ENVS 161 - Water Security (Stewart-Frey)

Aerial drone photo taken by Dan Meyers of the Detroit Dam in Detroit, Oregon.

UN millennial development goals include access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation for all people, yet in many places have those have remained an elusive goal. Water security invokes the idea of risk, but also of action, and resonates with governments, managers, academics, donors, activists, and organizations.  In this course we will analyze frameworks and approaches to water security. Through critical evaluation of the recent literature and principles from the fields of environmental science and studies, students will gain perspectives on barriers and solutions to safeguarding access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water for sustaining livelihoods, ecosystems, and human well-being.  This class satisfies the requirements for an upper division elective in the environmental sciences, a natural science elective for environmental studies majors, and an advanced writing course for the university core. (5 units) No pre-requisites, but junior or senior standing highly recommended.