Anticipated Future Conditions
New environmental priorities are currently being developed, and over the next few years will begin to change our approach to all aspects of planning. Part of the new approach is that natural resources protection, growth and development can be mutually supportive. Protection of environmental systems is sound economic practice, which will increase commercial property values and create a better quality of life for residents. Natural resources can attract corporations and investment as well as visitors and tourists. Growth and development polices will reflect the need to protect and enhance our natural resources.
Environmentally Sensitive And Ecologically Significant Areas
The natural environment encompasses many areas and resources which are vulnerable to the impacts of development and which require protection by the community. As the City and its surrounding areas continue to grow, the conservation of environmentally sensitive and ecologically significant resources will become increasingly important.
Open Space Conservation
Several initiatives are underway to increase protected open space in the City. These include the Georgia Greenspace Program and the Greenway Acquisition Program. Other strategies include strengthening legislation, policing, and enforcement citywide.
Wildlife Management
Development and prior agricultural use have interrupted Atlanta's natural wildlife corridors and destroyed most of the old-growth forests that many animal species need in order to survive. Less desirable species, such as rodents and pigeons, are adaptable to stressful urban environments and have replaced many of the natural species that are found in the Piedmont plateau geographic region. Without measures to encourage diversity of wildlife, the City's wildlife will continue to be displaced.
Environmental Education
Public educational programs to address environmental issues, health and safety consequences, and viable solutions are necessary to ensure the participation and support of all citizens in environmental protection and quality. City parks are valuable environmental classrooms, providing firsthand examples of sensitive environmental areas and the effects of poor upstream environmental practices and land maintenance practices that encourage erosion and reduction of a variety of animal species. Educational facilities and programs could include educational signage along pathways, demonstration projects, stream monitoring projects and joint classes with the Atlanta Public Schools.
Stormwater Damage
Over the past ten years, the size of floodplain areas has been increasing. This is a result of increased storm water runoff from developed areas into culverts and streams. The result has been considerable property damage. The effect on parks, for example, has included severe stream bank erosion, loss of land and vegetation, and damage to ball courts and other facilities. The combination of volume and velocity of stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces in watersheds throughout the City, in conjunction with intense rainstorms, has caused severe erosion of streambanks in many neighborhoods. Loss of property, trees and soil are commonplace. Destruction of stream banks is both economically and ecologically damaging, and expensive to restore. Although there has been some success in stabilizing stream banks with vegetative and structural techniques, the only permanent solution to this costly problem is to reduce stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces citywide and regionally in concert with more vigorous protection of natural floodplains. Requiring stormwater to be retained in ponds or vaults either on-site or regionally, and installing infiltration areas in developments are several policy options that the City should investigate. The City plans to implement a stormwater management utility in 2004 to alleviate many of these issues.
Stormwater Pollution
Pollution of the City's streams and creeks is most frequently caused by non-point source pollution, such as fertilizer residue from lawns and parking lot and road oil that is washed into streams during a rainstorm. Point source discharges, such as the illegal dumping of hazardous or toxic materials into culverts or directly into streams is also occurring.
Pollution of surface water is a critical health and safety problem, particularly in City parks or near schools, where streams often attract young children. Loss in the diversity of wildlife and aquatic species due to contaminated and sediment-filled creeks and streams is a major environmental challenge for the City, and other local governments. Education, policing and enforcement of existing regulations as well as the development of new regulations are needed to prevent these sources of stream pollution.
Stream Courseways Alteration
Under current City ordinances, alterations of stream courseways are generally not allowed. In dense development areas it is sometimes necessary to straighten a stream, however, this practice interrupts the natural desired movement of the stream and may result in higher stream velocity.
Urban Forest
The City needs to commit to implementation of an urban forestry program. The Bureau of Parks' forestry division has very limited resources to address the escalating problem of urban forest depletion. Trees in sidewalk planters have an average life span of only fifteen years, and even trees in park areas require special attention for the first three years.