Suburban Development Endangering Wetlands

The Econlockhatchee River basin, whose languid waters curl through swamps and soggy prairies east of Orlando, is being strangled by Central Florida’s hottest suburban frontier.

1 minute read

June 18, 2001, 11:00 AM PDT

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"Fouled for years by sewer- and citrus-processing plants, the Econ bounced back from those abuses. But in the 1990s, more than 85,000 people swarmed to the Econ basin, many in search of leafy riverside addresses. They closed in on the serpentine waterway where woodpeckers dart among the trees and otters splash after fish in pools of hidden depths. Every inch of ground lost to four-bedroom homes and paved cul-de-sacs means less rainwater seeping through wetlands and sandy soils to the river. Nature’s delicate system to tame the flood-prone Econ and keep it alive with wildlife falters when thick woods and sloughs give way to asphalt and St. Augustine lawns. Sooner or later, the unruly river will take revenge on suburbanites." The increased development means an increased risk of flooding to communities.

Thanks to Christian Peralta

Sunday, June 17, 2001 in The Orlando Sentinel

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight