About the Course
Watershed management is the study of the relevant characteristics of a watershed aimed at the sustainable distribution of its resources and the process of creating and implementing plans, programs and projects to sustain and enhance watershed functions that affect the plant, animal, and human communities within the watershed boundary. Features of a watershed that agencies seek to manage to include water supply, water quality, drainage, stormwater runoff, water rights and the overall planning and utilization of watersheds. Landowners, land use agencies, stormwater management experts, environmental specialists, water use surveyors and communities all play an integral part in watershed management.
The science of hydrology is concerned with evaluating the occurrence, availability, and quality of ground water. Although many ground-water investigations are qualitative in nature, quantitative studies are necessarily an integral part of the complete evaluation of occurrence and availability. The worth of an aquifer as a source-of water depends largely upon two inherent characteristics its ability to store and to transmit water.
Hydrology is the science of water which deals with the spatial and temporal characteristics of the earth's water. In other words, hydrology is the study of water in all its phases, including the occurrence, movement, distribution, circulation, storage, exploration, development and management.
Irrigation is an artificial application of water to land to assist in the production of crops. Irrigation stabilizes farm production by protecting against drought and by increasing crop yields and quality when rainfall is insufficient. It permits farmers to grow moisture-sensitive, high-value crops and crops that will improve their diet.