Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This class utilizes actual projects and field trips to allow students to experience the effects, techniques and methods used in laying out and building water gardens.

1. Plan and layout ideas for water features and select materials for implementation.
2. Perform calculations to size water pumping systems and to determine size and volumes of materials needed for construction.
3. Select plants and fauna for water features to create successful habitats.
4. Perform tasks to maintain existing water features in good operating condition.
5.  Select sustainable water feature components and techniques to reduce costs, resource consumption and environmental impact.

• Written report on field observations of the characteristics of water and water features
• Equipment and materials calculation assignments
• Short answer and essay midterm
• Participation in lab construction project
• Term project: Layout of plan and elevation view of a student designed water feature with full calculations for materials and equipment used, including a written narrative of the purpose and character of the feature.

Themes, concepts, issues
1. Understand the physical, psychological, and emotional affects of water.
2. Recognize and work with site limitations in designing water features.
3. Utilization of natural forces and the physical characteristics of materials to create water affects.
4. Employment of safe techniques to handle heavy materials like stone.
5. Understand the flow and volume characteristics of water and apply those to hydraulic design.
6. Understand the options for equipment selection and implementation.

Competencies and skills:
1. Describe the emotional and physical affects of water on individuals.
2. Describe in writing, the observed affects of water as seen in existing water features and explain how the materials and layout of the features brought those affects about.
3. List three different methods of lining water features and discuss their pros and cons.
4. Plan the layout of a water feature to include the following:

•     plan and sectional views to scale
•     materials required to construct the feature
•     calculations made to size materials and equipment including pumps
•     locations for pumps, filters and plants

5. Excavate an area for a water feature to the proper depth and form to accommodate liner and rock and provide for planting shelves.
6. Demonstrate the ability to safely handle and place rock up to 200 pounds by hand.
7. Size and place a liner for a water feature
8. Place and mortar rock for pool sides and waterfalls.
9. Use proper techniques to fill and clean finished water features.
10. Select plants for waterside, and different depths of water.
11. Explain different planting techniques for shallow and deep water plants.
12. List pond requirements for having fish.
13. Discuss the use of filters and biological filters in water features.
14. List two types of algae problems, their causes and potential methods of control.
15. Outline the yearly maintenance requirements of water features.