This course is delivered in the field, taking students to the upper catchment of the Macquarie River and the major dam that regulates the river down to the internationally important and spectacular Macquarie Marshes. Students will visit an irrigation property, before spending several days in the Macquarie Marshes, surveying and meeting key stakeholders who manage the Macquarie Marshes. The course focuses on advanced, practical management of environmental flows in rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin and conservation of endangered species and habitats endemic to Australia. Students will participate in the monitoring of wetland species, understanding conservation management and practical field skills required in monitoring environments. Practical training will include consideration of the implementation of conservation programs, including the social, institutional and logistical constraints placed on conservation management strategies.
Note: This course is available to students in Advanced Science (3962), Science (3970) and their associated dual programs, with a preference given to students in the Ecology major. Unfilled places are available to students in Environmental Management (3965), Life Science (3966) with preference given to students in Biology or Ecology Majors with a credit average.
This course involves compulsory fieldwork and students will incur personal expenses.