviews.
    The assessment of the course will be based on the exam paper (40%), assignment (35%), seminars(10%) and practical reports (15%).

    Lectures
    Daily lectures from 9 am – 12 pm in the McLeod Lecture Theatre (lecture room 1) at the Charles Hawker Centre, 9 Waite Campus, Waite Road, Glen Osmond SA 5064

    Practicals
    Daily practicals from 1 – 5 pm either in the Soil and Computer Laboratories, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Glen Osmond SA 5064 or at catchment field sites
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required for the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).


    Learning Activities Summary
    Schedule
    Week Type of learning activity Topic
    Week 1 Lecture Global and local water reserves, water footprint and catchment ecosystems
    Week 2 Lecture
    Practical
    Assessment of land use in catchments
    Land use in the Cox Creek watershed
    Week 3 Lecture
    Practical
    Soil structure and degradation
    Assessment of soil properties in the Cox Creek watershed
    Week 4 Lecture Soil related catchment issues
    Week 5 Lecture Stream, wetland and riparian habitats in catchments
    Week 6 Lecture Assessment of stream water quality in catchments
    Week 7 Lecture
    Practical
    Hydrology and nutrient budget of the Cox Creek watershed
    Field practical on stream water quality in the Cox Creek watershed
    Week 8 Lecture
    Practical
    Catchment scale data analysis using GIS I
    Computer Practical: data preparation for Cox Creek watershed
    Week 9 Lecture
    Practical
    Catchment scale data analysis using GIS II
    Computer Practical: data analysis for Cox Creek watershed
    Week 10 Lecture
    Practical
    Catchment scale modelling by SWAT
    Computer simulation of nutrient loadings of the Cox Creek watershed by SWAT
    Week 11 Lecture
    Tutorial or other activity
    Management of eutrophication, salinisation andenvironmental flows in rural catchments
    Panel session on catchment management in practice with representatives of catchment boards and SA Water
    Week 12 Lecture
    Practical
    Management of stormwater in urban catchments
    Field Practical at the Greenfield and Parafield stormwater harvesting wetlands
    Weel
    13
    Lecture
    Practical
    Catchment management planning
    Catchment management scenarios for the Cox Creek catchment
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Assessment Task Task Type Hurdle Weighting Learning Outcome
    Practical reports Formative/ Summative

    No

    15% 6,7,8
    Assignment Formative/ Summative No 35% 3,4,5,9
    Seminar Formative/ Summative No 10% 3,4,5,9
    Exam Summative No 40% 1,2,3,4,5
    Assessment Detail
    There are three forms of assessment, a written examination, practical reports and an assignment with seminar. The examination will be 2 hours. The assignment will be in the form of a scientific paper.

    The assignment may either be written up individually or as a group. Where a report is written as a group all members of the group will receive the same mark.

    Practical Reports: land use and soil analysis, land use and stream water quality analysis, data visualisation by GIS

    Assignments: Students will carry out individual assignments on catchment management concepts based on the field practical and literature reviews. The assignment of 2,000 words will be in the form of a scientific paper.

    Exam: this will be a 2 hour exam
    Seminar: 10 minutes presentations of the assignment
    Submission
    Late Submission

    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply.  A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be
    applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an
    approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for
    that assignment.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

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    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

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