Managing River Catchments GEOG4057

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
  • Credits: 10
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1 (Alternate Years)
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course focuses on the principles of managing river catchments and associated legal and operational frameworks.

Timetable

2 hour lecture (weekly), 1 hour lab class (weekly), Day field class and visit to government agencies: to be arranged

Requirements of Entry

None

Assessment

1. A written examination.

Main Assessment In: December

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable for Honours courses

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

Course Aims

The course aims to provide students with understanding of the principles governing the management of river catchments. Sources of information and data will be introduced, along with legal frameworks for catchment management. The course focuses on practical application of river science to management issues. These aims are achieved through lectures, laboratory practical exercises, field exercises, visits to government agencies, tutorial discussions and submitted course work.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. explain the principles of river catchment management;

2. explain the roles of hydrological, sedimentary and biological factors in river system management;

3. explain and use standard analytical methods to analyse river catchment data;

4. explain the legal and regulatory frameworks for river catchment management;

5. provide and explain examples of catchment management;

6. use collect and summarise river catchment data;

7. account for the uncertainties in river catchment data;

8. write scientific reports, including use of established conventions for the reporting of results and analysis and the appropriate use and referencing of relevant published material.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.