Evaluating Impacts of Urbanization on the Sonoran Desert Ecosystem

Table 1

Some Adverse Environmental Effects of Residential and Commercial Development (from Ortolano 1984)

Air Quality

Air-borne residuals from space heating
Emissions from motor vehicle traffic induced by development

Water Quality

Soil erosion caused by construction activities
Residuals in storm runoff over newly paved areas
Domestic sewage from new population centers

Noise

Noise from motor vehicle traffic induced by development

Biological Resources

Direct loss and disruption of wildlife habitats

Visual Resources

Loss of scenic views, for example, by covering hillsides with subdivisions

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