Caretaking Rivers for the Community (NRMT90031)

This subject is concerned with demonstrating how catchment management projects are integrated into catchment management programs to achieve multiple outcomes across multiple sites. It demonstrates how the "Principles of Natural Resources Management" apply to the design of river health and water resources protection programs. The content will focus on medium term outcomes at a sub-catchment or reach scale. Subject material will consider programs for:

• stakeholder involvement,
• erosion management,
• riparian management,
• habitat restoration,
• managing drainage schemes,
• managing the environmental water reserve, and
• floodplain management.

The subject addresses the acquisition of the data and the knowledge to formulate activity and monitoring programs using integrated assessment and prediction tools and risk-based approaches.

The structured remote learning component reviews obligations under compliance and statutory requirements and guides students toward familiarity with various tools to assist in program development. Students also work remotely on their project which for this subject will involve broadening their previous work to build a comprehensive program to manage a catchment issue. The four day intensive face to face session focuses on building and using the skills needed to develop effective catchment management programs including:

• risk and risk assessment,
• communication,
• social issues and community involvement,
• using "toolkit" products,
• knowledge management and corporate memory, and
• program evaluation.

There is also a presentation dealing with program implementation how to get the program off the bookshelf and on to the ground.