G305 Geol.
Fundamental in Earth Science "Understanding Wetlands"
Spring Semester 2013
Instructor: Dr. S. Isiorho, Office: SB 236, Phone: 481 6254, (TR 4:30 - 6:15 p.m. SB 209)
E-mail:
isiorho@ipfw.edu. Do not use my regular email
for any class related discussions...will not reply to any email sent
here.
NOTE:
For correspondence, use Blackboard message.
Course description:
Wetlands are important
to society as they provide
sanctuary for wildlife and water resources for streams and aquifers and
act to
mitigate the severity of flooding. With myriad
definitions, it becomes
difficult to say what makes a wetland. Three criteria; hydrology, hydric soil, and hydrophytes are necessary to
define an
area as a wetland. The
course is designed to give students the basic understanding of wetlands
from a
hydrologic point of view. The demise of wetland and replacement
wetlands are of concern as understanding their relationship to
groundwater
is still difficult and the link to everyday living is even more remote
for many
people. Hydrology is the most
important factor in the establishment and persistence of wetlands.
Students
will learn to assess wetland through the understanding of water and solute sources, pathways, and
process. The effect of human activities on wetlands' hydrology will be
examined
through lecture, laboratory, and field experiments/measurements.
Laboratories/field
exercises are essential to the
course. Students should develop skills in assessing and measuring the
structure
and function of wetland hydrology; visit several
local wetlands
(natural and created), and examine the unique flora and fauna of these
systems.
Class Project:
Students will work in teams to
evaluate the wetland along the 'stream' near Walb.
The class project will examine the relationship between surface water and groundwater. The class
will also do sediment analysis and examination of the flora and fauna
of the
area.
Field Trips:
There will be a minimum of two and
a maximum of five field trips during this course and all students are
encouraged to go on all trips. The class will visit
wetlands and other areas of
interest in NE Indiana. Field trips will be on Thursdays during class
time
except for the special trip to the 'county' trip.
A special Saturday field trip through Allen
County will take place April 13, 2013 (To leave Campus at 8:30 a.m. and
return
at about 5 p.m.).
Term Research Project:
Students will be required
to conduct research
on a topic
related to this course. The student may choose any suitable topic, but
must get
the Instructor's approval before starting on the project.
You should choose a
research topic before Spring Break
(March 11-18). Students should consult with the instructor weekly
concerning
their projects and students should submit rough drafts before the final
copy is
turned in. Submit all reports through Blackboard drop box.
1a. Objectives:
Provide students with a basic understanding of the geological
foundations of
wetland issues (rock type, geomorphic settings, and hydrology)
Provide an
understanding of wetland environmental issues at local, regional, and
global
scales (natural resources and anthropogenic effects).
Improve student's skills in analyzing data pertaining to wetland
environmental
issues and in drawing informed conclusions regarding issues (critically
evaluate scientific data that relates to environmental
issues).
Discuss and debate wetland environmental issues that are relevant to
the state
of Indiana.
1b. Learning
Outcomes:
Students should know what constitutes a wetland
How our actions may impact wetlands, and
Articulate an in-depth knowledge of an aspect of wetland through their written and oral presentation of their research work.
2. Textbook:
NONE REQUIRED
You may use any text book to supplement
class
notes/lectures such as Wetlands by Mitsch
& Gosselink and Wetland Indicators:
A guide to
wetland
identification, delineation,
classification, and mapping by Ralph W. Tiner.
Also, use websites, articles and handouts.
Use the Blackboard discussion section for
discussing topics related to the
class. Read the discussion board regularly for any news
or
updates.
Check the syllabus
regularly (for
new links) as it is a living document.
3.
Exams
& Grading:
Reading
assignments reports (10% of course grade)
Two-exams worth 20% (10% per exam) of the course grade.
Lab sessions/reports 10% of course grade.
Field trip reports (10% of course grade)
Class participation (5%)
Individual term research paper/project,
a minimum of ten-page (Times font, size 12, double space) … does not include
tables, graphs,
pictures
and references … (35% of course grade)
[You must use this format Title, Abstract, Introduction,
Method (or Approach), Data or Result, Discussions, Conclusions,
References(min.
of 5),
Acknowledgement)
for your research report].
