Fresh water is perhaps the world’s scarcest and most critical resource. Giant engineering projects are built to control water distribution, wars and legal battles are fought over who controls water, and across the world people face real concerns about the safety of their water. Problems will only become worse as populations grow and the climate changes. This course is a broad survey of hydrology; the study of the distribution, movement, and quality of water. Students will be expected to perform quantitative analysis of water budgets and movements through Earth systems including rivers, lakes, artificial reservoirs, and groundwater. The focus will be on practical applications and people’s access to safe water. This course will require several field trips within and outside of normal class time.