A recent study by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources says sprawl is to blame for declining natural resources in Chesapeake Bay.
"Alan Girard, project manager for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Heart of the Chesapeake office, named sediment as the culprit for keeping grass levels low, especially in the Eastern Shore's bay tributaries."
"Girard said to see what's going on in the water, simply look on land.
'You have to look back up on the landscape and see what's happening there,' he said. 'Particularly on the Shore, we're seeing a lot of sprawling development take place that is adding new pavement and rooftops in rural areas that essentially change the natural filtering function of the landscape into a funnel.'
The Wicomico Environmental Trust has been making sprawl its main concern for years, most recently with its lawsuit against a subdivision in Powellville called Deer Creek Estates. But WET President Mike Pretl said Monday he wonders what else the organization can do.
'Sprawl leads to runoff, both of soil and silt, so there is certainly a tie-in,' he said."
FULL STORY: Sprawl, declining bay grass raise concerns
Is There an Environmentalist Case for Sprawl?
Yes, sprawl is still bad for the environment.
Creating Ocean-Safe Plastic from Seashells
USC researchers have created a biodegradable, marine-safe plastic alternative using calcium carbonate from seashells, offering a promising solution to ocean pollution.
The Natalist Case For Sprawl (And Why It Fails)
Some commentators defend anti-urban government policies such as exclusionary zoning on the basis that homeowning suburbanites have high birth rates. But this doesn't seem to be true in recent decades.
Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.
‘Displaced By Design:’ Report Spotlights Gentrification in Black Neighborhoods
A new report finds that roughly 15 percent of U.S. neighborhoods have been impacted by housing cost increases and displacement.
Nevada and Utah Groups Oppose Public Land Sell-Off Plan
A set of last-minute amendments to the budget reconciliation bill open up over half a million acres of federally managed land to sales.
More Than a Park: A Safe Haven for Generations in LA’s Chinatown
Alpine Recreation Center serves as a vital cultural and community hub in Los Angeles' Chinatown, offering a safe, welcoming space for generations of Chinese American residents to gather, connect, and thrive amidst rapid urban change.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions