Mitigating the Human Impact on Wetlands

Mitigating the Human Impact on Wetlands

This course is part of multiple programs.

Instructor: Caitlin Bloomer, Ph.D.

Access provided by Interbank

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

How current U.S. laws and regulations govern human impacts on wetlands.
The impact that human activities have on wetland ecosystem services and functions.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

6 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is available as part of

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be asked to select a specific program.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

This course will have a special focus on the impacts caused by humans on wetlands and the efforts made to conserve and restore these systems. The learners will gain a comprehensive understanding of the laws and regulations applicable to wetland conservation. They will also learn to evaluate the techniques used in restoration management and planning. Through case studies and interviews with managers, the learners will examine the essential elements for success and the limitations faced in practical restoration efforts.

This course is part of the College of ACES suite of online programs, including the graduate-level certificate, "Wetland Science and Conservation" that can be stacked toward an online master's degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. To learn more about online programs from the College of ACES and explore ways to apply your Coursera work toward a degree program at the University of Illinois, visit ACES Online at acesonline.illinois.edu.

In the course orientation, you will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course. Then dive into the second part of this module to explore why wetland conservation is essential in maintaining the ecological functions, biodiversity, and ecosystem services provided by wetland ecosystems. In this module, we will explore the history of conservation programs and their contributions.

What's included

18 videos6 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt1 plugin

18 videos Total 78 minutes

Course Overview 2 minutes
Meet Your Instructor | Anthony Yannarell 2 minutes
Meet Your Instructor | Chloe Wardropper 2 minutes
Meet Your Instructor | Angela Kent 2 minutes
Meet Your Instructor | Caitlin Bloomer 1 minute
Module 1 | Overview 2 minutes
Historic Human-Wetland Interactions 7 minutes
Modern Wetland Cultures 6 minutes
Other Modern Uses of Wetlands 7 minutes
Wetland Impairment: Drain Tiles 4 minutes
Wetland Impairment: Dams & Levees 8 minutes
Wetland Impairment: Channels & Groundwater Manipulation 6 minutes
Wetland Impairment: Nutrients & Urban Development 5 minutes
Climate Change: Sensitivity, Patterns, & Predictions 6 minutes
Climate Change: Floodplains & Coastal Wetlands 6 minutes
Climate Change: Peatlands 5 minutes
Climate Change: Future Outlook 5 minutes
Module 1 | Wrap-up 2 minutes

6 readings Total 55 minutes

Course Guide 5 minutes
Updating Your Profile 10 minutes
Course Glossary 10 minutes
EPA | Functions and Values of Wetlands 10 minutes
Will They Stay or Will They Go | Understanding South Atlantic Coastal Wetland Transformation in Response to Sea-Level Rise 10 minutes
Wetlands and global climate change: the role of wetland restoration in a changing world 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Module 1 | Knowledge Check 30 minutes
Orientation Quiz 10 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Getting to Know Your Classmates 10 minutes

1 plugin Total 15 minutes

Methane Emissions from Wetlands 15 minutes

You will explore why wetlands have been a topic of laws and regulations since early American history. Explore both historical and contemporary laws and regulations that have impacted wetlands in the United States.

What's included

12 videos2 readings1 assignment1 plugin

12 videos Total 61 minutes

Module 2 | Overview 2 minutes
Early U.S. Laws & Regulations 5 minutes
U.S. Wetland Policy in the 1950's to 1960's 7 minutes
1970's & The Clean Water Act 8 minutes
U.S. Wetland Policy for Wetlands of the 1980s 5 minutes
U.S. Policy for Wetlands from 1990-2023 6 minutes
Overview of Wetland Delineation 4 minutes
Introduction to Wetland Mitigation 6 minutes
History of Wetland Mitigation 6 minutes
Mechanisms of Wetland Compensation 6 minutes
Compensation Performance Standards & Effectiveness 5 minutes
Module 2 | Wrap-up 1 minute

2 readings Total 30 minutes

Course Glossary 10 minutes
Wading through the Sackett vs. U.S. EPA Decision 20 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 2 | Knowledge Check 30 minutes

1 plugin Total 15 minutes

Understanding Wetlands | Ask This Old House 15 minutes

Wetland conservation is essential in maintaining the ecological functions, biodiversity, and ecosystem services provided by wetland ecosystems. In this module, we will explore the history or conservation programs and their contributions.

What's included

11 videos2 readings1 assignment2 plugins

11 videos Total 44 minutes

Module 3 | Overview 2 minutes
The Bird-Conservation Relationship 4 minutes
The Role of Early Conservationists 4 minutes
Conservation Efforts of the Early 1900s 6 minutes
Global Conservation Programs 4 minutes
Defining Wetland Restoration 6 minutes
Creating Targets for Wetland Restoration 6 minutes
Planning Wetland Restoration Programs 3 minutes
Monitoring Wetland Restoration Programs 6 minutes
3.3 | Conservation vs. Restoration 2 minutes
Module 3 | Wrap-up 1 minute

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Course Glossary 10 minutes
Structural and Functional Loss in Restored Wetland Ecosystems 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 3 | Knowledge Check 30 minutes

2 plugins Total 30 minutes

Conservation Wrangler: Prairie Wetland Project 15 minutes
Wetland Restoration at Winter Lake 15 minutes

In this module, you will explore video interviews with professionals from government agencies, consulting firms, and universities, showcasing the diverse work in wetland science and conservation. Discover their insights on regulatory changes, threats to ecosystems, and emerging trends or technologies that offer hope for the future. At the conclusion of this module, you will be ready to complete the final assessment for the course and earn your Coursera certificate!