Application
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.
Elements and Performance Criteria
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 |
Evidence of Performance
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
Evidence of Knowledge
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
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Natural Resource Management (NRM)