This course aims to integrate theoretical knowledge within aquatic ecology and hydrology to be used within practical water management. 

In this applied course, through a combination of lectures, practical training, seminars, group projects, field trips and study visits, you will obtain a thorough knowledge of the areas that you are supposed to master when working within water management. You will also get a good insight into the work of authorities and consult companies engaged in water management in Sweden. The teaching will be put in the perspective of Swedish and international water management policies and the Swedish Environmental Quality Objectives related to aquatic systems. How should these objectives be followed up? Which measures needs to be taken to fulfil these objectives? Do conflicts among the objectives exist?Some important elements that will be dealt with are eutrophication of lakes and the Baltic Sea, acidification, brownification and the conservation of biological diversity. We will emphasis alternative measures for solving water management problems: lake restoration, biomanipulation, wetland restoration and construction, liming and also fishery management's methods. The aim of the course is that, after finishing this course, you should be able to evaluate water problems and to propose measures on how to obtain a certain objective. At the end of the course there will be a major project in which you and a group of other student will work as a ”consultant company” and you will right a proposition on how a specific water management problem can be solved. Examples of problems to solve could be how to reduce lake eutrophication, how to plan fishery management's measures in a stream or how to reduce the nitrogen discharge into the sea. During this project you will be given the opportunity to work with the computer tool GIS.

Teaching and examinations

Teaching consists of lectures, practical training, field trips and study visits, workshops and seminars. Major group projects are undertaken during the course. The course concludes with a written examination.

Excursions

We will visit the County Board of Skåne and one municipality board to get insight into the regional and local water management work in Sweden.

Literature project

In an individual literature project you will compile information on an issue related to water management from scientific papers and other sources. You will also get an introduction in database search. The project will be presented both in a written form and orally at a seminar.

And then what...?

Many of our students obtain relevant work within water management after their exam, for example within authorities or consultant companies. Many get a post as a teacher with limnology and water management as their speciality. When working at the county or municipality boards the day-to-day tasks may include: environmental monitoring (field sampling, mapping and problem analysis), giving advice and proposals for long-term measures concerning water management issues. Finally there is the possibility to continue as a doctoral student within limnology and to become a researcher within this department or at another university. With a doctors degree there is also the possibility of obtaining higher positions in the public and private sector.