CRSS 4580 / 6580
William Miller
Spring 04

Course Description: This is a senior level/graduate course focusing on soil erosion and sedimentation, with an emphasis on practical application in land management (agriculture, forestry, urban land management) and environmental (water) quality.  It is assumed students have a basic background in soil science and hydrology as pre-requisites for the course (CRSS/FORS 3060 or equivalent).

Course Objectives: Overall, the course objective is to enable students to understand basic processes of soil erosion and sediment production on agricultural, forest, and urban lands, and to propose management options that reduce erosion and sediment loading to surface waters.  Specifically, at the conclusion of the course students should be able to:

  1. describe basic soil, landscape, and hydrologic factors that determine soil erosion levels, and how specific management practices influence erosion;
  2. utilize models such as the USLE and WEPP to predict erosion and influence of management on a field scale;
  3. explain processes leading to sediment generation and transport to surface waters, and the influence of sediment control practices (BMPÐs) on sediment loads;
  4. discuss how farm/site planning strategies can be formulated in both developed and developing countries to control in-field erosion and off-site impacts;
  5. discuss and critique the history of man-induced soil erosion on earth, and our moral and/or practical (economic) imperative to control soil erosion.

Course Mechanics: Classes will be held M and F 1:25-2:15 in Rm. 2101 Plant Sci. Bldg; labs are scheduled T 11:00-1:45 in Rm. 1201.  Attendance is mandatory; absences should be cleared with the course instructor.  No text is required; reading materials will be passed out on Fridays, and should be read by the following Monday. Certain Friday class periods will be reserved for discussion, and students will be expected to participate.  Labs will involve in-class exercises, computer model runs, and field trips/exercises.  Grading will be based on lab exercises/reports based on lab activities, two hourly exams, and a comprehensive final, as well as class participation.  Graduate students (CRSS 6580) will be expected to write and present a term paper, as well as prepare superior reports and exam papers. Final grade assignment will be based on a 90/80/70 distribution, with course points assigned as follows: