America’s vanishing West: California losing most land to development

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The natural landscape of the American West is gradually disappearing under a relentless march of new subdivisions, roads, oil and gas production, agricultural operations and other human development, according to a detailed mapping study released Tuesday. From 2001 to 2011, an area totaling 4,321 square miles — or 15 times the size…

photo credit: Tassajara Road at 580, Dublin, March 22, 2008 via photopin (license)