This style of living represented an efficient use of land and allowed ecosystems to flourish outside of the city. Recently, however, our national lifestyle began to change. Spurred by government policy and changing demographics, suburban life became the new American ideal. Strip malls and private plots became the norm as we paved the countryside surrounding our cities. The environmental effects of aggressive land consumption are varied and serious.
Sprawl contributes significantly to the pollution of both our air and water.
With development comes pavement, and this has caused our waterways to suffer as well. Roads, driveways, and parking lots cover areas that previously supported trees and grasslands. Rainwater becomes run-off, which increases flooding and carries sediments and pollutants into our waterways. Contaminated water is bad for our health as well as the livelihood of aquatic species. The most direct effect of sprawl, however, is the outright destruction of species habitat.