A 15-minute presentation of your research project to the class using
power
points is worth 10% of course grade (power point 5% & oral
presentation 5%)
(April 23 & 25).
Read this article "Who is
Listening"
to help when thinking about your presentation.
(Grading scale > 89% = A; 80-89 % = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D).
I do not curve...what you get is what you get....
please do
not ask for extra credit
Code of Student
Rights, Responsibility, and Conduct:
Students are strongly advised to know the Code of Student
Rights,
Responsibility, and Conduct that can be found in the Student Handbook
and
Planner
that
is published each fall semester. Students are expected to read and
understand
the Code as it relates to cheating, plagiarizing, and aiding and
abetting
others to cheat and/or
plagiarize. Students caught cheating and/or plagiarizing on tests,
reports, or
projects will receive a zero for that portion of the course.
"Part I.B.3 Individual Rights and Responsibility as Students
In the classroom, students have the freedom to raise relevant
issues
pertaining to classroom discussion, to offer reasonable doubts about
data
presented, and to express
alternate opinions to those discussed. However, in exercising this
freedom,
students shall not interfere with the academic process of the class."
Students with Disabilities:
Students needing assistance or special arrangements should contact
the
“Services for Students with Disabilities” office as soon as possible to
make arrangements for
special needs. Students who obtain the necessary documentation
attesting to
their need and submit it to the professor will be accommodated.
SSD is located in WB113.
Their telephone number is (260) 481-6658.
4. Tentative Schedule:
Week 1 (Jan 15 & 17)... no formal class on the first day...read the
first
reading assignment...no report required, but would have students
discuss the
paper.
Week 2 (Jan. 22 & 24)
Introduction: Introduction to Geology
Minerals, rocks, and maps
Glacial Geology NE Indiana and Allen County (2 articles)
Weeks 3 - 5 (Jan 29 & 31 (Rivers), Feb 5& 7 (Soils), & Feb 12 &14 (wetlands))
Hydrology- Water cycle,
surface water and ground water
(2 articles)
American
Wetlands
Our vital link between land and water
Wetlands -- Definition (IDEM) and types of wetlands EPA definition
Wetland Types: Marshes, Swamps, Bogs, Fens
Wetland environment--
Water
quality
standard for wetlands (EPA)
Indiana
water standard (working)
Definitions,
identifications, delineation, indicators
(soil), and classification
Slide presentation (Hydric Soil)
There
will be 2 to 5 Field trips and all students are encouraged to go on all
trips.
Exam 1 Available ... (Due March 5 before class)...send your answers through Blackboard assignment drop box.
Weeks 6 - 8 (Feb 19 through March 7)
Management---- Values, Management and protection, creation and restoration, classification and inventory. Field trip?
Constructed wetland Univ. of South Alabama. Isolated wetlands Builders take advantage of the 2001 Supreme Court ruling (USAToday Dec 2002)
Week 9 SPRING BREAK (MARCH 11-18)
Week 10 (March 19 & 21) Last week of formal class … field trip
US Wetland Status (pdf format) from Mid 1970's to mid-1980
Wetland mapping and Photointerpretation (map of Allen County)
Use of remote sensing in mapping Monitoring wetland using Landsat TM
Campus (Mackay farm) Field trip
Corps-EPA Issue ... National Wetlands Mitigation Action Plan
(in pdf format)
Exam # 2 Your answers are due Noon April 2, 2013 through the blackboard assignment drop box.
Weeks 11 - 13 (March 26, through April 18) Work on your projects
The
county trip will be on a Saturday April 13, 2013
(Leave campus 8:30 a.m. and return ~4p.m.).
NO MAKE UP AND NO
EXCUSES FOR
THE ALLEN COUNTY TRIP.
Work on your individual Projects....Need to give me weekly feedback on your research project
Project Report in electronic format, Due Monday, April 22, by 4:00 p.m.
Week 14 (April 23 & 25) Presentations of research results.
