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Potential roles of past, present, and future urbanization characteristics in producing varied stream responses
Citation:
Parr, T., N. Smucker, C. Bentsen, AND M. Neale. Potential roles of past, present, and future urbanization characteristics in producing varied stream responses. Freshwater Science. The Society for Freshwater Science, Springfield, IL, 35(1):436-443, (2016).
Impact/Purpose:
This paper is part of a cluster of 4 conceptual papers focused on factors affecting the condition and management of stream resources affected by urbanization (the other three provide and introduction to the series and examine the roles of socio-economic and climate factors in affecting water quality, quantity, and ecosystem attributes of urban streams). These papers raise considerations for future research and issues important to future decision making. These papers are also a part of a special issue of the peer-reviewed journal Freshwater Science, which includes primary research articles addressing the global urban stream syndrome. Our paper discusses how the stage of urbanization, management and maintenance of water infrastructure, and technological characteristics of the water infrastructure can produce varied responses in the water quality, water availability, and ecological characteristics of stream ecosystems. The stage of city development—and whether it is growing or contracting—may influence its ability to invest in new infrastructure or maintain existing infrastructure, which subsequently affect stream ecosystem outcomes. With many cities facing decisions regarding infrastructure and many others rapidly developing, our paper discusses how differences in development practices and stages over time potentially affect stream ecosystems. We also highlight areas in need of further consideration and research that can inform stream and watershed management as cities invest in replacing or building new infrastructure.
Description:
Urban wastewater and stormwater management practices are one of the primary pathways through which urbanization degrades streams. In particular the long-term development and management phases create a complex spatiotemporal layering of infrastructure technologies. These phases reshape the technological characteristics of the urban template at periodic intervals, setting the environmental challenges a city will face in the following decades to centuries. Asynchrony in these phases among cities or regions means that a landscape will consist of many different engineering technologies and practices, each of which contributes synergistically to the urban stream syndrome. Thus, ‘one size fits all’ solutions may not be as effective as solutions developed based on the unique urban template of a stream. Addressing these questions is critically important because: 1) existing water infrastructure in high income countries is aging and requires replacement, and 2) management paradigms are shifting due to economic pressures and greater understanding of wastewater management impacts on surface waters. The decisions made during the current infrastructure construction and replacement cycle, along with decisions in rapidly developing nations, will define the urban template and select the trajectory and character of the urban stream syndrome for the next 50–100 years.
