**EPS 522/ENVS 423L**
Fall 2025
Dr. Katie Markovich; kmarkovich@unm.edu TA: Aidan Dunne; adunne@unm.edu
Class Meets TR 9:30am-10:45am
Room 105 Northrop Hall
Lab Meets R 2pm-4:50pm
Room 115 Northrop Hall
Instructor Office Hours, TR 11am-noon in Northrop 210 or by appointment TA Office Hours, T 10:45-noon and W 12:30-2 in Northrop 114
3/4 Credit hours
To explain, diagnose, and predict the physical processes that govern: 1) the spatial and temporal characteristics of water in its various storage reservoirs (terrestrial, atmospheric, oceanic) and 2) the corresponding fluxes of water between these reservoirs. To be able to read and interpret the scientific literature on physical hydrology and to be able to work with modern hydrologic datasets. Topics will include the hydrologic cycle, atmospheric thermodynamics, radiation processes, atmospheric circulation, precipitation and snow processes, unsaturated flow, evapotranspiration, groundwater flow, runoff and streamflow, and watershed modeling.
Required: Physical Hydrology, 2nd Edition, by S. Lawrence Dingman
Exam 1: October 7
Fall Break: October 9-10
Term Project Due: December 2
Final Exam: Week of December 8
The homeworks will be focused on testing and reinforcing concepts and methods from the lectures and will be assigned approximately once per week, and each assignment will be due the following week. If you miss a homework deadline, you can still turn in the assignment up to 5 days after the due date, with an additional 10% taken off for each day. No credit will be given if you are more than 5 days late.
For 423L students, the Thursday lab will serve as an opportunity to work collaboratively on the homework problem sets with the TA available for help. The lab will also include some exercises that involve analyzing real-world hydrological data and getting hands-on experience with software and tools.
There will be 2 exams, one on October 7th and a final exam during the week of December 8. The first exam will the first half of the semester, while the final exam will be comprehensive. You can bring a hand-written “cheat” sheet (8.5x11” printer paper) to both exams.
For 522 students, a term project on a real-world hydrologic system will be due on December 2 with in-class presentations on the project that same week. Details on the term project requirements will be provided early in the semester.
If you anticipate a difficulty meeting a deadline, please let me know as soon as you know, preferably at least a week in advance.
Unless otherwise indicated, all work must be submitted online in the class’s Canvas web site. If you have a difficulty using a tool to complete work, notify me as soon as possible.
400 Level
- Homework will constitute 50% of your total grade
- Each exam will constitute 25% of your total grade
500 Level
- Homework will constitute 30% of your total grade
- Each exam will constitute 20% of your total grade
- The term project will constitute 30% of your total grade
Grading Scale
Final grades will be based on the sum of all possible course points as noted above. Percentage of available points
Grade
90 -100 A
80 -89 B
70 -79 C
60 -69 D
< 60 F
Accommodations: UNM is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for students with documented disabilities. As your instructor, it is my objective to facilitate an inclusive classroom setting, in which students have full access and opportunity to participate. To engage in a confidential conversation about the process for requesting reasonable accommodations for this class and/or program, please contact Accessibility Resource Center at arcsrvs@unm.edu or 505-277-3506.
UAP 2720 and 2740. Our classroom and university should foster mutual respect, kindness, and support. If you have concerns about discrimination, harassment, or violence, please seek support and report incidents. Find confidential services at LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center, the Women’s Resource Center, and the LGBTQ Resource Center. UNM prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex (including gender, sex stereotyping, gender expression, and gender identity). All instructors are “responsible employees” who must communicate reports of sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and sexual violence to Compliance, Ethics and Equal Opportunity. For more information, please see UAP 2720 and UAP 2740.
Course Materials Access: Your digital course materials are directly available now on the My Shelf link in Canvas. Your physical course materials, such as books and required lab/studio course kits, are available at the UNM Bookstore, and you will receive an email about how to pick them up. To simplify your course materials access, you are automatically enrolled in a Complete option at a flat rate of $279 per semester. This will show up on your bursar bill. The Complete option covers all your required course materials for all your Albuquerque campus courses, including any graduate courses you may be taking (branch campus course materials are billed and available separately). If you are interested in course materials access for only selected courses, or if you want to opt out entirely, you will need to select the option you want in the My Shelf link in Canvas. You can change your selected option in the My Shelf link in Canvas until the registrar’s “Last Day to Drop Without a ‘W’ Grade and 100% Tuition Refund.” Make sure that you review the video and information here to understand cost and the options for Complete (automatic enrollment), Select (take action), and Opt-out (take action).
Respectful Conduct Expectations: I am committed to building with you a positive classroom environment in which everyone can learn. I reserve the right to intervene and enforce standards of respectful behavior when classroom conduct is inconsistent with University expectations. Interventions and enforcement may include but are not limited to required meetings to discuss classroom expectations, written notification of expectations, and/or removal from a class meeting. The University of New Mexico ensures freedom of academic inquiry, free expression and open debate, and a respectful campus through adherence to the following policies: D75: Classroom Conduct, Student Code of Conduct, University Policy 2240 – Respectful Campus, University Policy 2210 – Campus Violence.
Religions and Faith Traditions: The University of New Mexico promotes respect for all religions and faith traditions. Any student who is unable to attend classes or to participate in any examination, presentation, or assignment on a given day because of the observance of a major religious holiday or cultural observance, or due to related travel, is encouraged to speak with their instructor about an excused absence and opportunities to make up, without unreasonable burden, any work that has been missed.