Week 15 (April 30 & May 2)…No class
Presentation of Project Results (April 23 & 25) Profession (business) attire is required during presentation
Questions/Answers/Suggestions... send me email or “message” through
Blackboard
Reading
Assignments
Reading assignment is an integral part of this course.
Read and summarize articles 2, 4, 6, 8 and any other three articles one
(double
space) page report and send your report (summary) through
Blackboard
assignment section by 6:00 p.m. of the due date. You may
choose
any other three peer reviewed articles. The three articles you
select
should
be
related to your proposed research project (provide e-copy if not using
the ones
provided here).
In your report (summary),
include the main
points in the articles, how, where, why and if you agree with their
conclusion(s), in other words,
include
your opinion
as a separate
paragraph (your
grade will weigh heavily on your opinion).
YOU SHOULD HAVE A TOTAL OF SEVEN ARTICLES
1. Characteristics of Fine-Grained Soils & Glacial Deposits in NE Indiana (PDF) by Tony Fleming, Field Note, 1996. Read before Tue Jan 17 for class discussion.
*2. Origin and Hydrogeologic significance of wetlands in the interlobate region of northwestern Allen County, Indiana by
Tony Fleming in Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science Due
Tue
January 29, 2013
3. Valuing Urban Wetlands: A Property Price Approach
by Mahan et al. Due Tue Feb. 5 ....optional
*4. Dimensionals of Environmental
Engineering
by Dresp-Langley Tue Feb 12
5. Modeling Processes in Subsurface flow Constructed Wetlands: A Review by Langergraber. Due Tue Feb. 19 ... optional
*6.
Characterizing
Hydrology and the importance of ground-water
discharge in natural and constructed wetlands (PDF)
by Hunt et.
al, 1999. Due Tue February 26
7. Facies model of a semiarid freshwater wetland, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania by Liurkus & Ashley Due Tue March 5 ...optional
*8. Evaluating performance of constructed wetland treatment system.... by Murray-Gulde et al. Due Tue March 12
9. The role of wetlands in the hydrologic cycle by (PDF) by A. Bullock, & M. Acreman. Due Tue March 26...optional
10. Causes of hot-spot wetland loss in the Mississippi delta plain. By Morton R. A et al. Due Tue April 9
11. Climate change and wetlands ...for class discussion
Remember
to have your own three peer reviewed article reports to me no later
than April
9, 2013
Labs/Field
trips:
Labs/Field Work...not necessary in this order
1. Map reading...cross sections
(topography of IPFW campus)
2. Rocks and Minerals
3. Soil... sieve &
analysis
4. Well field....water levels and water chemistry
5. Flow measurements/Flood exercise?
6. Inventory of campus or county environmental
issues
(problems)
7. Campus field trip
8. County field trip (Saturday
...April,
13, 2013)
9. Make up lab...?
A one-page double space typed lab/field report is due 24 hours
after each
lab/field trip....to be submitted through Blackboard.
A Saturday field trip through Allen County is
planned for April 13, 2013
(To leave Campus at 8:30 a.m. and return at about 4
p.m.).
[This trip will depend on the weather condition] Will encourage all to go on this trip.
THIS TRIP IS NOT OPTIONAL.
Water grain size soil classification.
Water, sediment,
and porosity
and others
Wetland
Class
Notes
Some interesting links are given below:
Something to read (health and water)
EPA wetlands site To identify
Clean Water act: Definition of
Water Shortage USA TODAY
Jan. 27, 2003
Watch
where you're
putting
the snow CBS News Feb. 20, 2003
The water Cycle …
USGS Surface runoff (This will be useful in the is course)
Students turn swamp into a class room
Some pictures of the earth from Astronauts...lots of pictures
Hydric Soils slides
Wetland Classification slides
Salt and wetlands March 18,
2005
Short videos Space, Time, and Big Ideas
Some wetland videos …urban, children, etc. One Two Three “LaCoast Videos and PSAs"
Teaching Students the act of presentation GSA ppt2007
Check
here as New Materials or links will be added during the semester
New Materials or links will be added below :)