United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
All photos courtesy of Stephen Delaney
Role of the EPA
EPA recognizes that land
use decisions occur at the
state and local level, and
that inter-jurisdictional
coordination at the
watershed or regional level
results in more effective
protection of water
resources. EPA is a resource
for state and local decision
makers — our role is to
provide tools to help
identify and assess risks to
water quality, and to
maintain, protect or restore
watershed health.
The Link Between Land Use and Water Resources
Thoughtful community land use planning and development are critical
components in maintaining and restoring water quality in America's streams,
lakes, wetlands, estuaries and aquifers. If not carefully planned, land
development projects can adversely impact water quality and supply.
• Impervious surfaces created by the construction of roads, parking lots,
rooftops and driveways can decrease groundwater infiltration of runoff
and increase runoff volumes and rates. Reduced recharge of ground
waters can negatively affect drinking water supplies and stream baseflows.
Changes in runoff volumes and rates can increase flooding, streambed
erosion and sedimentation.
• Development activities typically increase pollutant loadings, e.g.,
pathogens, household chemicals, metals, fertilizers, pesticides, oil and
grease. These increases in pollutant concentrations may impair surface and
ground waters.
• Construction activities disturb soil and may release sediment and other
pollutants to local streams. EPA estimates that conversion of land
produces 40 million tons per year of new sediment during construction.
States have identified sediment as the leading cause of impairment to
America's rivers.
• Increases in surface runoff, loss of vegetative buffers along streams, and
physical alteration of waterways due to development activities can change
the natural form and function of a stream. Runoff from unshaded
impervious surfaces can increase stream temperatures, often crossing the
threshold at which sensitive biota can survive and reproduce.
A i^Y7
for Building Communities that Protect Water Resources
* Establish community goals for water resources in the watershed
* Direct development where most appropriate for watershed health
* Minimize adverse impacts of development on watershed health
* Promote opportunities for restoration
* Assess and prevent unintended consequences of federal, state or local decisions
affecting watershed health
* Plan for safe, adequate and affordable water supplies as an integral part of growth
* Consider the cumulative impacts of growth management decisions on the watershed
* Monitor and evaluate success of initiatives
For additional principles see http://www.smartgrowth.org/about/principles/default.asp
-------
Resources & Tools
EPA Websites
Development, Community, and
Environment Division's Smart Growth Site
http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth
Nonpoint Sources (NFS) of Pollution
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps
Low Impact Development
http://www.epa.gov/nps/lidlit.html
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) Storm Water Program
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/menuofbmps
Eight Tools of Watershed
Protection in Developing Areas
www.epa.gov/watertrain/protection
EPA842-F-02-008
Office of Water
June 2002
Information on "smart growth" policies, funding sources, networking
opportunities, technical tools and resources. Included are case studies that
demonstrate how such approaches can have clear environmental benefits.
Details on funding opportunities, partnerships, model ordinances, outreach and
education, Clean Water Act Section 319 and Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization
Amendments Section 6217 programs, and other tools to manage NPS pollution.
Literature review and fact sheets that discuss technologies that use the natural
landscape of a development site to detain, absorb and treat surface runoff.
Guidance on developing a Phase II storm water program along with a list of best
management practices to mitigate pollution from storm water runoff.
Training module that describes various tools to protect and restore aquatic resources
in an urbanized or developing watershed.
Partner Websites
Center for Watershed Protection
http://www.cwp.org
Local Government Environmental
Assistance Network (LGEAN)
http://www.lgean.org
Nonpoint Education for Municipal
Officials (NEMO)
http://nemo.uconn.edu
Smart Growth Network
http://www.smartgrowth.org
The Center provides scientifically sound information and techniques to protect
and restore watersheds. It also conducts training seminars and workshops for
planners, engineers, landscape architects and municipal officials across the country.
LGEAN provides environmental management, planning, and federal and state
regulatory information for local government officials, managers and staff.
NEMO is an educational program for local land use officials that addresses the
relationship between land use and natural resource protection.
A growing coalition of developers, planners, government officials, lending
institutions, community groups, architects and other stakeholders. The website
contains a large library of documents on "smart growth" and offers many other links.
Highlights from the National Estuary Program
The Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team is exploring how low impact development and smart growth concepts can be used to
improve water quality in Puget Sound. Visit their website, www.wa.gov/puget_sound/Programs/LID.htm, to learn more.
The Maryland Coastal Bays Program published a guide, Envisoning the Future: A New Tool For Coastal Managers, that describes
techniques coastal managers can utilize to explore growth management options. Visit www.mdcoastalbays.org for more information.
In Print
Our Built and Natural Environments: A Technical Review of the Interactions between Land Use, Transportation, and Environmental
Quality. US EPA, Development, Community and Environment Division. January 2001. Call EPA's National Center for Environmental
Publications at (513) 891-6561 and ask for EPA 231-R-01-002 or visit www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/publications.htm.
Smart Growth Strategies: Protecting Water Resources. Local Government Roles and Options for the Rocky Mountains and Northern Great
Plains. National Association of Counties. December 2001. Call NACo (202)393-6226 or visit www.naco.org to request copies.
Getting to Smart Growth: 100 Policies for Implementation. Smart Growth Network and International City/County Management
Organization. January 2002. Visit www.smartgrowth.org for ordering information.
Coastal Sprawl: The Effects of Urban Design on Aquatic Ecosystems in the United States. Pew Oceans Commission. April 2002. Available
on the internet at www.pewoceans.org/reports/water_pollution_sprawl.pdf.
------- |