Sustainability and the Legacy of Our Built Environments
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Start With The Concept of SUSTAINABILITY Very Simply able to be
maintained Or the ability to meet our needs without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet theirs Or the potential
longevity of vital human ecological support systems Or
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And Then Ask Some Basic Questions Am I sustainable? Do I live
sustainably? Do you live sustainably? Is my way of life
sustainable? Do we all live sustainably? What are the costs?
Consequences? Short Term or Long Term?
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Then The Most Important Issue Is it mandatory that we live
differently? Does our future depend on a sustainability model?
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So What Are We (You) Doing?
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Lets start with our Current Relationship to the Earth? Land
consumption (development) since 1984 is more than development the
previous 300 years. Between 1970 and 2000 the percentage of the USA
population living in suburbs has grown from 38% to 50%. 37.4 %
increase in suburban poverty from 2000- 2010 Between 1986 and 1997,
an estimated 58,500 acres of wetlands were lost each year in the
United States. Worldwide - that is about 60 acres per hour since
1780!
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Recreating Landscapes to Suit our Needs Not the
Environment
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Degrading Water Supplies In The Process
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Fundamentally Changing Our Water Cycle
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To Fundamentally Change Our Environment
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Alter Stream Channels
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What do we do? Because we manipulate the Natural Environment to
Build the Human Environment
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With Only Our Idea Of Land Improvement
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What Happens? With General Disregard for Natural Resources
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Creationg Ecosystem Wide Problems Extreme Siltation and
Pollution of a Resource
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Into What Only We Consider Harmony With Nature?
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SoHow Did We Get Into This Model Of Land Use Anyway? We Value
Private Ownership of Land Use of Land is a Local Issue A Local
Government is Sustained By Tax Revenue Majority of Tax Revenue is
Generated through Property Developed Property Increases
Revenue
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Early Model Downtown as the center of Commerce and Residential
Density Rural Areas as dispersed farms, mills and homes. Dispersed
Environmental Impacts because much of the ecosystem unaltered But
construction around water resources as a highway of commerce
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Downtown
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Blackwater Creek
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Mills
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Environmental Impacts Existent but consider the pattern of
human use. Deforestation and Erosion Farms and remaining
wilderness. But Consider the lack of Impervious Surfaces.
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Transitional Model Initial Model Downtown as the center of
Commerce and Residential Density Rural Areas as dispersed farms,
mills and homes Fundamental change from Rail to the Automobile
Individual Mobility!!! Downtown as Crowded and Less Desirable
Living *Fundamental Shift - Rural Areas as Shopping Centers and
Neighborhoods
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Pittman Plaza Lynchburg Subdivisions Malls Interstates Parking
Lots Development follows the rooftops
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Average Home Size 1970 1500 sq ft 1990 1700 sq ft 2003 2300 sq
ft Family size over past 30 years decreases by 25% House size
increases by 50%
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Environmental Impacts Increased Use of Land Per Capita Paved
Surfaces Generation of Traffic Loss of Farmland Erosion,
Sedimentation Filling of Wetlands
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Current Model Initial Model Downtown as the center of Commerce
and Residential Density Highly Desirable Rural Areas as dispersed
farms, mills and homes Transitional Model Fundamental change from
Rail to the Automobile Individual Mobility!!! Downtown as Crowded
Rural Areas as Shopping Centers and Neighborhoods Fully dependent
on the Automobile Individual Autonomy Downtowns Abandoned Rural
Areas aggressively consumed for Shopping Centers and Neighborhoods
Chain Development in firm control of our Lives Economy driven by
consumption Must be NEW! Past infrastructure abandoned
Environmental protection only when convenient
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To Have Something Like This
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Sustainable Communities?
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Ultimately - Our Current Reality
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Modern Stream Alterations
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Home Depot
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Idea of Wetlands
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Integration Into Environment
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Abandonment of Properties
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Plaza
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Downtown
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What Did We Expect? 1.All of our Stream are Impaired. 2.We
really dont have time/resources to help you with this problem until
2022. 3. In 2022 we will start the TMDL 5-10 year process only
putting resources toward identification 4.When we finish you will
need to implement solutions
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What would we Expect? Chesapeake Bay TMDL is expected to cost
15 billion dollars. Needed to stem current pollution loads and loss
of fishery.
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So What are the Considerations? Do You Value: Our Water
Environment Wetlands Development Water Quality Economy
Consumption
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New Considerations? When did you decide to be part of this
model? Are you independent from or dependent on a corporate created
existence? Every day we decide to support this model or reject it
we vote with every penny we spend. Remember - the Environment is
intertwined into every choice you make so - make a difference.