Forests and Water

Subject FRST90022 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

August, Creswick - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

Intensive teaching, Creswick



Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24 hours lectures and 36 hours practical work delivered in a two-week intensive teaching block. This will include an overnight excursion to the River Murray area and a day trip to Melbourne's water catchments
Total Time Commitment: 100 hours
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Dr Gary Sheridan, Dr Paul Feikema

Contact

Course Administrator, Master of Forest Ecosystem Science, Phone: +61 3 5321 4300 Fax: +61 3 5321 4166 Email: forests-info@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

On completion of this subject students should have a detailed understanding of the hydrologic cycle and its impact on society, be familiar with the possible changes in water values that can be changed by land management, and the costs and benefits of such changes to society, be aware of the hydrologic, social, political, and economic factors involved in matters of catchment management, and have some feeling for the level of inaccuracy involved in hydrologic measurements.

Content includes:

  • Hydrologic cycle and "randomness" inherent in it
  • Surface water flows and surface water modelling
  • Groundwater flow and groundwater modelling
  • Water quality and its measurement
  • Impacts of land use on water quality and quantity
  • Salinity and its impacts on native rivers and streams
  • Principles of catchment management
  • Questions of water rights and water trading
  • Water use conflicts and their resolution
  • Restoration hydro-ecology
  • Long-term variations in stream flow
  • Role of forests in regulating the hydrologic cycle
The subject will draw heavily on Australian examples, and will involve an overnight excursion to the River Murray area
Objectives:

On completion of this subject students should have:

  • A detailed understanding of the hydrologic cycle and its impact on society
  • Be familiar with the possible changes in water values that can be changed by land management, and the costs and benefits of such changes to society
  • Be aware of the hydrologic, social, political, and economic factors involved in matters of catchment management
  • Be familiar with the contribution of forests to maintenance of hydrologic cycle
  • Have some feeling for the level of inaccuracy involved in hydrologic measurements
Assessment:

Two projects (3000 words each) 50% each
Prescribed Texts: None
Recommended Texts: Chang, M (2006) Forest hydrology: an introduction to water and forests. Boca Raton: CRC/Taylor & Francis.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Links to further information: http://www.forests.unimelb.edu.au/subjects.html
Related Course(s): Bachelor of Forest Science (Honours)
Master of Environment
Master of Environment
Master of Forest Ecosystem Science
Postgraduate Certificate in Environment
Postgraduate Diploma in Environment
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Sustainable Forests

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