Graduate Certificate in River Restoration & Management

Land and Water Australia has contracted Charles Sturt University to develop a Graduate Certificate in River Restoration and Management. This aims to meet the needs of natural resource managers in Australia and will provide students with a sound theoretical background and extensive practical experience. There are four subjects in the Graduate Certificate course.

The subjects undertaken in semester one establish a background in river hydrology and ecology, providing a context for the restoration and policy subjects completed in semester two. Graduating students will gain skills in the prioritisation, design and implementation and evaluation of river restoration projects. All subjects have a compulsory residential school that forms an integral component of the practical core of the course.

Subjects

Semester 1: River Hydrology & Geomorphology

This subject provides an introduction to the hydrology and geomorphology of Australian rivers and their associated riparian environments. It includes a residential school with a strong hands-on component of laboratory and field work, including the statistical analysis of hydrologic data, manipulation of standard hydraulic equations, river gauging and floodplan survey. Topics covered in this subject include:

• Stream discharge
• Flood hydrology
• Stream hydraulics
• Sediment load
• Channel form
• River floodplains
• Channel response to environmental change
• River management practices

Semester 1: Stream & River Ecology

This subject examines the diversity of freshwater habitats and introduces ecological models relevant to the management of freshwater ecosystems. At the residential school, students gain experience in field sampling techniques (flora and fauna), identification of organisations, measurement of stream metabolism, calculation of biotic indices and statistical analysis of geological data. Topics studied during this subject include:

• Physical and chemical processes in freshwater environments
• Freshwater habitats and biota
• Food webs and trophic linkages
• Carbon sources and stream metabolism
• Ecological models - RCC, flood pulse, riverine productivity
• Disturbances in freshwater ecosystems
• Biotic indices
• Assessment and monitoring of freshwater ecosystems

Semester 2: River Protection & Restoration

This subject deals with the theoretical and practical framework that underpins the restoration of natural riverine environments following disturbance. During the residential school, students visit a large range of field sites where restoration works have been undertaken. Topics covered in this subject include:

• Restoration ecology theory
• River degradation issues
• Current state of riverine ecosystems in Australia
• Institutional arrangements and community engagement in restoration projects
• Evaluation tools for prioritisation of restoration projects, including the 12-step process for rehabilitating Australian streams
• In-channel and riparian intervention tools
• Monitoring and evaluation of restoration projects

Semester 2: Water Policy & Management

This subject looks holistically at the management of water resources and the development of policy to regulate its usage. This subject highlights the value of water to inland communities with differing interests, particularly the irrigation community and conservation groups. The residential school includes a field trip through a river valley following the passage of water from storage structures through to irrigation areas. Topics covered during this subject include:

• Geography and climate constraints relevant to water resource management
• Inventory of water resources
• Water policy within Australia
• Land and water management plans
• Water allocation and environmental flows
• Water trading and property rights
• Impact of using water

Enrolment information

• Initial enrolment Autumn 2004
• Enrolment through Wagga Wagga campus
• Normal course duration two semesters part-time
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• ost per subject approximately $840
• Distance education study mode

Distance education at CSU

• 18-week semesters
• Compulsory residential schools (3-4 days per subject)
• Students receive a hard copy mail package
• All subjects have an online forum
• Each student has e-box for official communication
• On-line or 1800 access to library resources
• Submit assignments electronically or by mail or fax
• Exam centres throughout Australia

Course coordinator

Dr Robyn Watts
School of Science and Technology
Charles Sturt University
Locked Bag 588
Wagga Wagga NSW 2678
P: 02 6933 2329
F: 02 6933 2737
E: rwatts@csu.edu.au

General Inquiries

Contact Centre
Charles Sturt University
Private Mailbag 7
Bathurst NSW 2795
Freecall: 1800 334 733
Email: inquiry@csu.edu.au