How does this affect me?
While our population growth rates are anticipated to begin to
slow over the next couple of decades, the net increase in numbers
will continue to be fairly substantial over this same time-frame.
In some places within the basin, our development footprint per
capita is actually increasing, meaning we are developing more
new acres of land per person than we have over the last 30 years.
This
region cannot gain new land. Once altered or degraded, ecological
functions, including wetland and flood-plane protection that buffer
floods, and natural assets including salmon runs, shellfish beds,
and water quality can be difficult and expensive to restore.
Our population is also aging. Increasing life expectancy means
we will have more mature adults as a percentage of our population.
This in turn will require more health care services, alternative
living arrangements and public transportation options – amenities
easier to achieve in urban areas.
Changes in land use, from a natural forested or vegetated state
to urbanized areas, can lead to considerable changes in many areas
over time. These changes include:
Heat Island Effect
Buildings and impervious surfaces such as pavement are non-reflective
and absorb heat. This raises the near-surface air temperature,
which in turn increases the cost associated with cooling.
Flooding and Increased Rate, or Velocity, of Polluted
Runoff
Polluted runoff moves quickly across impervious surfaces into
the nearest freshwater stream, rather than absorbing into soils,
wetlands and other natural landscapes. Rapid stormwater increases
the velocity of streams, making them wider, wilder and stripping
away valuable fish habitat. This fish/salmon habitat includes
the small ripples, rocks and uneven bottom surfaces that fish
eggs need to grow. Eliminating these spaces reduces the number
of fish that make it to adulthood, which reduces sport fishing
revenues, commercial fishing revenues and food for Orcas, a major
tourism attraction. Increased velocity also increases flooding,
resulting in damage to homes and other forms of personal property.
Toxic and Persistent Chemicals in Marine and Freshwater
Systems
Increases in impervious surfaces increase the amount of chemicals,
oils and other residues which end up in the human food chain.
They can also lead to impaired freshwater quality that is cleaned
up at considerable taxpayer expense. Many of these chemicals attach
themselves to the stream bottom (sediment) and to the fatty tissue
of fish and other animals. In the case of persistent organic pollutants,
or POPs, the chemicals build up with each successive eater in
the food chain. In most cases, we are seeing contamination which
lasts for over 30 years even if the chemical has stopped being
used. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, as well as flame retardants
(polybrominated diphenyl ethers) are examples.
Pathogens and Bacteria in Marine and Freshwater Systems
Increases in impervious surfaces also increase the delivery of
bacteria and pathogens - associated with the fecal waste of wild,
domestic and human animals. Some of these can cause illness in
humans from swimming or contact with contaminated waters or beaches
or from eating contaminated shellfish. Potential illnesses and
afflictions that can result include general intestinal distress,
giardia, hepatitis and a range of other ailments.
Splitting (fragmentation) of Wildlife Habitat
Development patterns disrupt wildlife by breaking their habitat
into small pieces that become less viable habitat for all kinds
of fish, bird, mammal and amphibian species. This in turn decreases
the overall biodiversity of the region. Since Washington State
ranks 5th in the nation for wildlife viewing revenues, losing
wildlife habitat translates into potential revenue loss for local
communities. The same holds for true for BC, whose nature based
tourism industry generates $2 billion each year.
Reduction in the Quantity of Water
Impervious surfaces interrupt the natural cycle in which drinking
water is "recharged," or put back into underground aquifer
and groundwater systems. This leads to decreases in the amount
of water available for human use such as drinking, livestock watering,
irrigation, manufacturing and recreation. Stripping freshwater
streams of shading trees and vegetation also increases the temperature
of the freshwater, making it difficult for fish to live and causing
further evaporation.
Loss of Farms and Forest Lands
Farms and forests are economically and environmentally productive
and are indelibly tied to our local and regional cultural heritage.
Local farms provide a stunning visual landscape, revenue, employment
and provide more localized sources and distribution systems of
essential foods and raw materials. Smaller farm and forestry operations
represent multi-generational traditions, many artisinal in nature,
which provide both a sense of place as well as niche marketing
opportunities. The loss of these land types means lost economic
productive capacity, wildlife habitat (which itself is a revenue
source) and increased infrastructure costs. Larger forestlands
provide intact landscapes that interrupt patterns of fragmentation.16
Urbanization as a Source of Shellfish Degradation
The coastline has become an increasingly attractive place to
live, with 2/3 of Washington's population hugging the shores of
Puget Sound. In the Georgia Basin, similar trends exist. Increased
urbanization has accentuated impacts in coastal shellfish growing
areas because the beds are often at the bottom of watersheds where
developed or developing land is affecting water quality. Usually,
stormwater runoff reaching these areas does not receive any pretreatment
before entering the estuaries. Studies from North and South Carolina
indicate that shellfish growing areas can be affected when as
little as five percent of the watershed is developed.17
Population Health