MCCCD Program Description

Introduction to Surface Water Data Collection

Course: WRT150

First Term: 2009 Spring

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S

Description: Fundamentals of surface water data collection while stressing safe practices. Map reading and navigation, field inspections, accessing, collecting, recording and retrieving surface water data

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Describe the use of maps and geographic positioning system (GPS) units to navigate. (I) 2. Determine watershed boundaries. (II) 3. List procedure for conducting field inspections of surface water sites. (III) 4. Demonstrate best practices of recordkeeping, using appropriate forms. (III) 5. Discuss the legal issues associated with recordkeeping. (IV) 6. Explain ethical issues involved with data collection. (V) 7. Describe the necessary data collection documentation for water resources agencies. (VI) 8. Obtain site information from water resources agencies. (VII) 9. Describe how water resource agency data can be used. (VIII) 10. Explain what makes a good control for surface water data collection. (IX) 11. Describe the steps and methods for determining velocity, stage and discharge of streamflows. (X, XI) 12. Explain procedures for using and servicing field equipment at gaging stations. (XII) 13. Compute discharge from streamflow measurements. (XIII) 14. Explain the stage-discharge relationship. (XIV) 15. Describe surface water data collection for surface water/ice/snow measurements. (XV) 16. Discuss safety procedures to be used during field assignments. (XVI)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Navigation A. Topographic map B. Global positioning system (GPS) II. Watersheds A. Overview B. Delineation C. Determining area III. Field inspections and Recordkeeping A. Verification of a safe environment B. Unique station identification, date, and party recording C. Readings of gages and record readings D. Verification of functionality of all gages E. Creation of Discharge measurement F. Re-readings of all gages after the measurement and record readings G. Computation of the discharge measurement H. Effective control feature and condition documentation I. Evaluation of the measurement versus the stage/discharge relation J. Calculation of the measurement and determination of need for a check measurement K. Creation of other, supporting measurements L. Completion of station log, including all site-visit information IV. Legal issues A. Data integrity B. Documentation C. Validity V. Ethical issues A. Data integrity B. Accuracy VI. Documentation A. Agencies 1. United States Geological Survey (USGS) 2. United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) 3. Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) 4. Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) 5. Salt River Project (SRP) 6. Central Arizona Project (CAP) 7. Flood Control District of Maricopa County (FCDMC) VII. Site information A. Agencies 1. USGS 2. USBR 3. ADEQ 4. ADWR 5. SRP 6. CAP 7. FCDMC VIII. Surface water data uses A. Agencies 1. USGS 2. USBR 3. ADEQ 4. ADWR 5. SRP 6. CAP 7. FCDMC IX. Surface water controls A. Definitions B. Importance of controls for stage/discharge relations C. Types of Controls 1. Artificial controls 2. Natural controls X. Stage Measurement A. Non-recording 1. Staff gage 2. Wire-weight gage 3. Float-tape gage 4. Electric tape 5. Crest stage gage 6. Wading rod B. Recording 1. Float sensor 2. Bubble-gage sensor 3. Pressure transducers XI. Velocity A. Equipment 1. Current meter 2. Radar 3. Acoustic B. Data Collection and processing 1. Headset 2. Aquacalc 3. Flow Tracker 4. Data loggers XII. Equipment A. Uses B. Servicing C. Data retrieval XIII. Discharge computations A. Data sheets B. Velocity C. Runoff XIV. Stage-discharge relationship A. Definitions B. Rating curves and gaging-station controls C. Basis for rating-curve development D. Recognizing the scale offset E. Rating-curve development F. Extrapolation of the rating curve G. Variable stage-shift diagrams and analysis XV. Discharge Measurements A. By wading B. From cableways C. From bridges D. From ice/snow covers XVI. Safety procedures A. River safety B. In-water safety C. Bank safety D. Canal/channel safety

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 12/9/2008

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.