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Summer 2004 Search ArcNews The Charlotte, North Carolina, Urban Area Now Has a "Green Theme" By Gary Moll, American Forests
Mecklenburg County's different land covers are highlighted. Dark green represents tree cover, light green represents grass and open space, and gray designates impervious surfaces. The Charlotte, North Carolina, metropolitan area is among the top 10 fastest growing metropolitan areas in the nation, and Mecklenburg County, which houses the city, has seen a 72 percent growth in population since 1980 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. With such a boom in population, some loss in natural vegetation is inevitable. However, the rate of urbanization and tree loss in Mecklenburg County surpasses even that of population growth. Between 1984 and 2001, the county saw a 127 percent increase in areas covered by impervious surfaces. Without a balance between impervious and tree-covered land, the county's citizens will face costly and unhealthy environmental consequences. Consider the lessons learned about growth and development of the I-485 Outerbelt highway. An analysis of Landsat imagery from 1984 and 2001 shows a 42 percent loss in tree cover and a 194 percent increase in impervious surfaces. This change in land cover was measured using a two-mile buffer around a 12-mile section of the highway. Measuring the impact of this one section of the beltway provides community leaders with a feel for the future impact of the planned roadway. The environmental impact of the entire Outerbelt will be huge. If the highway development project continues its growth, it will push away from the city center in a sprawl pattern. The challenge to the community is how to manage growth while maintaining efficient use of its land and a robust green infrastructure. Finding a solution to this problem is the focus of this article. | |
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