Greening Development to Protect Watersheds: Does New Urbanism Make a Difference?

New urbanism has been touted as a more environmentally sustainable form of development than conventional low-density sprawl. To test this assertion, this study comparatively evaluates how well 50 matched pairs of new urban and conventional developments in the United States integrate watershed protection techniques. Findings indicate that new urban development practices offer a greener and more compact alternative to sprawl in greenfields on the suburban fringe, as they are more likely to protect and restore sensitive areas, reduce impervious cover, and incorporate best management practices. New urban developments in infill sites are more likely to incorporate impervious surface reduction techniques and restore degraded stream environments, but have equivalent levels of sensitive area protection and use of best management practices. Recommendations offer ways in which watershed protection techniques can be used to implement more environmentally sustainable development.