GEOG 217 - Water Resources

Credits: 3
Lecture Contact Hours: 3
Description: This course is a survey of water resources which includes a study of the occurrence, movement, and behavior of water in the hydrologic cycle. Discussions on the ways in which these resources can be contaminated and remediated will be held. The course includes a study of watershed management, which is a holistic, integrated method of managing all water resources located within a naturally occurring watershed. Data and hydrologic studies completed for the Rouge River Watershed provide a model for watershed management. The course offers demonstrations of hydrologic computer models and limited field experience.

Prerequisites: None.
Corequisites: None.
Recommended: None.

Course Category: Liberal Arts | Science
This course counts toward Schoolcraft’s General Education Requirements.
This course counts toward a Michigan Transfer Agreement General Education Requirement.

This Course is Typically Offered: Winter Only
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Course Competencies

Explain the unique properties of water, including thermal properties, viscosity, surface tension, capillarity, and electrical properties.
Explain how humans have modified the components of the hydrologic cycle.
Explain the physical connection between surface water and groundwater.
Explain basic concepts of hydrogeology and the hydrogeologic profile.
Complete a habitat assessment for a stream.
Examine sources of contamination for both surface water and groundwater.
Conduct water quality tests, including pH, nitrates, coliform, phosphates, temperature, and turbidity, for a local stream.
Examine the value of water resources, and the need for both protection and conservation of these resources.
Apply principles of watershed management analysis to the study of the Rouge River Watershed.
Explain processes of fluvial erosion, transportation, and deposition.