My sister, Dr. Kirsten the biologist, has recently published an article in a conservation journal focusing on the impact of the 1935 damming of the Colorado River on a now endangered marine fish, the Totoaba.

The change in their habitat has slowed their growth, delaying maturation and thus spawning. The impact was documented by comparing prehistoric otoliths (ear bones) found in aboriginal shell middens, with modern, post-dam otoliths.

It’s a teensy bit technical, but the bottom line is because of our ever increasing urban need for water, the earth’s natural balance is thrown off and over time the resulting change in habitat can no longer support many species.

Two of my kids had field trips this week so it took me three days to read the seven-page article, but immediately I drew a parenting corollary.

The impact of urban sprawl, big box store malls sprouting like toxic mushrooms in open pastures, huge home theater sized SUVs, soulless stucco McMansions and drive-thru Starbucks, has eliminated our youth habitat.

Because of the dwindling number of places where our kids can safely hang out unsupervised and be kids, there is a delay in human maturation. (Not that I'm encouraging river spawning.)

There's too much traffic, too many electronic diversions, too much stress to achieve, accomplish and be a resume kid. The juveniles stay juveniles longer (boomerang kids?). I'll need to do some earbone core samples to support my theory, but I think I'm on to something.

By Mary Allison Tierney

Labels: Mary Allison Tierney

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