Suburbanization and drought: A mixed methods vulnerability assessment in rainy Massachusetts |
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Authors: | Troy D Hill Colin Polsky |
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Institution: | aSchool of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, 370 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA;bGraduate School of Geography, George Perkins Marsh Institute, and Human-Environment Regional Observatory-Central Massachusetts, Clark University, 950 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610, USA |
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Abstract: | This paper presents evidence that water restrictions in suburbanizing eastern Massachusetts towns are becoming more common, controlling for climate. We then assess the relationship between these suburban droughts and residential development. Focusing on the suburbs of Boston, seven towns independent of the Boston water supply system were selected to represent differing levels of sprawl-style growth. Water restrictions are becoming more frequent in all of the towns studied, and models demonstrate that restrictions are increasing in duration, independent of climate. Interviews suggest that residential development is playing a central role in this increasing sensitivity to suburban drought, though other factors are also important. Long-term planning and integration of land-use planning and water management emerged as two key paths for attenuating the impacts of development. |
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Keywords: | Vulnerability Suburban drought Suburbanization Central/eastern Massachusetts Water resource management Mixed methods |
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