Credits: 3
Semester: Spring
Location: Online


This course will cover water quality fundamentals (physical, biological, and chemical aspects) and will integrate the science-policy management side of water quality work and research. This course will be populated with real world examples from county Extension, watershed groups, conservation districts, and agencies across Montana and the region. Interfacing these case studies with the cutting edge hydrology and water quality research conducted at the university provides the context students need to succeed in the field.

After completion of the course, students will have an understanding of:

  • the current legal framework for water quality management in the US
  • dimension analysis for calculating concentrations and loads of constituents in water
  • of surrogate measurement concepts and approaches
  • dynamics of variability in parameters at different temporal scales
  • pitfalls and considerations associated with monitoring individual parameters
  • human and environmental impacts associated with individual parameters