Abstract
One of the fastest growing cities in the US, the desert city of Phoenix has appropriated significant surface and ground-water resources from regions near and far to support not only basic needs but also various cultural amenities, such as golf courses. Rapid expansion of the metropolitan area has resulted in loss of native ecosystems including desert riparian areas, and creation of new, designed ecosystems that are frequently water-intensive. This article reviews current water resources and management practices, along with resultant ecological impacts. Future legal, socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental challenges to the sustainability of the current lifestyle are highlighted.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 287-296 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Ecohydrology and Hydrobiology |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| State | Published - 2005 |
Keywords
- Aquatic habitat
- Arizona
- Semi-arid ecosystem
- Sustainability
- Urban ecology
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aquatic Science