Coastal
Restoration and Management
GEOL 6760
Fall 2003 Monday 1-3.50 pm GP 1056
syllabus
in pdf
This
course explores coastal problems and appropriate mitigation approaches
on barrier shorelines and beaches, deltas and estuaries. Topics include
beach nourishment, shoreline structures, marsh deterioration, examining
tradeoffs between natural processes, technical design issues and human
use constraints, and using examples from around the world. Management
aspects include project implementation and a background to regulatory
frameworks for coastal restoration decision-making. The course is based
upon real-world examples of coastal issues and uses contemporary policy
frameworks for the application of science to these issues.
Learning objectives – students will be able to understand and
apply restoration and management approaches to real-world scenarios,
discriminate amongst technical and policy challenges to restoration
and management, describe several major national restoration programs,
evaluate the success of restoration and management actions by examining
goals and objectives, technical approaches, and assessing monitoring
findings.
Attendance
Policy
Attendance is required. If you cannot attend class for some reason,
call/e-mail the instructor and explain why. The instructor will make
every effort to make materials for missed classes available but final
assessments will cover all aspects of class content, including class
discussions that cannot be made up.
Learning
Resources
No specific textbook is recommended. Source texts, papers and websites
will be suggested during classes relative to particular topics of discussion.
Assignments
and Grading
See
class schedule for expected timing of assignment due dates and exams.
Assignment
# 1 (25% final grade)
Task - to evaluate the potential impact of climate change on one particular
coastal environment (from provided list), and to suggest appropriate
adaptation and coping strategies.
Method – determine likely effects of climate change on the environmental
system of concern using up to date sources, investigate management strategies
to address resulting problems, devise and justify community strategies
and response.
Deliverable - short presentation on October 13 AND short paper (<
5 pages) including overview of project, your findings and how, if at
all, they deviate from agency findings or expectations.
Grading scheme based instructor assessment of paper and presentation
technical content.
Assignment # 2 (35% final grade)
Task - to prepare a poster presentation highlighting a large-scale coastal
restoration or management issue
Method - select issue, preliminary research (library, www, interviews,
etc.) on topic, progress review with Reed, complete research, prepare
and display poster.
Deliverable - present poster at session on 1 December to be judged by
your peers and instructor.
Grading scheme based on poster review form provided to class prior to
poster presentations.
Course
projects (15% final grade)
Topics to be determined but to include:
Wetland Value Assessment vs. Hydrogeomorphic Method exercise (10 Nov)
Public comment letter concerning technical aspects of LCA studies (3
Nov – may change)
Final
Exam (25% final grade)
13 December 10.30 - 12.30 am
Narrative responses required showing critical thinking skills and basic
knowledge of course content.
Statement on Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is fundamental to the process of learning and evaluating
academic performance. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Academic
dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following: cheating,
plagiarism, tampering with academic records and examinations, falsifying
identity, and being an accessory to acts of academic dishonesty. Refer
to the UNO Judicial Code for further information. The Code is available
online at http://www.uno.edu/~stlf/policy%20Manual/judicial_code_pt2.htm.
Accommodations
for Students with Disabilities
Students who qualify for services will receive the academic modifications
for which they are legally entitled. It is the responsibility of the
student to register with the Office of Disability Services (UC 260)
each semester and follow their procedures for obtaining assistance.
Classroom
Conduct
Try to be in class on time. Please do not come five, ten, or twenty
minutes late. There is no excuse for repeatedly arriving late. Parking
is often a hassle; allow enough time for it. Cell phones should be turned
off before class begins.
25
August Introduction
Assignments – introduction to assignment #1
Coastal Dynamics
Restoration and management concepts
1 September Labor Day
8 September Land Claim and Coastal Defense I
Hard vs. soft (vs. people) - challenges on sand shorelines
Case study – do segmented breakwaters work?
15 September No class – work on assignment #1
22 September Land Claim and Coastal Defense II
Managed retreat and rolling easements
Case Study – breaching levees in UK and California
29 September Industrial Uses of Coasts
Effects of pollution, power generation, oil and gas production, tradeoffs
between use and sustainability
Case Study – Dredging Windows
6 October Coastal Development for Tourism
Cost-benefit relationships, people vs. habitat
Intro to assignment #2
13 October Presentations re. Assignment #1
20 October No Class – preparatory work for assignment #2
27 October Indirect Impacts on the Coast
Watershed changes, eutrophication, bathymetric changes
Case Study – Coastal Hypoxia in Louisiana
3 November *Making Restoration Decisions
The planning process, “Principles and Guidelines”
Case Study – Louisiana Coastal Area Study
10 November Evaluating Restoration Options
What makes a good project?
Case Study - Wetland Value Assessment vs. Hydrogeomorphic Method
17 November Evaluating Project Performance
Monitoring goals, procedures and results.
24 November Adaptive Management in Coastal Restoration
Experiences from California, Florida – what can we learn in Louisiana?
1 December Poster presentation session - Assignment #2
TBD Final Exam 2 hours
*
Note this topic may be moved in the schedule depending on schedule for
public meetings on LCA.
