The good, the bad and the ugly: 30 years of land use changes in the Wasatch Range Metropolitan Area,

This presentation is prepared for AAG2016. <b> Abstract</b> In the past several decades, Utah has experienced significant population growth and landscape transformation. Large amounts of land (especially agricultural land) have been developed for various urban uses, raising concerns over a wide range of issues, such as degradation of agricultural landscapes, disturbance of ecological functions, and water resources management. Utah’s projected growth of 2.5 million people by 2050 added to the current 2.7 million population creates urgency and necessities to discuss how to plan for Utah’s land use to ensure Utah’s future sustainability and prosperity. A foundation of successful future land use planning and policy entails a more detailed and comprehensive understanding of historical land use change trends and patterns. We examine 30 years of land use changes in the Wasatch Range Metropolitan Area (WRMA), where 80% of Utah’s population resides and where Utah’s future growth will most likely to occur. Using GIS, spatial statistics and landscape metrics, we: 1) characterize the urban land use transformation; and 2) analyze relationships between urbanization processes and agricultural land transformation. By disclosing the good, the bad, and the ugly of last 30 years of land use change in northern Utah, this study intends to provide a frame of reference for land use planning and management in the region. Recommended Citation:Li, E., S. Li, and J. Endter-Wada. The good, the bad and the ugly: 30 years of land use changes in the Wasatch Range Metropolitan Area, Utah. Presentation at the 2016 Association of American Geographers Annual Conference, San Francisco, California, USA, March 2016. <br>