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Land Use
How land is used, what it is used for, and what is allowed to occur on the land all affect both human
communities and natural systems in an area. In other words, it makes a big difference whether an area is
intact forest, farmland, mowed grass, a patchwork of houses and yards, or mostly paved and impervious
surfaces. These land uses affect environmental factors such as water quality, air quality, wildlife habitat,
and temperature, as well as people’s perceptions and treatment of the land.
The Importance of Land Use For Environmental Quality
Impervious surfaces (surfaces into which water cannot penetrate; e.g., pavement, buildings, and
streets) lead to increased stormwater flows in local streams, increased stream temperatures, reduced
dry weather flows, reduced stream health, and poorer water quality. You may have noticed, too, that
in summer months the downtown cores of big cities feel hotter than other areas. That’s because
impervious surfaces also generally lead to increased air temperatures and a “heat island” effect. In
contrast, pervious surfaces (lawns, fields and especially forest areas) help regulate stormwater flows,
filter many pollutants, and help maintain healthy streams and good water quality. In addition, forests
and trees help filter many air pollutants, take up carbon dioxide, reduce temperatures, and provide
habitat for many kinds of wildlife. Agricultural land uses have some of the benefits of other pervious
surfaces, but can also contribute to sedimentation and nutrient loading in local streams.
Key Findings about Land Use in the Gwynns Falls Watershed
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Land use in the Gwynns Falls Watershed ranges from a broad mix of uses in the upper sections
to high percentages of industrial, residential, and other impervious surfaces in the middle and
southern sections.
By 1994, the watershed had 5.1% agricultural land, 18.1% forested land and 75.8% developed
land. Most significantly, 42.2% of the land in the watershed was covered with impervious surface.
The lower and middle portions of the Gwynns Falls Watershed contain older urban and suburban
development, with significant forested public lands on the western edge of Baltimore City. The
upper portion of the watershed was designated as one of Baltimore County’s new town centers in
1979, as part of its growth management efforts. This area — the Owings Mills town center — in
the Red Run and Horsehead Branch subwatersheds includes residential, commercial, and industrial
land uses. Development of this area is replacing much of the existing agricultural land and parts
of the remaining private forested land.
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