Section 1. The Watershed Today
TRENDS IN
LAND CONSUMED FOR DEVELOPMENT
In keeping with a national trend, the rate of land consumed for development
appears to be far exceeding the rate of population change in the watershed.
Data for Montgomery County illustrate what is happening.
Between 1970-95, population growth in the county increased by 10.7 percent, while land converted to development increased by 30.8 percent. As of 1995, more than 50 percent of Montgomery County was developed. At current rates of land consumption, the County could lose nearly all of its currently unprotected open land in the next 30 years.
These
land consumption trends appear to be occurring elsewhere in the watershed.
Using land consumption data from Montgomery County and estimated 1985-95 population
increases of 231,000 in the watershed, it is possible that nearly 130,000
acres of land could be consumed for development in the watershed every ten
years. Current patterns of land development bring the prospect of reduced
groundwater and stream flow. These effects will be felt most during seasonal
dry periods when diminished water quantity and quality could be especially
stressful to aquatic communities. They could also curtail the use of the watershed
for public water supplies and recreation activities. Guiding suburban development
in more compact form, making new investments in older communities, and stepping-up
land conservation programs are strategies that can help offset these trends.
Photo: Gerald S. Williams
Site Design: Tevlin & Clarke
