Land Use

• Commercial: Land business and commercial development
• Cropland: Land for growing plants, including those used for food and fiber
• Rangeland: Land for livestock and wildlife to graze on
• Residential: Land specifically zoned for housing development
• Undeveloped: Land that has not been categorized for any kind of man-made development
• Transportation: Land specifically used for highways, roads, and similar infrastructure

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are ways that land use can be controlled to reduce a negative impact on the environment. If not managed properly, even land that is set aside for conservation could end up in an impared state that harms the watershed.

By understanding land use in the watershed, BMPs that are both cost-effective and efficient in reducing or eliminating damage to the land can be implemented. These strategies include:

• Structural BMPs for new development and adapting for existing development
• Demonstrations and manageable projects to encourage water quality protection practices
• Education and uutreach strategies
• Non-Structural Management Measures, including land management and preservation of undeveloped land
• Enhancement and support for codes and regulations impacting water quality
• Gathering information and conducting monitoring to address data gaps

This means that growth in the San Marcos area for commercial development and building new homes for the growing population isn't necessarily a bad thing, as long as that growth and land use is managed properly.