A Brief History of Land Use and Related Policy in Michigan - summarizes history of land use and related policy since 1920.

A Guide for Local Governments - Wetlands and Watershed Management - (ASWM) - guidebook to help local governments achieve water resources management.

A Guide to Smart Growth and Cultural Resource Planning - Part I provides an overview of the cultural resource planning process in Wisconsin and Part II provides information for different types of strategies.

A Natural Landscape Worth Protecting - fact sheet on Land Conservancy of West Michigan. Contact MRWA.

Adapting Watershed Tools to Protect Wetlands - (CWP) - this article presents 37 specific techniques for protecting wetlands through local programs and ordinances.

Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 2003 - (USDA) - identifies trends in land, water and biological resources.

American Planning Association Policy Guide on Smart Growth - (American Planning Association) - this policy guide gives a statement of Smart Growth principles, a description of the Smart Growth issue and specific policy.

Buffers Common-sense Conservation - (NRCS) - value and types of buffers.

Codes and Ordinances Worksheet - (CWP) - can be used to see how local development rules stack up against model development principles outlined in Better Site Design.

Conservation Subdivisions - (UCONN) - a fact sheet on design which maximizes open space protection without reducing the number of homes Contact MRWA

Filling the Gaps: Environmental Protection Option for Local Governments - (MDEQ) - equips local officials with important information to consider when making local land use plans.

Floodplain Management for Local Officials - (MDEQ) - a tool for building inspectors, zoning administrators and other floodplain managers to help guide construction in floodprone areas and meet requirements of codes and ordinances.

Getting to Smart Growth - 100 policies for Implementation - (ICMA) - supports communities that have recognized the value and importance of smart growth.

Getting to Smart Growth II - (ICMA) - 100 more policies.

Growth and Water Resources - The Link Between Land Use and Water Resources - (EPA) - a fact sheet explaining the link between land use and water resources.

Habitat and Land Use Management Tool Box - (LaMP) - list of many websites that provide info on environmental quality issues.

Hydrology for Urban Land Planning - 1968 - (USGS) - a guidebook on the hydrologic effects of urban land use.

Lakes, Wetlands, and Streams as Predictors of Land Use/Cover Distribution - hypothesis that the presence of aquatic ecosystems influences the spatial distribution of human land use. Contact MRWA.

Lakeside Landscaping and Lawncare - a quick guide for homeowners with lists of plants, trees and shrubs to plant for healthy lakeside landscaping. Contact MRWA.

Local Tools for Smart Growth: Practical Strategies and Techniques to Improve our Communities - (NACO, USEPA, SmartGrowth Network) - provides an alternate approach to dealing with the pressing challenge that preserves and enhances a community over the long-term.Mitigating the Adverse Impacts of Urbanization on Streams: A Comprehensive Strategy for Local Government - a paper reviewing the major impacts to streams associated with urban land development. Contact MRWA.

Our Built and Natural Environments - (EPA) - review of interactions between land use, transportation and environmental quality.

Pattern to Process: Development of a Signature Program in Land Use and Land Cover Change - (MSU) - brings together existing expertise and provides a basis for new activities.

Paving Our Way to Water Shortages: How Sprawl Aggravates the Effects of Drought - a study investigating what happens to water supplies when we replace our natural areas with roads, parking lots and buildings.

People and Pavement: Transportation Design that Respects Communities - (MLUI) - contains Communities at the Crossroads, Learning from Leaders, Michigan Roads: Routes to Ruin.

Pine River Natural River Plan - (MDNR) - this report outlines a plan for the protection of the Pine River System.

Protecting Water Resources with Higher-Density Development - (EPA) - impacts of high and low-density development on water resources.

Protecting Water Resources with Smart Growth - (USEPA) - compilation of 75 policies designed to protect water resources and implement smart growth.

Rain and snow - where do they go and what do they take with them? - (Center for Land Use Education) - fact sheet telling how imprevious surfaces affect communities and what they can do.

Redevelopment Roundtable Consensus Agreement - (CWP) - promotes Smart Growth.

Riparian Buffer Establishment - (SE MI RC&D Council) - brochure giving buffer basics.

Riparian Buffers Work Economically and Environmentally - (NRCS) - information on CRP sign-up.

Selling Your Development Rights - a pamphlet describing a unique way you can preserve your property.

Site Planning for Urban Stream Protection - (CWP) - new ways to reduce pollutant loads and protect aquatic resources through non-structural practices.

Smartcode - (Duany, Plater, Zyberk & Co) promotes sustainable urban pattern.

Smart Growth at the Frontier - (Northeast-Midwest Institute) - strategies and resources for the rural community.

State of Michigan's Environment 2003 Second Biennial Report - continues to follow trends in important environmental indicators.

Stream Sites: Buying, Building and Care - how to select and build correctly beside a stream or river. Contact MRWA.

The Conservation of Biological Diversity in the Great Lakes Ecosystem - (EPA) - issues and opportunities concerning the conservation of biological diversity in the Great Lakes Ecosystem.

The Economic Benefits of Land Conservation - (Trust for Pubic Lands)

Trails & Greenways: Advancing the Smart Growth Agenda - (Rails-to-Trails Conservancy) Contact MRWA

Urban Watershed Forestry Manual - (CWP) - introduces the emerging topic of urban watershed forestry.

Water and Smart Growth: The Impacts of Sprawl on Aquatic Ecosystems - (Funders' Network) - importance of protecting our watersheds and the effects of pollution.

Wetland Restoration - (EPA) - what and why wetlands should be restored.

Wetlands and Watershed Management - A Guide for Local Government - (Assoc. of State Wetland Managers) - helps local governments achieve water resources management, water-related ecosystem protection and land use management goals.

Why Smart Growth: A Primer - (ICMA) - explores both positive and negative aspects of growth and suggests how communities can achieve smart growth.