Saturday, July 5, 2008

An abstract

Construction sites are major contributors to nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. However, a lack of personnel to enforce erosion control regulations and limited voluntary compliance means that few developers apply effective erosion control.
Research
Problem New approaches are needed to increase erosion control on construction sites if this source of NPS pollution is to be significantly reduced.
Body This study tests whether an economic advantage exists for developers who use vegetative cover for erosion control, independent of advantages gained in addressing environmental or regulatory concerns. Improving residential lot appearance from muddy brown to green grass may increase the appeal of the lot to buyers.
Results A market survey shows that homebuyers and realtors perceive vegetated lots to be worth more than unvegetated lots, and this increased value exceeds the cost of seeding.
Conclusion Thus, developers can now be encouraged to invest in vegetative cover because of the potentially high return on the investment.

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