ABSTRACT
Carrier Functions Decreased number of beach closings and recreational access to green • and open spaces Stable agricultural community• Shift to green industries and the practice of industrial ecology• Regeneration and improved health of aquatic and terrestrial areas•
Information Functions Better linkages and understanding between communities and local • ecosystems Enhanced research into and understanding of the remediation and • maintenance of the watershed Improved preservation of cultural and heritage sites• Better public access to green spaces•
Current economic development patterns are based on extensive land use including devolution from core development nodes, unmixed land use, lack of diversity of building structures. Watershed restoration can reduce costs to local governments and other public agencies: by preserving green-space and avoiding extensive land development, municipal governments reduce costs for public services such as sewers, roads, school facilities, fi re and police protection and waste management services (National Parks Services 1991). Th e restoration of a watershed can also help control water, air and noise pollution by natural means, reducing future public sector expenditures in pollution control and mitigation.
