EESC1170 · Earth and Environmental Sciences

Rivers and the Environment

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

Scientific understanding of rivers is vital to address many of today's environmental challenges. Rivers transport and distribute water, sediment, nutrients, and contaminants throughout the landscape. They provide habitat and migration pathways for countless aquatic species. Rivers supply fresh water, power generation, and recreational opportunities to much of the world's human populations. We will learn about the geological, hydrological, and biological processes that are important to rivers and watersheds, and how knowledge of these processes aids our ability to manage, protect, and restore these systems.