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53:103 - Water Quality
Course Syllabus
3-Week Summer Session 2004
Required notes: To be handed out
Prof. Jerry Schnoor
Phone: 335-5649
E-mail: jerald-schnoor@uiowa.edu
Office: 4112 Seamans Center (SC)
Office Hours: T and Th afternoons
Class Periods: MWF 1-5 p.m.
MF Lectures in 2133 Seamans Center
Wednesdays: Field Labs at the Lucille A. Carver Mississippi River Environmental
Research Station (LACMRERS) near Iowa DNR Fish Hatchery, Fairport IA
PERIOD DATE TOPICS AND SUBTOPICS READINGS
Period 1 May 17
Sources, Uses, Characteristics
Water Quality Criteria/Stds/TMDL
Water Quality Impairments,
Hydrology, Pt./Nonpoint sources
Watershed Protection & Land use
Period 2 May 19 - FIELD LAB
Biological attributes of w.q.
Benthic Macroinvertebrates,
Phyto, Zoo, Fish, Mussels,
Biological criteria, bacteria,
Pathogens, Invasive Species
Period 3 May 21
Ecosystem Indicators
IWI, Heinz, EPA, habitats,
Ecosytem structure and function
Diversity, species richness, EPT
Period 4 May 24
Water quality assessments
USGS National Water Quality Assess.
Habitats, EPT biocriteria, box and
whisker plots, nutrients & flow,
Pesticides, PCBs, Hg, biocriteria
Period 5 May 26 - FIELD LAB
Chemical attributes of w.q.
Nutrients, bacteria, metals,
Ion balances and loadings,
MCLs and TMDLs, sediment
contamination, PAHs, PCBs
Period 6 May 28
Eutrophication, Coastal Estuaries
Nutrient Loading Criteria, TMDLs
Case Studies: Lake Erie, Great Lakes,
Chesapeake Bay, BMPs, Gulf
Hypoxia, HABs, reefs, fisheries
Period 7 June 2 - FIELD LAB
Physical attributes of water quality
Velocity/discharge, sediment load,
Sediment size classification, light
Penetration, channel morphometry,
Log Q vs. log C, nutrient loads
Period 8 June 4 - 2-hr FINAL
TMDLs and Best Management Practices (BMPs), Iowa Cases
Course Description:
Water Quality is determined by the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of natural waters and how these characteristics meet (or fail to meet) designated uses for specific water bodies. In this course, the sources, uses, characteristics, and best management practices for lakes, rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters will be considered. Impairment of waters due to eutrophication, soil erosion and sedimentation, pathogenic organisms, habitat destruction, invasive species, point source discharges, contaminated sediments, atmospheric deposition, watershed development, irrigation return flows, and agricultural runoff will be discussed. Mathematical models will be used for assessment, and best management practices will be considered to remedy impaired waters. Students will measure water quality characteristics in the field.
Objectives:
The objectives of the class are to understand basic physics, chemistry, and biology of natural waters and what constitutes a quality surface water. The student should be able to assess the quality of these water bodies and determine whether they can meet their designated uses based on a comparison between measured attributes and documented water quality criteria and standards. General understanding of Best Management Practices to improve impaired waters is a goal of the course. A field laboratory component comprises 1/3 of the class, and practical experience is gained by hands-on analyses of physical, chemical, and biological attributes of natural waters. The Mississippi River will serve as the prototype for these analyses.
Grading:
1/3 Class/Lab Participation + 1/3 Written Assignments+ 1/3 Final Exam
Note:
I would like to hear from anyone who has a disability
that may require some modification of the field laboratory, testing, or
other class requirements, and appropriate arrangements will be made. Please
see me after class or during office hours or by appointment any time.
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