Welcome to Water Resources and Fisheries!

Discipline Coordinator: Stan Szczytko
Address: College of Natural Resources
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Telephone: (715) 346-4181
Fax: (715) 346-3624

The Water Resources major in the College of Natural Resources was extensively revised during the spring semester 2006 to respond to the changes that have occurred in the discipline over the last decade. We feel that the changes will have a significant positive impact on our students and stakeholders. The new options concentrate on the study of biological, physical, and chemical characteristics of rivers, streams, lakes, groundwater and the interaction of water with land.

Fisheries Option

The fisheries option prepares you for employment in consulting firms or state, tribal or federal resource management agencies where you would be involved in manipulating fishery resources through regulating human use, managing aquatic habitat, and stocking. With a BS degree in fisheries you will likely begin your professional employment as a limited term employee. An MS degree will greatly increase employment potential and job responsibilities in fisheries. If you complete the requirements for the fisheries option with a grade of C or better in all required courses, you will have completed the minimum course requirements for certification by the American Fisheries Society as a Certified Fisheries Professional. For more information about certification see http://www.fisheries.org/afs/index.html#certification.

Watershed Management Option

The watershed management option prepares you for a career or graduate study in land conservation, water resources management, and hydrology. Watershed management graduates frequently gain employment with environmental consulting firms and state, federal, tribal, and local resource management agencies and are involved in land planning, resource protection, and civil works.

Water Resources Option

In the water resources option you develop a flexible program of courses with your adviser to prepare you for one or more career paths. You can emphasize the physical, chemical or biological aspects of water resource management or combinations thereof. The breadth of electives allows you to complete a minor in such areas as chemistry, soil science, geographic information systems and spatial analysis, or land use planning that will enhance and focus your career opportunities. Graduates are normally employed by environmental consulting firms, or by county, state, tribal or federal resource management agencies that are involved in protecting and managing the quality and quantity of water resources.