UMD Courses for Future Stream Restoration Professionals

These courses may help students learn the basics of various aspects of stream restoration. This is not a comprehensive list; students are encouraged to seek out advisors and do their own research on courses that may best fit their career goals. However, this is a great starting point for students who are curious about different aspects of the field.

ENST452 – WETLAND RESTORATION

• Design, construction, and evaluation of wetlands restored or created to provide ecosystem services or to mitigate losses due to development. Topics include fundamental properties of wetlands, ecological restoration theory, site selection and goal setting, design plans, practices for establishing wetland hydrology, substrate, and vegetation, and restored ecosystem monitoring.
• Students will tour multiple stream and wetland restoration sites as a part of this course.

ENST281 – COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN IN ECOLOGY

• Computer Aided Design in Ecology is an introductory course in sketching and computer-aided drafting and design. Students will be taught the basics of computer aided design (CAD) including commands, tools, multi-view drawing and dimensioning techniques with an emphasis on applications to the design of constructed ecosystems. Students will also be introduced to Sketch-up and energy systems diagrams.

GEOL452 – WATERSHED AND WETLAND HYDROLOGY

• This course explores hydrological processes in watersheds and wetlands. Students will examine hydrological processes: precipitation, infiltration, overland and subsurface runoff, groundwater recharge, evapotranspiration. and streamflow. Students will examine how variations in topography, climate, land-use and vegetation type affect the water balance.
• This course includes field trips to streams to record measurements in streamflow and evapotranspiration.

BSCI467 – FRESHWATER BIOLOGY

• Biology and ecology of freshwater invertebrates in lotic and lentic habitats, their adaptation to aquatic life, their function in aquatic ecosystems, and their relationship to environmental deterioration. Laboratory will include field trips, demonstrations, and identifications.
• This course is especially recommended for those interested in working as an ecologist in the stream restoration field. Macroinvertebrate sampling is often used as a measure of stream health due to the sensitivity of these creatures.

GEOL453 – ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION

• Overview of ecosystem functions across biomes/geologic settings, and considerations and tradeoffs in ecosystem restoration strategies. Specific case studies and discussions will be aimed at understanding how structure can influence biophysical and biogeochemical processes supporting ecosystems, and then describes how rates, timing, and location of physical, chemical, and ecosystem processes can be altered by different restoration strategies to enhance ecosystem services.

LARC453 – INTRODUCTION TO GIS AND HYDROLOGIC MODELING

• Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and their application to hydrologic modeling. Basic GIS skills are used to manipulate and analyze spatial data to populate NRCS TR-55 hydrologic model for use in sizing constructed wetlands, bio-retention cells, and minor flood zones. No prior knowledge of GIS or hydrologic modeling is required. Stormwater and erosion control permitting as well as basic design principles for Maryland Environmental Site Design standards are introduced.
• TR-55 hydrologic modeling is an important skill for future engineers to know! Although this class is specifically designed for Landscape Architecture students (and may be “restricted”) it’s encouraged to reach out to your professor/advisor with your career goals and ask permission for this course.

ENCE305 – FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGINEERING FLUIDS

• The theoretical bases for fluid statics and dynamics, including the conservation of mass, energy and momentum. Modeling of hydraulic systems are introduced. Emphasis on pipe flow and open-channel hydraulics, with real-world applications.
• Highly recommended for engineers