A spatial-temporal analysis of section 404 wetland permitting in Texas and Florida: Thirteen years of impact along the coast
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Material Information

Title:
A spatial-temporal analysis of section 404 wetland permitting in Texas and Florida: Thirteen years of impact along the coast
Series Title:
Wetlands
Creator:
Brody, Samuel D.
Davis III, Steven E.
Highfield, Wesley H.
Bernhardt, Sarah P.
Publisher:
Springer
Publication Date:
Language:
English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Wetland conservation -- Florida
Urbanization -- Florida
Wetland conservation -- Texas
Urbanization -- Texas
Wetland mitigation -- Florida
Wetland mitigation -- Texas
Genre:
article
serial ( sobekcm )
Spatial Coverage:
Florida
Texas
Coordinates:
28 x -82
31.525875 x -99.219909

Notes

Abstract:
Over the past 200 years, an estimated 53% (about 47 million ha) of the original wetlands in the conterminous United States have been lost, mainly as a result of various human activities. Despite the importance of wetlands (particularly along the coast), and a longstanding federal policy framework meant to protect their integrity, the cumulative impact on these natural systems over large areas is poorly understood. We address this lack of research by mapping and conducting descriptive spatial analyses of federal wetland alteration permits (pursuant to section 404 of the Clean Water Act) across 85 watersheds in Florida and coastal Texas from 1991 to 2003. Results show that more than half of the permits issued in both states (60%) fell under the Nationwide permitting category. Permits issued in Texas were typically located outside of urban areas (78%) and outside 100-year floodplains (61%). More than half of permits issued in Florida were within urban areas (57%) and outside of 100-year floodplains (51%). The most affected wetlands types were estuarine in Texas (47%) and palustrine in Florida (55%). We expect that an additional outcome of this work will be an increased awareness of the cumulative depletion of wetlands and loss of ecological services in these urbanized areas, perhaps leading to increased conservation efforts.
Citation/Reference:
Brody, S.D., S.E. Davis, W.E. Highfield, S.P. Bernhardt. 2008. A Spatial-Temporal Analysis of Section 404 Wetland Permitting in Texas and Florida: Thirteen Years of Impact Along the Coast. Wetlands 28(1): 107-116.

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
Rights Management:
Please contact the owning institution for licensing and permissions. It is the users responsibility to ensure use does not violate any third party rights.
Resource Identifier:
FI14082549