FYEC 141 - 142 - Repairing Nature - Randolph-Macon College is situated in the Mechumps Creek watershed, which in turn is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The creek is under the jurisdiction of the Chesapeake Bay Local Protection Act, but is unhealthy due to urban land uses in the Town of Ashland. Consequently, Ashland's growth has contributed to problems in the Bay via Mechumps Creek. Students in this course will prepare plans to both restore the stream ecosystem and to create an attractive public park for residents to enjoy. We will work closely with the planning staff of Ashland, local businesses, and private citizens as we study existing conditions and develop and evaluate options for restoring the stream and designing the park. One part of the course will focus on understanding how development affects stream ecosystems and the options for reversing damage. A second part of the course will focus on understanding the community social organization, evaluating changes in land use over time, and assessing the various stakeholders' opinions about the stream and a possible park. At the end of the year, our composite final plans will be presented to the Town government and all interested stakeholders. Professor Chas. Gowan, Department of Biology, and Professor Reber Dunkel, Department of Sociology. Four hours each semester. [Area of Knowledge requirements met: one laboratory natural science course under the Natural and Mathematical Sciences area and one sociology course under the Social Sciences area. This course counts on the EVST major as a substitute for EVST105. Open to all students.]