---
URBAN CHANGE
The James River Basin watershed of southwest Missouri is the most rapidly growing urban area in Missouri. The beauty of the Ozarks has attracted newcomers to the region, but the increasing population is threatening environmental quality including significant water quality issues related to the James River itself. In addition, the James River is on the EPA 303(d) list of impaired streams.

Urbanization often leads to increased expanses of impervious surfaces and reflects increased human populations. In addition to the loss of green space, areas that are highly suitable for agricultural production are converted to urban land uses.

To evaluate the changes in the Springfield urban landscape it is important to:

  • Understand how the urban landscape has expanded throughout the years, and
  • Identify what land uses currently face urbanization.

1972 to 2000 city of Springfield, MO growth

The yellow areas in the above graphics represent urban areas extracted from satellite imagery. In the background a September 6th, 2000 Landsat ETM+ satellite image is shown. The red and greenish tones in this false-color composite image represent vegetation; water appears blue and black. The rectangular shapes of agricultural fields are easily distinguished and the dark red irregular shapes represent forests.
James River Basin Partnership
Geography, Geology and Planning @ SMSU
Missouri Resource Assesment Partnership
Forest Service
Copyright © 2004 James River Basin Partnerhip and Missouri State University (the materials on this website are available for academic use with proper credits and acknowledgment). Contact Project Director: Dr. L. Monika Moskal
Updated