A methodology for using ecological infrastructure in municipal land use planning and infrastructure management

In rural municipalities throughout North America, substantial infrastructure investment is required to service new low density residential developments. Over time, the cumulative effects of extensive "exurban" development activities (such as the removal of top soil and vegetation, reductions in pervious surfaces, and use of septic systems) can affect landscape scale watershed functions.; The purpose of this Master's Degree Project was to develop a methodology for using ecological infrastructure (the network of spatial interactions within a landscape that are responsible for the production of ecological goods and services such as water treatment) in municipal land use planning and infrastructure management. The use of ecological infrastructure in this context creates opportunities to mitigate cumulative effects of development activity on watershed function and reduce infrastructure costs by using landscape systems to support low density unserviced residential development in specific spatial configurations and densities.; A demonstration of the methodology in the Sylvan Lake watershed within Red Deer County in central Alberta combined ecological infrastructure with development thresholds to create spatial development patterns and density options for unserviced development, based on the expected capacity of landscape level processes. The spatial network patterns of these components were integrated to create a visual future land use scenario. The demonstration indicated that 23% of the study area has the capacity to support low density unserviced residential development. Based on density values within the Municipal Development Plan for Red Deer County this represents 2095 dwellings. Direct benefits for Red Deer County of using ecological infrastructure to support these dwellings include revenue generation potential (through property taxes) as well as municipal infrastructure servicing cost savings.; Key words. ecological infrastructure, land use planning, exurban development, cumulative effects, assimilative capacity, spatial heterogeneity, landscape ecology, ecosystem goods and services...