The other tabs under this header of Explore and Restore address topics such as the economic value of recognizing the contribution that natural areas make to our well-being, including references to studies that document the economic benefit of protecting open spaces and working with nature.  Green infrastructure is very often the less expensive way to move forward.  Of course, some investment is frequently required to remedy the damage that has been done to many natural areas in order to restore their natural advantages.

For example, according to the Trust for Public Land and the American Water Works Association study of 27 water suppliers, the more forest cover a watershed has, the fewer dollars suppliers must spend in treatment costs.  For example – when 60% of a watershed is forested, average annual treatment costs are $297,110.  When only 10% is forested, average annual costs rise to $923,450. Those examples are for surface water sources, such as a river or lake.  While our water supply locally is from underground aquifers, there are towns on the Fox that do get some of their public water from the river.  Further, ultimately, there are connections between surface and groundwater.

Berks County in PA, has found that riparian buffers (plants and trees along streams) and wetlands are natural systems that provide flood protection, water treatment, pollination and fauna to the local economy.  They have found that riparian buffers cool streams to enhance aquatic habitats, filter sediments and pollutants, preventing them from entering streams or lakes, stabilize river and lake banks, reducing bank erosion, and provide a measure of flood mitigation.  Think about it.