Thriving and Finding Support: Students are especially successful at UNM when they take advantage of support and get involved in campus and academic life. Your MyUNM login page provides direct links to wellbeing resources, including financial capability, mental health, food, jobs, and resource centers. MyUNM will help you identify academic resources like peer tutoring and opportunities like study abroad. You can contact academic advisors and resource advisors for information and guidance via Student Hub on MyUNM. I look forward to providing you with information about academic opportunities related to our class and to helping you find support resources.
Title IX: The University of New Mexico and its faculty are committed to supporting our students and providing an environment that is free of bias, discrimination, and harassment. The University’s programs and activities, including the classroom, should always provide a space of mutual respect, kindness, and support without fear of harassment, violence, or discrimination. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes discrimination on the basis of assigned sex at birth, sex characteristics, pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions, sexual orientation and gender identity. If you have encountered any form of discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, domestic or dating violence, we encourage you to report this to the University. You can access the confidential resources available on campus at the LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center (https://loborespect.unm.edu), the Women’s Resource Center (https://women.unm.edu), and the LGBTQ Resource Center (https://lgbtqrc.unm.edu). If you speak with an instructor (including a TA or a GA) regarding an incident connected to discrimination on the basis of sex, they must notify UNM’s Title IX Coordinator that you shared an experience relating to Title IX, even if you ask the instructor not to disclose it. The Title IX Coordinator is available to assist you in understanding your options and in connecting you with all possible resources on and off campus. For more information on the campus policy regarding sexual misconduct and reporting, please see https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/2000/2740.html and CEEO’s website. If you are pregnant or experiencing a pregnancy-related condition, you may contact UNM’s Office of Compliance, Ethics, and Equal Opportunity at ceeo@unm.edu. The CEEO staff will provide you with access to available resources and supportive measures and assist you in understanding your rights.
Responsible Learning and Academic Honesty: Cheating and plagiarism (academic dishonesty) are often driven by lack of time, desperation, or lack of knowledge about how to identify a source. Communicate with me and ask for help, even at the last minute, rather than risking your academic career by committing academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty involves claiming that work created by another source is your own original work. It is a Student Code of Conduct violation that can lead to a disciplinary procedure. When you use a resource in work submitted for this class, document how you used it and distinguish clearly between your original work and the material taken from the resource.
Credit-hour statement: EPS 522 is a three credit-hour course. Class meets for two 75-minute sessions of direct instruction for fifteen weeks during the Fall 2025 semester. ENVS 423L is a four credit-hour course, where on top of the two 75-minute sessions of direct instruction, there is a two hour and 50-minute lab each week. Please plan for a minimum of six hours of out-of-class work (or homework, study, assignment completion, and class preparation) each week.
| Date | Day | Topic | Reading | Due Dates / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19-Aug | Tue | Introduction | Ch. 1 | |
| 21-Aug | Thur | Hydrologic Concepts | Ch. 2 | |
| 26-Aug | Tue | Climate System | Ch. 3 | |
| 28-Aug | Thur | Climate System | Ch. 3 | |
| 2-Sep | Tue | Precipitation | Ch. 4 | HW1 & Project Proposal Due |
| 4-Sep | Thur | Precipitation (guest speaker) | Ch. 4 | HW2 |
| 9-Sep | Tue | Snow/Snowmelt (guest lecture) | Ch. 5 | |
| 11-Sep | Thur | Evapo(transpir)ation | Ch. 7 | |
| 16-Sep | Tue | No class | HW3 | |
| 18-Sep | Thur | Evapo(transpir)ation | Ch. 7 | |
| 23-Sep | Tue | Streamflow | Ch. 9 | |
| 25-Sep | Thur | Evapo(transpir)ation (guest lecture) | HW4, No lab | |
| 30-Sep | Tue | Streamflow | Ch. 9 | |
| 2-Oct | Thur | Streamflow (guest lecture) & Review | ||
| 7-Oct | Tue | Exam #1 | ||
| 9-Oct | Thur | No class, Fall Break | ||
| 14-Oct | Tue | Vadose Zone | Ch. 6 | |
| 16-Oct | Thur | Vadose Zone | Ch. 6 | Project Lit. Review Due |
| 21-Oct | Tue | Vadose Zone (guest lecture) | Ch. 6 | |
| 23-Oct | Thur | Groundwater | Ch. 8 | HW5 |
| 28-Oct | Tue | Groundwater | Ch. 8 | |
| 30-Oct | Thur | Groundwater | Ch. 8 | |
| 4-Nov | Tue | Groundwater (guest lecture) | HW6 | |
| 6-Nov | Thur | Spooky Topics in Hydrology | ||
| 11-Nov | Tue | No class | ||
| 13-Nov | Thur | Climate Change Impacts to Hydrology | HW7 | |
| 18-Nov | Tue | Hydrologic Modeling | ||
| 20-Nov | Thur | Water Resources Management | Ch. 10 | |
| 25-Nov | Tue | Optional: work on 522 Term Projects | HW8 | |
| 27-Nov | Thur | No class, Thanksgiving holiday | ||
| 2-Dec | Tue | Project Presentations | Project Tech Memo Due | |
| 4-Dec | Thur | Project Presentations and Exam Review | HW9 | |
| 9-Dec | Tue | Final Exam @ 7:30-9:30 am |