GEOLOGY 477 HONORS: WATER AND THE WEST
SPRING QUARTER 2010
Monday and Wednesday, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.; Walter Stiern Library, ITV Studio C
Dr. Jan Gillespie
Office: Science II, Room 339
Tel: (661) 654-3040; e-mail: jgillespie@csub.edu
Office Hours: Mon &Wednesday 12:00-1 p.m.; or by prior arrangement
Course Summary
The course is provides an overview of the scientific, legal, environmental, and economic issues
surrounding California’s water resources. The first half of the course provides the technical and
scientific background required to understand water issues. The second half examines representative
historical and present-day case studies regarding the use of surface and ground water in California.
The course is intended primarily for non-science majors.
Required Textbooks
Marc Reisner - Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water
Revised edition, 1993; Penguin USA; ISBN: 0140178244
Norris Hundley, Jr. – The Great Thirst: Californians and Water: A History
Revised edition, 2001; University of California Press; ISBN: 0-520-22456-6
David Carle – Introduction to Water in California; University of California Press; ISBN 0-52024086-3
Readings from the textbooks will be supplemented with handouts provided by the instructor and
materials from the internet.
Course Website
http://www.csub.edu/~jgillespie/
(also linked via my page on the Geology Department’s web site)
The website will contain important supplemental materials, copies of selected lecture materials,
information for assignments, and current newspaper articles about water issues. It is
recommended that you check it periodically for updates.
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Assignments and Exams
There will be assignments throughout the class that require you to read and summarize recent news
articles on current issues in water. The news summaries need to be submitted to Turnitin.com.
They will fulfill the writing requirement that is part of all upper division general education classes.
There will be three exams (including the final) consisting of multiple choice, true-false and short
answer questions. Make-up exams are only given for serious reasons such as an illness certified by a
doctor. The instructor has to be notified in advance if you have to miss an exam. Make up exams
are entirely essay.
Grading
Exams are 25% each—3 exams = 75% of grade
Assignments will be 25% of grade
The final grade will be assigned as follows. Percentages are based on the person with the highest
point total in the class:
A
B
C
D
F
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
< 60%
Academic Honesty
CSUB’s policy on Academic Honesty will be strictly enforced. Any cheating will be reported to the
CSUB Judicial Affairs office and automatically result in an F for the whole course. For the
homework assignments, students are welcome to work together in groups. However, every student
is responsible for creating their own report. Reports that are completely or parts identical will be
considered an attempt at cheating. For additional information see the CSUB policy on Academic
Honesty in the CSUB Catalog.
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Geol 477 Honors, Spring 2010 Tentative Lecture Schedule
Week
Dates
Topic
1
3/29
Introduction;Unique properties of water; Surface hydrology—
precipitation, evaporation, runoff, ET, infiltration
Hydrologic cycle and its application to California.
IWC: Intro,
p. 1-34, Ch. 2
CD: Ch. 1
2
4/5
California weather and precipitation patterns; Surface water
distribution in the state,
Groundwater hydrology and water budgets
IWC: Ch 2, p. 3591
3
4/12
California aquifers with emphasis on the San Joaquin and
Antelope Valleys
Water Quality
IWC: p. 48-52
4
4/19
Exam 1, Apr. 19, 2010
water use history—aboriginal and Hispanic
IWC: p. 135-178
TGT: Ch. 2
5
4/26
Water use history—US and the Gold Rush/ Water Law
The Owens Valley and the LA Aqueduct/
IWC: p. 35-91, p.
115-118
TGT: Ch. 3
CD: Ch. 2
6
5/3
The Owens Valley and the LA Aqueduct/ Mono Lake cont.
The Central Valley Water Project
TGT: Ch. 4 to p.
171, p. 336-360
TGT: p. 234-272,
501-515
CD: Ch. 3, &
p.194-201, 455470.
IWC: p. 103-109,
146-153, 181-184
7
5/10
Furlough
CD: Ch. 5to p.
153, Ch. 6 to p.
181, CD: Ch. 10
TGT: p. 276-302,
425-440, 461-466
IWC: p. 87-103
The State Water Project
8
5/17
Readings*
Exam 2, May 17, 2010
Furlough
3
9
5/24
The Delta
TGT: p. 313-334,
393-425
IWC: p. 200-204
10
5/31
HOLIDAY
The Colorado River
The Salton Sea/Imperial Valley/Las Vegas
TGT: p. 203-234,
303-308,470-501,
CD: Ch. 4,8
IWC: p. 110-115
11
6/7
Conservation
Final Exam: Wed., June 9, 11-1:30
IWC: 191-223
CD: Epilogue,
Afterword
TGT: Ch. 8
*TGT – The Great Thirst; CD – Cadillac Desert; IWC – Introduction to Water in California
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