Erosion – “How does muddy water affects fish and other aquatic life? Excessive muddiness in a lake or river blocks the sunlight essential to the rooted aquatic plants that provide much of the food and habitat essential to a healthy population of fish and other aquatic communities.  Excessive sediment inputs can blanket the coarse sand, gravel and other bottom materials essential to oysters, mussels, and other fish and shellfish.  Suspended sediment can suffocate fish eggs and abrade larval gills.  A headwater stream with a natural bottom of gravel and cobbles can support 400 times more aquatic insects and crustaceans compared to a silty stream bed.  Muddy water also absorbs more heat which can threaten trout and other cold or cool water fish.”   https://ceds.org/muddywatersolutions/

​

​

Chemical pollution “The most effective method to reduce releases of toxic substances into rivers is pollution prevention, which consists primarily of eliminating or reducing the use of toxic materials or at least reducing the exposure of toxic materials to drinking water, wastewater and stormwater. It is very expensive and difficult to reduce low concentrations of toxic substances in wastewaters by treatment technologies. It is virtually impossible to treat large quantities of stormwater and reduce toxic substances. Therefore, toxic substances must be controlled at the source.”

​

​

Bacterial pollution – “Another source of bacterial pollution to stream waters originates from point sources, such as the discharge of pollutants through a pipe. Bacteria can enter waterways from broken pipes, illicit connections and stormwater outfalls. Additionally, large rain events, power failures or maintenance problems can cause wastewater treatment plants to discharge partially treated sewage directly into rivers and streams due to the excessive volume of water entering the plant.

​

​

Noise pollution – “According to CDC, more than 11 million people in the United States live within 150 meters (or approximately 500 feet) from a major highway (Boehmer et al., 2013).  The vehicle traffic on these roadways is a major source of noise and air pollutants, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and ozone, which are known health hazards (U.S. EPA, 2010a, b, 2009, 2008). Specifically, exposure to traffic-related pollution is linked to asthma and other respiratory symptoms, development of childhood asthma, and cardiovascular disease and death (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, 2007; Health Effects Institute, 2010). For example, one study estimated that 8% of childhood asthma cases in Los Angeles County, California, could be partly attributed to living close to a major road (Perez et al., 2012). Living near a major road also has been associated with decreased lung function in adults with asthma (Balmes et al., 2009). Increasing the distance from the road to more than 150 meters, or approximately 500 feet, might decrease concentrations of some air pollutants by at least 50% (Karner et al., 2010). Also, research has demonstrated that traffic noise at normal urban levels can also lead to stress and sleep disturbances, both of which can lead to a higher risk for type 2 diabetes (Sørensen et al, 2013).” https://www.transportation.gov/mission/health/proximity-major-roadways

​

​

Light pollution - Scientists say light pollution is among many factors driving a potentially catastrophic decline in some of the world’s insect populations. That threat is obvious to anyone who has witnessed moths and other nocturnal insects swarming around bright outdoor lights. The lights’ powerful lure may stem from the animals’ instinctual tendency to orient themselves by moonlight, explains Candace Fallon, an endangered species biologist with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. “If you have insects fluttering around a streetlight all night, they’re depleting their energy reserves to the point of exhaustion, increasing exposure to predators and potentially missing courtship cues from mates,” she says. https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2023/Summer/Conservation/Light-Pollution-Wildlife

​

​

Traffic - For every 1000 square feet of Gross Floor Area (GFA), this warehouse type would generate 0.10 to 1.37 peak-hour trips for all vehicle types. Of these vehicles, 12% would be trucks. So, a 200,000 square foot high-cube warehouse would generate: 200,000 divided by 1000 = 200 x 0.64 = 128 peak-hour trips of which 15 would be trucks A table of Trip Generation 10th Edition rates is available at: https://www.troutdaleoregon.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/public_works/page/966/ite_land_use_list_10th_edition.pdf

​

​

Deforestation - Urban and suburban development has contributed greatly to habitat loss in Georgia. From 1992 to 1997 approximately 1,053,200 acres in Georgia were converted from open space to developed land; this represents the third largest loss of undeveloped acreage in the nation. From 1990 to 2000 Georgia’s human population increased by 26 percent, the sixth fastest rate of growth in the nation. In the metropolitan Atlanta area 350,000 acres of forestland were lost to development from 1973 to 1998. This trend can be seen in many other states in the Southeast. In fact, five of the ten major U.S. cities with the worst suburban sprawl problems are in the South: Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee; Charlotte and Greensboro, North Carolina; and Atlanta. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/geography-environment/species-extinction-and-endangered-species/

​

​

Wildlife Habitat Deforestation - leads to the direct destruction of habitats, displacing countless animal species that rely on forests for survival. Trees provide shelter, nesting sites, and protection from predators. As vast areas of forests are cleared, animals are forced to seek new homes or face habitat fragmentation, increasing the risk of population decline and extinction. Forests house complex food chains, with various species interconnected in a delicate balance. Deforestation disrupts these chains by removing crucial food sources, such as fruits, nuts, and insects. As primary consumers lose their food supply, it cascades through the ecosystem, affecting secondary and tertiary consumers. Imbalances in the food chain can lead to reduced populations, increased competition, and even extinction of certain species. https://scaleclimateaction.org/climate/biodiversity/how-does-deforestation-impact-the-wildlife-and-biodiversity-all-you-need-to-know/