HYD010 Water Power Society

HYD/SAS 010: Water, Power, Society

            Syllabus                        Current Class                                    Materials

HYD/SAS-010 Water, Power, Society is a class that discusses the history of water in California. The class objective is to discuss the current water problems in the context of historical development (emphasis on California), science, and socio-political considerations. Examine how the California water system became so vast and unique, and implications for future sustainability of both water quantity and quality given challenges such as climate change and continued development. Focus on current problems and the roles of science and policy in solving water problems.

Topics in this course include:

   - California Water Overview
   - Water For Cities
   - Large infrastructure and Water Projects
   - Groundwater
   - Water Law
   - Agriculture and the Environment
   - Water Quality and Social Justice
   - Climate Change and Droughts
   - The Future of Water in California

As the instructor of this class, Dr. Samuel Sandoval Solis designed this class to provide a historic overview water in California, and what are the lessons learned to avoid the problems that occurred throughout the history. By the end of the class, students are expected to have a thorough knowledge of Water in California. Furthermore, students are expected to be able to reflect on the historic lessons to avoid water problems in the future.

Textbooks

- Introduction to Water in California, by David Carle (This book is not compulsory and it’s available free via the course website)
 

Lectures

1:10 – 2:00 pm Monday and Wednesday. All sessions (Mandatory)
1:10 – 2:00 pm Fridays. Discussion Session (Mandatory)

Lecture/Discussion Remote Access Link : https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/95102542997
 

Office Hours

Professor
Samuel Sandoval Solis, Email: samsandoval@ucdavis.edu
Office hours: Wednesdays 8:00- 10:00 am.
Request a meeting at: https://calendly.com/samsandoval/office-hours
Other times only by appointment.
 
Teaching Assistants
Laura E. Garza Diaz legarza@ucdavis.edu
Monday 10am to 11am and Tuesday 4 pm to 5 pm
Request a meeting through Calendly: https://calendly.com/legarza/office-hours
 

Extra Materials
- Mid Term and Final Paper Guidelines template. 

Class Calendar

 

Instruction Begins Monday March 29, 2021

  

Week

Date

Session

Canvas Discussion

Quiz / Papers

California Water Overview

    

1

Mon 29 Mar

Water Use in California, Overview of Water in California  (Presentation)

    

Wed 31 Mar

Climate and Natural Hydrology of California  (Presentation)

  

Quiz1

Fri 2 Apr

Discussion - Introductions, logistics

Due

  

Water For Cities

    

2

Mon 5 Apr

Hetch-Hetchy, Toulumne, San Francisco - Bay Area, Carle (pg. 118-126)

    

Wed 7 Apr

PBS View Finder Documentary, Southern California, PBS Documentary Owen's Valley 100 Anniversary Carle (pg. 115-118)

  

Quiz 2

Fri 9 Apr

Discussion

    

Large infrastructure and Water Projects

    

3

Mon 12 Apr

Central Valley, Central Valley Project back then and today Carle (pg. 103-109)

    

Wed 14 Apr

State Water Project and Aerial tour Carle (pg. 92-103)

  

Quiz 3

Fri 16 Apr

Discussion

Due

  

and more projects ...

    

4

Mon 19 Apr

Colorado River, PBS Documentary, SOS: Salton Sea  (Only on Amazon Prime) Documentary, Carle (pg. 110-115),  Klamath River Carle (pg. 135-146)

    

Wed 21 Apr

The Delta, Lake Tahoe, Hydropower

  

Quiz 4

Fri 23 Apr

Discussion

    

Groundwater

    

5

Mon 26 Apr

California: The Bathtub, GW 101, Groundwater Overview,

    

Wed 28 Apr

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)

  

Quiz 5

Fri 30 Apr

Discussion

Due

  

Water Law

    

6

Mon 3 May

CA Water Law 101 and Water law. Water Rights handouts: 1, 2, and 3. 

  

Midterm Paper

Wed 5 May

Floods (History of Floods, Sac Valley before Levees)

  

Quiz 6

Fri 7 May

Discussion

Discussion Entries I

  

Agriculture and the Environment

    

7

Mon 10 May

Natural Flow Regime, EF history and EF in California

    

Wed 12 May

Agriculture in California (Small Farms Podcast)

  

Quiz 7

Fri 14 May

Discussion

Due

  

Water Quality and Social Justice

    

8

Mon 17 May

Water Quality in California: Nitrates, Pesticides,

    

Wed 19 May

Social and Environmental Justice for Water In California (SGMA and Human Right to Water, Communities living the climate crisis (English, Español) , Water Town)

  

Quiz 8

Fri 21 May

Discussion

    

Climate Change and Droughts

    

9

Tue 25 May

Atmospheric Rivers101, Rivers in the Sky, California's Climate and Paleoclimate

    

Thu 27 May

Drought 101, California's Drought Aftermath

  

Quiz 9

Fri 28 May

Discussion

Due

  

The Future of Water in California

    

10

Mon 31 May

No class - Memorial Day Holiday

    

Wed 2 Jun

Future of Water in California

  

Quiz 10

Fri 4 Jun

Discussion

Discussion Entries II

  

Finals Week

    

11

Wed 9 Jun

Final Exam: Term Paper

  

Final Paper