LDD-30306 Sustainable Watershed Management

Course

Credits 6.00

Teaching methodContact hours
Lectures18
Practical extensively supervised40
Practical intensively supervised24
Course coordinator(s)dr. ir. MJPM Riksen
Lecturer(s)ir. B Bruins
dr. D Joshi
dr. ir. MJPM Riksen
dr. ir. EJJ van Slobbe
Examiner(s)ir. B Bruins
dr. ir. MJPM Riksen
dr. ir. EJJ van Slobbe

Language of instruction:

English

Contents:

In this course students will prepare, present and defend a sustainable watershed management (SWM) strategy for a selected watershed or river basin. The main focus of the course lies on this process of watershed management planning in a multi-disciplinary and -cultural setting. Land and water management at the watershed and river basin level require a thorough understanding of the interdependencies between bio-physical economic and socio-political processes in watersheds. During this course the different steps in the SWM planning procedure will be dealt with:
- analysis of: bio-physical conditions/processes at watershed/river basin level, sectoral and/or competing water uses, stakeholders, economic an socio-political processes and the interdependencies between these;
- formulation of a problem statement for a watershed based on this analysis;
- design of a sustainable watershed management strategy that shows an integrated approach towards multiple uses of land- and water resources and that explains how the different stakeholders are involved; and
- assessment of the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of management interventions.
Learning how to work in a multi-disciplinary and -cultural setting is given special attention in this course by facilitating group reflection.

Learning outcomes:

After this course the student is expected to be able to:
- comprehend the interdependencies between bio-physical, economic and socio-political processes in watersheds;
- formulate a problem statement and a vision for a watershed, taking into account the perspectives, needs and interests of the different stakeholders;
- design a sustainable watershed management strategy that shows an integrated approach towards multiple uses of land- and water resources and that explains how the different stakeholders are involved;
- assess the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of management interventions;
- reflect on and articulate the individual learning process by preparing a paper that describes the major insights gained during the course;
- reflect on and learn from working in multidisciplinary and multicultural groups by preparing a reflection report and personal development plan;
- reflect on and learn from preparing and delivering oral presentations with the use of power point.

Activities:

- to develop, together with a group, an integrated watershed management strategy for a selected watershed; - to attend lectures and study selected articles and lecture notes; - to prepare interim and final presentations of the developed management strategy; - to write an individual paper reflecting the main knowledge gains of the course. - to participate in group reflection sessions and write an individual reflection report.

Examination:

- group presentations (will be assessed on specified requirements) (60% of end-mark, but = 5.5);
- paper (will be assessed on specified requirements) (20% of end-mark, but = 5.5);
- reflection report (will be assessed on specified requirements) (20% of end-mark, but = 5.5).

Literature:

A course reader will be available at the WUR shop.

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Compulsory for: MILInternational Land and Water ManagementMSc1AF
Restricted Optional for: MHWHydrology and Water QualityMScD: Integrated Water Management1AF
MESEnvironmental SciencesMSc1AF