Assessor Resource

AHCNRM504
Interpret and report on catchment hydrology

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to interpret catchment hydrology to report on water quantity and quality within a catchment.

This unit applies to a person employed in a technical capacity to collect, collate, analyse and report on hydrological data for use in floodplain management, asset protection and water allocation. This person will analyse information and exercise judgement to complete a range of skilled activities.

No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Collate and evaluate catchment information

1.1 Determine data collection priorities in consultation with supervisor or team

1.2 Access and collate catchment information

1.3 Determine the requirements for accuracy and currency of information and identify additional data requirements

1.4 Identify land uses within the catchment

1.5 Determine management units within the catchment

2. Analyse hydrological processes of a catchment using available data

2.1 Analyse natural ground and surface water processes

2.2 Identify man-made ground and surface water movement

2.3 Determine and analyse man-made impacts on water quantity

2.4 Determine the need for, and identify appropriate representative sites for collection of additional data

2.5 Apply work health and safety policies and procedures, environmentally sustainable practices and biosecurity measures when analysing hydrological processes

3. Design and implement field surveys and assess findings

3.1 Determine objectives, locations and resource requirements for site assessments in consultation with supervisor or team

3.2 Assess physical entities and processes, including threats, within representative management units

3.3 Collect site data according to enterprise policies, procedures and guidelines

4. Report on catchment hydrology

4.1 Prepare a written overview on catchment hydrological behaviour

4.2 Present a visual overview of catchment hydrological behaviour to stakeholders

4.3 Provide advice and guidance on remediation measures consistent with catchment management objectives

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

access and collate existing hydrological information

collect and analyse hydrological data using appropriate sustainable practices

collect and assess a wide range of hydrological data

determine the movement of water within a catchment from existing data

assess processes within catchment to evaluate non-sustainable practices in catchments

report on catchment hydrological behaviour to organisational requirements

apply work health and safety practices to the collection and testing of water

apply an awareness of biosecurity in the context of own work

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of factors used for analysis of water catchment area:

hydrological cycles

chemical and physical properties of water

rock and soil types including weathering processes

fluvial geomorphology:

drainage basin function

factors influencing stream flow rates

interactions between ground and surface water

stream hierarchy and ordering

human impacts on surface water quality and quantity

hydrogeology:

aquifer types and properties

aquifer discharge and recharge

rates of water movement through aquifers

human impacts on groundwater quality and quantity

sustainable use of ground and surface water:

uses of water in catchments

water allocation

policies and strategies determining water use

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Collate and evaluate catchment information

1.1 Determine data collection priorities in consultation with supervisor or team

1.2 Access and collate catchment information

1.3 Determine the requirements for accuracy and currency of information and identify additional data requirements

1.4 Identify land uses within the catchment

1.5 Determine management units within the catchment

2. Analyse hydrological processes of a catchment using available data

2.1 Analyse natural ground and surface water processes

2.2 Identify man-made ground and surface water movement

2.3 Determine and analyse man-made impacts on water quantity

2.4 Determine the need for, and identify appropriate representative sites for collection of additional data

2.5 Apply work health and safety policies and procedures, environmentally sustainable practices and biosecurity measures when analysing hydrological processes

3. Design and implement field surveys and assess findings

3.1 Determine objectives, locations and resource requirements for site assessments in consultation with supervisor or team

3.2 Assess physical entities and processes, including threats, within representative management units

3.3 Collect site data according to enterprise policies, procedures and guidelines

4. Report on catchment hydrology

4.1 Prepare a written overview on catchment hydrological behaviour

4.2 Present a visual overview of catchment hydrological behaviour to stakeholders

4.3 Provide advice and guidance on remediation measures consistent with catchment management objectives

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

access and collate existing hydrological information

collect and analyse hydrological data using appropriate sustainable practices

collect and assess a wide range of hydrological data

determine the movement of water within a catchment from existing data

assess processes within catchment to evaluate non-sustainable practices in catchments

report on catchment hydrological behaviour to organisational requirements

apply work health and safety practices to the collection and testing of water

apply an awareness of biosecurity in the context of own work

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of factors used for analysis of water catchment area:

hydrological cycles

chemical and physical properties of water

rock and soil types including weathering processes

fluvial geomorphology:

drainage basin function

factors influencing stream flow rates

interactions between ground and surface water

stream hierarchy and ordering

human impacts on surface water quality and quantity

hydrogeology:

aquifer types and properties

aquifer discharge and recharge

rates of water movement through aquifers

human impacts on groundwater quality and quantity

sustainable use of ground and surface water:

uses of water in catchments

water allocation

policies and strategies determining water use

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Determine data collection priorities in consultation with supervisor or team 
Access and collate catchment information 
Determine the requirements for accuracy and currency of information and identify additional data requirements 
Identify land uses within the catchment 
Determine management units within the catchment 
Analyse natural ground and surface water processes 
Identify man-made ground and surface water movement 
Determine and analyse man-made impacts on water quantity 
Determine the need for, and identify appropriate representative sites for collection of additional data 
Apply work health and safety policies and procedures, environmentally sustainable practices and biosecurity measures when analysing hydrological processes 
Determine objectives, locations and resource requirements for site assessments in consultation with supervisor or team 
Assess physical entities and processes, including threats, within representative management units 
Collect site data according to enterprise policies, procedures and guidelines 
Prepare a written overview on catchment hydrological behaviour 
Present a visual overview of catchment hydrological behaviour to stakeholders 
Provide advice and guidance on remediation measures consistent with catchment management objectives 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCNRM504 - Interpret and report on catchment hydrology
Assessment task 1: [title]

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I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

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Assessment Record Sheet

AHCNRM504 - Interpret and report on catchment hydrology

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

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Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

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