Fall Quarter Ending...

While it has been months since there has been a post to this blog, it has not been abandoned, but simply innocently ignored. And now, as the fall quarter here at OSU is coming to an end, it seems an appropriate time to include some comments about the past and the future.

First off, I wanted to follow up on a previous post announcing the FW 599: River Restoration course from this fall quarter. Although this course wasn't directed specifically at groundwater issues, it was a fantastic course and highly recommended for anyone interested in water, land use and policy issues. It is a team taught course with students and faculty from U of O, with a good mix of students and highly knowledgeable professors. Additionally, through the course students get the opportunity to meet with a variety of stakeholders and professionals in a casual atmosphere to learn about issues facing the Willamette River Basin. In my opinion, the course should be required for all Water Resources Graduate Students, and it is particularly good for students who may not be familiar with the Willamette Basin. 4 standalone graduate credits is also helpful towards your program of study. Feel free to contact me if you want more info.

Secondly, as some of you may be aware, last year there was a modest effort to see CE 518: Groundwater Modeling revived here at OSU. The rumor machine is currently indicating that this course will actually be taught this upcoming Spring 2012 quarter! Let's hope this is actually true, but at this point it seems pretty likely. A good enrollment for this course will help to ensure that groundwater courses remain part of the curriculum here at OSU.

Looking ahead to next quarter, groundwater interested students out there should be registering for GEO/CE/BEE 514: Groundwater Hydraulics if you have not already taken this course. This is a good solid introduction to the world of groundwater, and will position students to potentially take both ENVE 554: Groundwater Remediation and CE 518-Groundwater Modeling in Spring 2012 quarter. Another rumor is that CE 513: GIS and Water Resources will be taught in the Spring quarter, and with all those cool new ARC Groundwater Tools, this could be a fun course as well.

Finally, there is an upcoming groundwater focused event here at OSU on Nov. 30 which is not to be missed. Alfonso Rivera, of the Geological Survey of Canada, will give a talk entitled, "International Transboundary Aquifers: Science, Policy and Social Issues" in Kelly 1001 from 4-5pm. Please come out and support groundwater studies at OSU.

Fall/Summer Field Course 2011

Another course for water students to consider in Fall/Summer 2011:

Forest Science 511
Communities and Natural Resources.
Professor J. Bliss
September 6-16, 2011
5 Credits.

Catalog Description:
Provides students from diverse backgrounds with interdisciplinary, experiential learning exposure to contemporary community and natural resource issues in rural Oregon. Social science concepts are employed to critically appraise current conditions and future prospects for rural, natural resource-dependent communities.

There should still be one or two seats left. Requires instructor approval to enroll.

If you're lucky, you might be able to combine it with FW 599 for two weeks and 9 credits of field courses before the quarter even begins.

River Restoration Course Fall 2011

While this course is not really groundwater, it may be of interest for students looking for a great field course before the start of the fall term.

FW 499/599: Introduction to River Restoration Planning and Design
CRN 17955/17956

ZERO WEEK (Sept. 20-23, 2011) FALL 2011, 4 credits, P/NP only

Instructor permission required
Instructor: Stan Gregory (jointly w/ David Hulse at UO)
Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University

COURSE INTENT:
To introduce the student to the challenges and opportunities of river restoration, ecological and site analysis, and project planning and design.

COURSE FORMAT:
The course is offered jointly with students and faculty from Oregon State University’s Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife and will consist of preparations for and a 4-day float trip on the Willamette River. During the trip students will participate in discussions with the instructors and guest experts in exploring the lessons learned to date from and innovative approaches to river restoration in the Willamette basin. There will be an extra charge of $200 for meals and raft rental to be paid in June 2011 before the trip.

GOALS:
To expose students to the theories and the on-the-ground realities of ecosystem restoration in a large river, and for students to hear the perspectives of key participants in conducting such work. As a result of the course students will:
1) better understand the challenges and opportunities of large river restoration;
2) gain deeper insight into the sometimes conflicting perspectives of constituencies who influence land and water use in large river floodplains;
3) obtain a more detailed and personal awareness of the Willamette River and its associated habitats.

