The major problem with parking lots is the contaminated water runoff,
which can cause stream pollution and dramatically affects fish
populations. Here in Seattle, the entire Puget Sound is now under EPA
watch due to excessive growth and the resultant salmon stock reductions.
The best method, sadly, is to build vertical parking structures (e.g.
multi-level), which reduces the environmental impact due to space and
drastically reduces the negative water pollution. Also, building easily
used transit connections (bus shelters, rail stations) has been known to
have a minimal impact. But the main effect is the use of large
single-level parking structures with water runoff drains that empty into
nearby streams untreated.
Will Affleck-Asch
P.S.: A good resource would be the EDF www.edf.org or Sierra Club
www.sierraclub.org
