Environmental Assets Report

Environmental Assets Current Conditions Environmental assets are a useful resource in the quest for sustainability as they play an important role in preserving and replenishing life. Although they typically are not associated with a monetary value, environmental assets are a large factor in what drives growth in a community and creates an ecological balance. This section will discuss Genesee County’s natural assets as well as their function in helping provide an environmental safety net in the County.

What Do We Have?

355 Rivers, Streams, and Drains 86,400 acres of forests/woodlands 94 Lakes 36,090 acres of wetlands 11,000 acres of parkland

Due to the wide variety of environmental assets located throughout Genesee County, residents have access to many recreational activities throughout the year. These activities include fishing, trail walking, snowmobiling, boating, canoeing, kayaking, and even equestrian riding.

Climatically speaking, Genesee County experiences winters that are generally cold with average snow amounts ranging from 36 to 45 inches. Summers are warm and humid, while fall and spring temperatures are moderate with an average annual rainfall of 31 inches. Overall, the trend over the last 30 years appears to show a gradual increase in both temperature and precipitation overtime.

Source: Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission GIS Database

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How Does Genesee County Compare?

Percent of Total Area that is Water Michigan

41.5%

Oakland County

4.4%

Kent County

2.9%

Washtenaw County

2.3%

Genesee County

1.9%

Ingham County

0.8%

Potential Benefits of Environmental Assets 1. Improved quality of life The recreational activities that are available in Genesee County help promote a healthier lifestyle by fostering improved mental and physical health.

Studies show that by using natural assets for relaxation and exercise, residents may see the benefit of stress relief or even the prevention of diseases such as diabetes, heart attacks, asthma, obesity, or strokes.

2. Enhanced natural environment Environmental assets including wetlands, woodlands, groundwater, and floodplains have a key function in supporting sustainability in Genesee County. These assets, along with human interaction, derive benefits that are essential to creating a catalyst for food producing, water purification, flood mitigation, and the prevention of draught. For example, wetlands act as a

transitional zone between manmade infrastructure, such as roads and buildings, and waterways to produce a unique ecosystem that provides reasonable protection of growing vegetation and enhanced habitats for animals.

Woodlands not only serve as a habitat for wildlife and plants, but also help protect soil by controlling wind and water erosion. Groundwater is a direct stimulant for economic growth through farming and industry, while simultaneously sustaining wild life and even humans since it is an excellent source for drinking water due to it being less vulnerable to pollution. Floodplains act as a safety net for wildlife living near water as well as help with flood storage and erosion control.

3. Environmental asset preservation With a population of over 400,000 people living in Genesee County, construction projects are an

Source: Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission GIS Database

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inevitable consequence of development. While this is generally seen as positive progress, construction projects without proper oversight tend to act as a negative force in terms of preserving the natural environment. Fortunately, in cooperation with local, state, and federal efforts, plans have been set in place to assist in mitigating developmental impacts.

In terms of transportation projects, design guidelines and mitigation activities are initiated through the Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) program. The CSS program principles assure that proper protocol will be followed by all involved entities to uphold preservation of historic, economic, and environmental features within the local community. This is carried out primarily by consultations with various agencies which help to identify and mitigate issues such as conserving existing vegetation, minimizing noise, managing waste disposal, and protecting water quality. For example, the USDA Web Soil Survey (WSS) tool can be used to identify soil types and quality in Genesee County to better assess future projects.

The WSS can be found on the USDA’s website.

Proposed community development projects go through a similar environmental review process which is enforced by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This process considers the extent of the proposed activities in relation to the area’s natural assets. Elements of this review process include air quality, floodplain management, historic preservation, endangered species, and wetlands protection.

As Genesee County grows, the primary challenge will be to continue balancing the preservation of environmental assets without inhibiting economic development.

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