Development

Development broadly refers to the conversion of land into buildings, roads, and parking lots for people to live, work, and play. Development is an essential part of growth and prosperity, but depending on where development occurs and how its managed, it can have negative impacts on the health of nearby waterbodies. One major issue presented by development is the expansion of impervious surfaces, which means that water can't soak into the ground. Think about a large parking lot or building roof when it rains. Where does the water go? It usually runs off the surface into nearby storm drains or ditches, taking any of the dirt or pollutants on that surface with it. This disruption to the water cycle works causes problems for water quality, habitat for wildlife, and even community safety in terms of flooding, etc. BUT, there are smart ways to develop land that can avoid some of these problems and even improve the environment.