ABSTRACT
The potential role of an earth scientist in local community planning is large. In some form or another, all questions of development and comprehensive land use planning can and should involve the integration of geological insight. Many states and communities enact comprehensive planning strategies and prepare long-range planning documents. In fact, some states have mandated community comprehensive plans. These plans encourage communities to exercise foresight—to think about how development might affect a municipality on a longer time scale. Although the planning commission had discussed the need to assure a high-quality public water supply no one spoke to the need of assuring water quality protection for residents who depended on groundwater. Wellhead protection involves the design of plans to protect water sources from potential contamination. Such protection limits the types of activities and development in recharge areas of a primary groundwater supply.
