SC 437 - Aquatic Habitat Protection

3 Credits

Outline Effective Date 2024 Fall
2024/2025

Course Description:
This course looks at various human activities known to have an impact on freshwater habitats, and why/how these impacts occur. Students are also introduced to techniques used to eliminate or minimize the impacts of an activity on freshwater habitat, as well as those commonly used in attempts to restore such habitat where degradation has already occurred.

Rationale:
This is a required course for students in the Bachelor of Applied Science: Environmental Management program and the Agricultural Sustainability program. It is also an elective course for students in the General Environmental Sciences major within the Environmental Science diploma a. As human impacts continue to increase, the need for responsible management of water resources becomes ever more important. Making informed management decisions requires data collected by field staff who can understand potential impacts on freshwater habitats, how to recognize and measure impacts in the field, and the methods used for impact mitigation. This course is fundamental to the understanding of the interrelationships between water, the environment, and human activities.

Prerequisites: None.
Corequisites: None

Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to

describe and explain the characteristics of healthy freshwater systems.
classify the key habitat types and identify the associated features of freshwater systems, including the diversity of species utilizing these systems.
describe and explain the ecosystem services provided by freshwater systems.
describe and explain how various land use practices and industries (e.g. road construction, infrastructure, logging, oil and gas, agriculture) impact and/or alter freshwater systems.
describe, explain, and analyze the impact of river crossings on aquatic habitat and freshwater species.
describe and explain the diverse legislation used in Alberta to protect aquatic habitat.
describe and explain the role of Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils in monitoring and protecting aquatic habitat.
describe and explain mitigation measures used to protect, restore, and reclaim aquatic habitat.

Required Resource Materials:
None

Optional Resource Materials:
None

Conduct of Course:
This course offering is 3 days a week of lecture and a bi-weekly lab period. This course is conducted using a combination of lectures/guest seminars and laboratory/assignment exercises. Students are encouraged to ask questions and participate in discussion throughout the course.

Classroom and laboratory attendance is considered vital to the learning process and as significant to the students’ evaluation as examinations and reports, therefore absenteeism is recorded.

Students having a combination of excused and/or unexcused absence of 20 percent or higher for the scheduled course hours can be required to withdraw and would then automatically receive a “RW” (required withdrawal) for the course, regardless of any other evaluation results. (RW is a failing grade).
An excused absence is one that is verified with your instructor. Verification should be prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence. Verification of the absence may take the form of a note from your doctor/College nurse regarding illness, or a note from another instructor regarding a field trip or other activity, or authorization by your instructor following an in-person meeting. Be sure to contact your instructor and ask what they will require from you as verification for each absence. An unexcused absence is anything NOT verified by the instructor prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence.

NOTE: Any exceptions to the above attendance policy (e.g., timetable conflicts, work-related issues) must be approved in writing by the Department Chair prior to the beginning of the course.

It is the students’ responsibility to know their own absentee record.

Normal hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with potential for evening courses, exams, or extended field trips. Students are expected to be available for classes during these times.

Content of Course:
Defining Aquatic Habitat

Aquatic Habitat Types and Ecosystem Service

Natural and Anthropogenic Impacts to Aquatic Habitat

Legislation to Protect Aquatic Habitat

Watershed Scale Aquatic Habitat Protection (WPACs

Monitoring and Assessment of Aquatic Habitat

Protection, Restoration and Reclamation of Aquatic Habitat

LABORATORY SCHEDULE (tentative schedule and subject to change if required)

CABIN - mud-bottom prairie stream assessment
Culvert Assessment / Stream and Fish Habitat Assessment
NSWA Riparian Portal
SAVER Data Management and Analysis
Watershed Alliance Presentations

FIELD WEEK (tentative schedule)

Cows and Fish Riparian Assessment
CABIN - Foothills Stream Assessment
Culvert Assessment (Foothills)

Course Assessments:

The marks for this course are derived from lecture exams, field labs, quizzes, and a final term paper.

In lecture assignments / quizzes	10%
Midterm Exam	25%
Final Exam (cumulative)	25%
Field/Laboratory Assignments (5 @ 5% each)	25%
WPAC Project and Presentation	15%
Total	100%

Course Pass Requirements:
A minimum grade of D (50%) (1.00) is required to pass this course. Students must maintain a cumulative grade of C (GPA - Grade Point Average of 2.00) in order to qualify to graduate.