Low-impact development
Low-impact development (LID) is a term used in Canada and the United States to describe a land planning and engineering design approach to managing stormwater runoff. LID emphasizes conservation and use of on-site natural features to protect water quality. This approach implements engineered small-scale hydrologic controls to replicate the pre-development hydrologic regime of watersheds through infiltrating, filtering, storing, evaporating, and detaining runoff close to its source.[1]
LID is similar to sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS), a term used in the United Kingdom, water-sensitive urban design (WSUD), a term used in Australia, natural drainage systems a term used in Seattle, Washington [2] and "Onsite Stormwater Management", a term used by the Washington State Department of Ecology.[3]
Alternative to conventional stormwater management practices
A concept that began in Prince George's County, Maryland in 1990, LID began as an alternative to traditional stormwater best management practices (BMPs) installed at construction projects.[4] Officials found that the traditional practices such as detention ponds and retention basins were not cost-effective and the results did not meet water quality goals. The Low Impact Development Center, Inc., a non-profit water resources research organization, was formed in 1998 to work with government agencies and institutions to further the science, understanding,and implementation of LID and other sustainable environmental planning and design approaches, such as Green Infrastructure and the Green Highways Partnership.
The LID design approach has received support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is being promoted as a method to help meet goals of the Clean Water Act.[5] Various local, state, and federal agency programs have adopted LID requirements in land development codes and implemented them in public works projects. LID techniques can also play an important role in Smart Growth and Green infrastructure land use planning.
Typical LID practices and controls
Planning practices include several related approaches that were developed independently by various practitioners. These differently named approaches include similar concepts and share similar goals in protecting water quality.
- Conservation design, also called Conservation Development
- Better Site Design
- Green Infrastructure.
Planners select structural LID practices for an individual site in consideration of the site's land use, hydrology, soil type, climate and rainfall patterns. There are many variations on these LID practices, and some practices may not be suitable for a given site. Many are practical for retrofit or site renovation projects, as well as for new construction. Frequently used practices include:
- Bioretention cells, also known as rain gardens
- Cisterns and rain barrels
- Green roofs
- Pervious concrete, also called "porous pavement", similar to Permeable paving
- Grassed swales, also known as bioswales.[6]
- Commercially manufactured stormwater management devices that capture pollutants (e.g., media filters) and/or aid in on-site infiltration
Benefits of LID
LID has multiple benefits, such as protecting animal habitats. Using LID, there is improved management of runoff and flooding, as well as reduction of impervious surfaces. What's more, LID enables us to have cleaner groundwater and more of it, which increases aesthetics, and therefore, raises community value. LID gives us all these benefits and water quality improvements, and it saves money too!
LID can also be used to eliminate the need for stormwater ponds which occupy expensive land. Incorporating LID into designs enables developers to build more homes on the same plot of land and maximize their profits.
See also
References
- ^ Prince George's County, Maryand. Department of Environmental Resources (PGDER). Larry Coffman et al. (1999). Low-Impact Development Design Strategies, An Integrated Design Approach. Published by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. Document No. EPA 841-B-00-003, June 1999.
- ^ Seattle Public Utilities. "Natural Drainage Systems"
- ^ Washington State Department of Ecology. "Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington", 2005
- ^ PGDER (1997). Landover, MD. Low Impact Development Design Manual.
- ^ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Washington, D.C. Low-Impact Development (LID): A Literature Review. October 2000. Document No. EPA-841-B-00-005.
- ^ EPA (2006). "Fact Sheet: Low-Impact Development and Other Green Design Strategies." June 1, 2006.
- Gillfillan, Abigail (2008). "Using Geographic Information Systems to Develop and Analyze Land-Use Policies." Applied Research Projects. Paper 273. Texas State University-San Marcos.
External links
- Pervious Concrete Blog – Discussion on the latest in Pervious Concrete Technology
- UC Davis Center for Water and Land Use – Provides a map with approximately 40 case studies of LID on the west coast. Also provides a detailed stormwater calculator for development.
- Center for Watershed Protection – Provides practical guidance for runoff reduction
- Low Impact Development Center – A water quality research organization; many links to green infrastructure, LID practices, projects and stormwater resources
- City of Redmond – Low Impact Development examples in a small city
- Case Study: Incorporating LID into Stormwater Management U.S. EPA
- Low Impact Development Urban Design Tools