THE PLAN
Natural Resources

In identifying our natural resources, we can better understand how to conserve, protect, or improve upon them in the years to come.

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Guiding Principles

We believe in...

• Fostering a culture that appreciates and is committed to protecting our natural resources.
• Leading by example - the actions of our employees and our citizens set the standard in our state.
  
• A Columbia that reduces, reuses, and recycles - decreasing our production of waste and pollutants.
  
• Clean and accessible waterways.
  
• A robust urban tree canopy that contributes to the health and beauty of our city.
  
• A Columbia where our natural resources benefit our community's health.
• A prepared and resilient community in the face of our changing climate.
  
• A Columbia powered by clean and sustainable energy.
  
• A data-driven and innovative approach towards natural resource conservation and preservation.
  

NATURAL RESOURCES ELEMENT DOCUMENTS
The natural resources element is one of the nine elements of Columbia Compass: Envision 2036.   

NATURAL RESOURCES CHAPTER DRAFT (PDF)
The DRAFT natural resources chapter includes a discussion of the above guiding principles; a brief synopsis of existing conditions; and a number of recommendations for the next ten years, as well as supporting case studies. 

APPENDIX B: NATURAL RESOURCES EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT (PDF)
A detailed existing conditions report was developed during the research phase of the plan, and a synopsis of this report is also included within the natural resources chapter.  

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WHAT ARE NATURAL RESOURCES, AND WHY DO THEY MATTER?
Natural resources are all around us, even in the urban core.  The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the places we play outside are all resource-driven.  Natural resources provide clean air, water, food, habitat, opportunities for recreation and tourism, and help mitigate extreme weather events.

A recent Clemson study found that natural resource-based sectors contribute $33.4 billion in economic activity to the state's economy and are responsible for 218,719 jobs.

Greenville Business Magazine
January 24, 2018
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Illustrative map of commercial impervious surfaces and road rights-of-way in downtown Columbia

URBAN HEAT ISLANDS:
​THE NEW SOUTHERN HOT SPOTS
Urban areas tend to be hotter than than nearby rural areas because they contain more impervious areas than vegetative natural areas.  These urban areas become "heat islands" because they are warmer than their surroundings.  According to the USEPA, heat islands affect communities by increasing summertime peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, heat-related illness and mortality, and water quality.

Impervious surfaces are areas which rainwater cannot penetrate - surfaces made of concrete or asphalt, roofs, and highly compacted urban soils cannot support vegetative growth or help filter rainwater.  This map shows (in gray) commercial impervious areas and roadways in a section of Columbia's urban core.

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RESOURCES, ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS, & HUMAN VALUE
In considering natural resources, we tend to think of resources individually instead of as part of a system.  The interaction between resources and their functions makes up the natural environment.  Ecological functions are defined in terms of ecosystem services - for example, trees can provide clean air, water, and shade.  However, the value of those services to people is difficult to quantify.  What value do you assign to tree-lined streets, clean rivers, and sustainable local agriculture?  While we often forget about ecological functions, without them the human value would not be present.
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​WE ALL LIVE DOWNSTREAM
A watershed is a defined area of land that channels rainfall (and snowmelt) to creeks, streams, rivers, and eventually to outflow points and to the ocean.  Water that is not absorbed into the soil travels across land areas (including impervious surfaces) and through creeks and streams, often picking up pollutants along the way.  The size of a watershed (also called a drainage basin) is defined on different scales - the City of Columbia falls within six different watersheds and 16 different subwatersheds.  
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Meetings

Several sets of public meetings are planned throughout the process, and Planning Division staff is also happy to come speak to your neighborhood or organization.

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