What happens when a parking lot is built in a wetlands area?

Question

Responses

Less precipitation occurs in the area because it has no place to be absorbed by the ground.

Less precipitation occurs in the area because it has no place to be absorbed by the ground.

The wetlands area moves to a new location alongside the parking lot.

The wetlands area moves to a new location alongside the parking lot.

Rain percolates through the pavement into the ground below, causing cracks in the pavement.

Rain percolates through the pavement into the ground below, causing cracks in the pavement.

Runoff carrying pollutants, organic material and excess nutrients flows directly into lakes and rivers.

Runoff carrying pollutants, organic material and excess nutrients flows directly into lakes and rivers.

Answer 1

When a parking lot is built in a wetlands area, several environmental impacts can occur. Here are the most relevant points from the provided responses:

1. Less precipitation absorption: Wetlands are natural areas that absorb precipitation, acting as sponges that slow down water flow and allow it to percolate into the ground. When a parking lot is constructed, this absorption ability is lost, leading to increased runoff.

2. Runoff carrying pollutants: Impervious surfaces like parking lots prevent water from soaking into the ground. Consequently, rainwater becomes runoff, which can carry pollutants (such as oil, heavy metals, and other contaminants), organic materials, and excess nutrients into nearby lakes and rivers, leading to water quality issues and potential harm to aquatic ecosystems.

The other options regarding the movement of wetlands and cracks in the pavement, while they may occur to some extent in different contexts, are generally less relevant to the primary consequences of constructing a parking lot in a wetland area. The primary concerns are the loss of natural water absorption and the increase in polluted runoff.