The United States Geological Survey studied the effects of urbanization of nine metropolitan areas to look at the impact on algae, aquatic insects, fish, habitat, and chemistry. They found that development degraded the areas.
The health of a waterway is entirely dependent on the status of its riparian zone, the area of land from which storm water flows. In urban areas, impervious surfaces like roads, buildings, and parking lots cover more of the riparian zone. During a storm, water is unable to penetrate the ground surface to recharge aquifers and instead flows to streams and rivers through storm drains.
However, storm water in urban environments is a major source of pollution and is detrimental to riverine ecosystems. The water carries with it all of the deposition of human activities including lawn fertilizer, rock salt and calcium chloride pellets, spilled gasoline and other automotive fluids, litter, and other industrial pollutants.
Continue reading ENN: New Study Examines the Effects of Development Intensity on Stream Health
The Obama administration struggled to navigate a bitter split between two important allies Tuesday in trying to placate an outraged Turkish government and simultaneously refusing to condemn Israel for its deadly raid on a flotilla of aid ships bound for Gaza.
