Land Cover Change Analysis 2011-2021

CDRPC has put together a land cover change analysis StoryMap, utilizing USGS data. This analysis examines the change in land cover from 2011 to 2021 in the Capital Region and quantifies the number of acres lost or gained since 2011 – and examines what this means for the region.

https://arcg.is/145G5z0

From 2011 to 2021, the primary land cover type lost in the Capital Region was water, with a decrease of 2,790 acres. Majority of the water land cover type was converted to wetlands, accounting for a large number of acres lost in the Capital Region. Forested land cover type was the second largest land cover type that decreased, with 2,516 Acres lost.

Conversely, the region witnessed the largest gain in developed land cover, with over 5,875 acres converted. Such conversions of land cover types to developed areas carry significant consequences, including deforestation, exacerbation of climate change impacts, and increased traffic congestion, among others. Nonetheless, by prioritizing sustainable growth and conscientiously managing land cover types in the Capital Region, we can mitigate adverse effects and foster a more balanced and resilient environment.