READINGS:
Required readings and responsive writings by students will occur and be shared weekly via e-mail during Summer prior to the river trip:

Williams, Travis. 2009. The Willamette River Field Guide. Timber Press. Portland, OR. ISBN: 978-0-88192-866-2. Available via OSU Bookstore or Amazon.com ~$20.

Hulse, D., S. Gregory, J. Baker. (Eds). 2002. Willamette River Basin Planning Atlas: Trajectories of environmental and ecological change. (2nd edition), Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon 97333. 180 p. Available online at: http://www.fsl.orst.edu/pnwerc/wrb/Atlas_web_compressed/PDFtoc.html
Others to be added

REQUIREMENTS/GRADING:
all reading/writing completed before field trip 25%
Attend entirety of field trip (no exceptions) 75%

LOGISTICS:
We will depart the morning of Tuesday Sept. 20th and return the evening of Friday Sept. 23rd. We will camp Tuesday and Thursday night on the river. Students from outside Corvallis will stay in a motel Wednesday night. Days will be spent largely on the river, with occasional stops as need and interest allow. Participants should be prepared for the physical exertion and rudimentary accommodations that such a trip requires.
Class divides into 2 parts:

• 1st part August and early September: do all readings and participate in writing ‘discussions’ via e-mail

• 2nd part Fall Zero Week: 4 all-day sessions on the river with the instructors and guest experts

Contact Stan Gregory for additional information and permission to register for the course.
stanley . gregory at oregonstate . edu

Learn about on-site water monitoring technologies

Please join us on May 20th, for a casual discussion with In-Situ Western Sales Manager Bill Mann to discuss his experiences working in the industry of scientific instrumentation and the past, present and future of In-Situ products. As an international leader specializing in the design, manufacture, and worldwide sale of scientific equipment for the environmental and water-monitoring markets, In-Situ, Inc. produces the well-known TROLL® and HERMIT® product families and offers solutions for most water monitoring situations including coastal, groundwater, remediation, construction and surface water. This is a unique opportunity to learn about these products and hear the latest developments in water monitoring hardware and software.

All are welcome to attend.

May 20th, 12-1pm.
Wilkinson Hall Room 129
Oregon State University.

For more info: hydrounderground at gmail.com

Visiting NGWA Groundwater Hydrologist.

This Friday, April 15, National Groundwater Association Darcy Lecturer Stephen Silliman will be visiting Oregon State University to speak with students at a Brown Bag Luncheon. We are fortunate to have such a notable groundwater expert available to students in such a casual atmosphere, and it would be great to see people come out to the lunch and show their support and interest in groundwater studies here at OSU.

His talk is titled "Development of Reliable Hydrologic Data Sets in Difficult Environments: Case Studies from Benin, West Africa."
In addition to this work, Dr. Silliman has extensive experience in groundwater modeling, flow/transport processes and the development/management of groundwater in developing countries.

Pizza and beverages will be provided in Wilkinson Hall, Room 203 12-1pm, Friday 4.15.

Please RSVP to Todd Jarvis if you're interested.
Todd.Jarvis at Oregonstate.edu

Flyer
Biography

The Unofficial Subterranean Step-Child of the OSU Hydrophiles

Welcome to Hydrophiles Underground.

We represent a group of students at Oregon State University who share an interest in all things groundwater. This is not an official club or group with any agenda or formal leadership structure. It is simply about sharing our research and a common interest. Likewise, this group is open to any and all; graduate/undergraduate, students/non-students, faculty and working professionals. This group has come about from a core group of students who wanted to build a local network to stimulate our own learning and work together to arrange informal discussion groups, keep up to date on learning opportunities, and potentially arrange guest speakers specific to groundwater sciences.

If you share an interest in groundwater science, and are interested in networking and generally geeking out about groundwater, by all means send me an email. Otherwise, check this blog regularly for groundwater news and announcements of guest speakers, discussion groups and other opportunities as they arise.

This blog is open for multiple authors, if you are interested in contributing or would like to be added to our email list please contact hydrounderground at gmail.com.
Thank you for your interest.