2018-01-21
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What do Woodlands, Texas and Boston, Massachusetts have in common, besides the distinguishing accents of their people? The answer is common sense. Both regions have made important decisions in land-use planning that will save millions of dollars by reducing flood damage.
Boston boasts a fine city park system that stretches from the center of the city into the outlying suburbs. But few realize that the park system with its meandering stream was built, in large part, to help control flooding. When the rains come, excess water flows into this 12-hectare (30-acre) basin where it is released to the sea, reducing property damage in the whole damage.
In recent years, the city purchased 3,400 hectares of wetlands in outlying areas to reduce flooding. Not only will it help reduce flooding the natural way, but it will also provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife. The project cost one-tenth as much as a dam to control flooding.
Many housing developments in the United States are built with little concern for wildlife or for the developments’ effects on flooding. In Texas, developer George Mitchell decided to build a new town called Woodlands on an 8000-hectare forested tract north of Houston. He envisioned a city in harmony with the forces of nature and set out to build it. Mitchell and his staff of planners first analyzed the region they wanted to build on and found that they could leave the natural drainage system as open space. That step alone saved $14 million in construction costs. Roads were built on high ground and buildings were not allowed on aquifer recharge zones, helping to protect an aquifer that supplies water for neighboring Houston. In 1996, rain waters drenched the site. The streams swelled by 55%. In neighboring towns built with little regard for nature, water flows increased 180%. The towns suffered considerable flood damage while Woodlands managed fine.
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Woodlands is an attractive community. Most of its trees still stand. The floodplains which were set aside for natural drainage and aquifer recharge harbor numerous birds and mammals, including bobcats and white-tailed deer.
Designing with nature requires wisdom and foresight. It’s an approach to development that permits nature to direct the design of human settlement. It helps people live in harmony with nature, an important step in building a sustainable society.
Learn the vocabulary by heart:
Vocabulary
1) to have in common-мати щось спільне
2) to distinguish-розрізняти
3) to reduce-зменшувати в кількості
4) flood damage-пошкодження викликані повенем
5) meandering-поворот річки
6) wetlands-затоплені землі
7) to purchase-купувати
8) a dam-гребля
9) habitat-ареал
10) impact-вплив
11) drainage system-дренажна система
12) construction costs-витрати на будівництво
13) space-простір
14) aquifer-водоноспий шар
15) mammal-ссавець
16) bobcat-американська рись
17) foresight-передбачення
18) sustainable-той; що підтримує
19) considerable-значний
20) approach- підхід
1 Comprehension Questions:
1) What was done to help control flooding?
2) Why did the city purchase 3,400 hectares of wetlands?
3) What is Woodlands and who built it?
4) What does designing with nature require?
2 Match the following words and definitions:
to distinguish to possess something with pride
to boast to cause to be wet all through
to drench to identify, state a difference between people, things
landscape a deep pool at the base of a waterfall, a deep part of a harbor
basin a picture of inland scenery
3 Choose the right answer:
1 What McHarg suggest careful site analysis for?
a) to look at wildlife needs; b) to provide valuable habitat for fish;
c) to reduce flooding; d) to envision city in harmony.
2 Why was the park system with meandering built?
a) to excess water flows; b) to help reduce flooding; c) to help control flooding; d) to purchase the land.
