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How much will the regional pattern change?
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The major objective of this study is to determine the impact of a future scenario on the pattern of environmental quality across the Mid-Atlantic region. One approach to addressing this objective would be to measure how far each watershed has moved or changed from its
current state. This makes it possible to determine where degradation is likely to be small or trivial and where major changes may occur.
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Watersheds shown in dark green have experienced the smallest changes and are concentrated along the Appalachian highlands and foothills. The watersheds experiencing the greatest changes are shown in orange and red and are concentrated in suburban areas surround the major urban centers: Wilmington, Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburgh, and Wheeling. Intermediate change (light green and yellow) is projected to occur on the coastal plain and in suburban areas. The map indicates that the suburban watersheds are likely to experience the greatest change in environmental quality by 2020.
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