Image courtesy Groundwater Grand Challenge.

GEOL 470 -- HYDROGEOLOGY
Fall Quarter 1995
Section 01 - 6:00 pm W

Course Syllabus

I. Text: Applied Hydrogeology, Fetter (1994), 3rd ed. The book is available in the EWU bookstore and is required.

II. Expectations:

  1. Lecture meets Wednesday evenings, 6:00 to 9:00 pm, Cheney campus. Lecture exams (2 midterms, 1 final) comprise 60% of course grade.
  2. Weekly reports and problem sets: Assignments will be made on a weekly basis and will comprise 40% of the total course grade. Format of reports is specified on last page of syllabus.
  3. Prerequisites: The student is expected to understand basic calculator math and to be able to plot data points on various types of graph paper (e.g. log/log, log/linear). Also, the successful student must be able to read and interpret topographic maps. A course in physical geology is strongly recommended, but you do not have to be a geology major.

III. Tentative course outline:


Week        Topic, reading and lab assignment                                     

1           Introduction to course, hydrologic cycle, evaporation and
            precipitation, runoff and streamflow
            Read:  Chapter 1,2,3
            Lab:   Precipitation and streamflow analysis

2           Concepts of groundwater occurrence, definitions
            Read:  Chapter 4
            Lab:   Construction of a geologic cross-section
            and sieve analyses

3           Principles of groundwater flow
            Read:  Chapter 5
            Lab:   Hewlett-Packard site groundwater mapping

4           Principles of groundwater flow, continued
            Exam 1 (1 hour)
            Read:  Chapter 5
            Lab:   Flow net construction

5           Regional groundwater flow regimes
            Read:  Chapter 8
            Lab:   Well interference

6           Geologic occurrence of groundwater
            Read:  Chapter 9
            Lab:   Well permit problem

7           Flow toward wells, well hydraulics
            Read:  Chapter 7
            Lab:   Theis and Jacob methods

8           Aquifer testing methods
            Exam 2 (1 hour)
            Read:  Chapter 7
            Lab:   Theim and step drawdown methods

9           Geophysical methods, exploration for groundwater,
            monitoring well construction
            Read:  Chapter 13
            Lab:   Resistivity problem

10          Groundwater law and management, groundwater modeling
            Read:  Chapter 12, 14
            Lab:   DOE well logs

11          Final Exam (comprehensive)
VI. Laboratory report format and guidelines:

Weekly reports will emphasize the significance of the results of project assignments, and practical application of the results, rather than the details of the procedures themselves.

Each lab project is associated with a practical problem. The weekly project reports are to be written as if the instructor was the owner, contractor or project supervisor and the student has been called upon for his professional advice concerning the assigned problem.

The reports will be in the format of a technical letter, must be typewritten (or at least very, very neatly handwritten in ink) and should be approximately two to three pages long, not including attachments. Concentrate on accuracy, brevity and clarity rather than cutting and/or padding the report to a predetermined length.

Reports will be graded on the basis of grammar, organization, style and readability, as well as content. Reports are due on a weekly basis and late reports will not be accepted. All reports are due in an acceptable form pending an incomplete grade for the course.

Report format:

  1. The letter --
    1. Introductory paragraph containing a description of the job (the problem) and the student's association with the job.
    2. Description of procedures or techniques employed, that is, how data was obtained, reasons for the procedure.
    3. Brief summary of most important results.
    4. Use of results and recommendations, that is, refer to diagrams or tables when convenient and explain why recommendations are made and the validity of the solution using determined results.
    5. Closing statement that the student will be available if further consultation is desired.
  2. Letter attachments/enclosures -- Figures and tables must each contain a figure or table number and caption for reference in text of letter. Note: figures are captioned on the bottom, while tables are captioned at the top.
  3. Office file -- Separate report from office file with blank sheet of paper and label as "office file." Attach data sheets, scratch calculations, figures and tables not with the results. Show all calculations!