NATRS 271 - Stream and Wetland Restoration

Credits: 5
Stream and wetland restoration is an important issue in water and fish management. Students are given the opportunity to evaluate fundamental ecological processes with the end result being restoration of streams and wetlands. Students look at possible structure and functional issues within the riparian ecosystem. Students develop an efficient and productive restoration project addressing human-induced changes surrounding both aquatic and terrestrial components. Class is taught with lecture, field sampling, demonstrations, and interviews with agencies and private organizations.

Enrollment Requirement: ENGL& 101 and NATRS 270 with grades of 2.0 or higher; and instructor consent.

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Develop skills in restoration and management in and around surface water sources.
Identify plant occurrence and stream dynamics.
Use their data collection skills in recording information obtained in both office and field settings.
Identify various management methods and activities used in restoring streams back to healthy and productive waterways.
Visit, observe, and participate in actual projects within the growing research based industry.

Program Outcomes

Attain a job in the Natural Resources field.
Manage Forestland or Resources to attain positive outcomes.
Demonstrate effective written and verbal communications between industry partners and cooperators.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning - Quantitative Reasoning encompasses abilities necessary for a student to become literate in today’s technological world. Quantitative reasoning begins with basic skills and extends to problem solving.
Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.