RENR 664
COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences
Texas A&M University- College Station
Dr. Robert B. Ditton
Office: 012-B Nagle Hall
Phone: 979.845.9841, FAX: 979.845.3786
email:r-ditton@tamu.edu (W)
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NOTICE: The Distance Education version (section 700 for in-state and Section 799 for out-of-state students ) of this course will be offered in the spring of 2005.
If you have registered for a distance education section of this course, please contact Ms. Linda Causey ASAP prior to the start of the semester (e-mail = lcausey@tamu.edu or 979-845-5777) with your e-mail address and mailing address so we can provide you with detailed instructions on how to link up with the class via the web.
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Readings, lectures, guest speakers (live and archived videostream), class discussions, and role playing will provide the basis for understanding coastal issues, management decisions, the process of coastal management and the need for integrated coastal management. Emphasis will be given to the contentiousness of coastal resources use and the need for rational means for resolving conflicts. Several areas will be examined in detail including coastal zone management in Texas, wetlands issues, shoreline access for the public, and coastal hazard mitigation. Major themes will be the relationship between human kind and the coastal environment, human dimensions of coastal management, and what can be done by all levels of government (as well as by individuals) to address coastal management issues.
The goals of the course are to use the coastal environment as a means to 1) understand the nature of contemporary resource issues and conflicts, 2) develop abilities to analyze and evaluate these issues and conflicts, 3) examine the various mechanisms used to manage resource uses in the coastal zone, and 4) enhance skills in written and oral communication.
There is no required text for the course. Assigned web links and readings provide background for each class session. Students are expected to fully explore each topic fully using the World Wide Web and to have read all assigned readings prior to each class session. The goal is to apply what has been learned each week in discussion sessions and in oral and written assignments. Students are encouraged to innovate and participate as professionals.
Grading Plan
Final grades will be determined as follows: 1) two papers analyzing issues as assigned (20% each for a total of 40%), 2) an opinion-education article on a coastal issue suitable for submission to a big city Texas newspaper (20%), 3) class PARTICIPATION (20%) and 4) final exam (20%).
Class Projects
Each student will submit two papers regarding a selected coastal issue. The topics for this semester are: 1) "Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico" and 2) "Maintaining Open Beaches in Texas". The purpose of each paper is to gain an understanding of what constitutes an issue perspective and why these subjects are problematic for other coastal uses and users. Besides issue identification, substantive effort should be devoted to stakeholder identification and issues analysis.
Each student will prepare an opinion-education article on a coastal management issue suitable for submission to a major big-city newspaper.
Course Outline
August 28Course Introduction (Week 1)
September 4 Introduction to the Course (Week 2)
September 11 The Coastal Environment: Issues and Problems (Week 3)
September 18 Coastal Zone Management Overview: Institutions and Jurisdictions (Week 4) (Project 1 Due)
September 25 Coastal Zone Management: How It Is Supposed to Work (Week 5)
October 2 Coastal Zone Management in Texas (Week 6)
October 9 Regional Approaches to Coastal Management (Week 7)
October 16 Local Coastal Management Efforts (Week 8) (Project 2 Due)
October 23 Hazard Mitigation (Week 9)
October 30 Coastal Recreation and Public Access (Week 10)
November 6 Wetlands (Week 11)
November 13 Coastal Management Cases (Week 12) (Project (Project 3 DRAFT Due) (Week 12)
November 20 Coastal Management Cases (Week 13) (Project 3 Due)
November 27 Last Class: Status and Prospects for Coastal Zone Management, Class Evaluation, and Final Q and A Session (Week 14)
December 4 Redefined day (No class)
December 11 Final Exam
This page is maintained by Bob Ditton and was last updated on 7/19/06.