Low Impact Development

Low Impact Development (LID):

LID is an ecological friendly approach to site development and storm water management that aims to mitigate developmental impacts to land, water, and air. The approach emphasizes the integration of site design and planning techniques that conserve the natural systems and hydrologic functions of a site. The overall goal is to mimic a site’s pre-development hydrology by using design techniques that infiltrate, filter, store, evaporate, and detain runoff close to its source.   See LID Resource Links.

Photos courtesy of the Low Impact Development Center

LID Benefits
In addition to the practice just making good sense, LID techniques can offer many benefits to a variety of stakeholders. A few of the benefits for the environment, municipalities, and developers are listed below.

• Developers

          —Reduce land clearing and grading costs

          —Reduce storm water management costs

          —Potentially reduce infrastructure costs (streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks)

          —Potentially increase lot yields

• Municipalities

          —Reduce municipal infrastructure and utility maintenance costs

              (streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, storm sewers)

          —Increase collaborative public/private partnerships

          —Balance growth needs with environmental protection

          —Protect regional flora and fauna

• Environment

          —Reduce impacts to local terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals

          —Protect water quality by reducing sediment, nutrient, and toxic loads

          —Preserve integrity of ecological and biological systems

          —Preserve trees and natural vegetation

Distinguishing LID

Although the term ‘low impact development’ can be loosely defined, the appropriate definition of LID is distinct and should not be confused with other stormwater management and development strategies. The key distinction of LID from these other strategies is that it is an ecosystem based approach. LID seeks to design the built environment to remain a functioning part of an ecosystem rather than exist apart from it. LID is not a land use control strategy and relies more heavily on smarter and advanced technologies than it does on conservation and growth management.

The LID approach includes five basic tools:
1)  encourage conservation measures
2) promote impact minimization techniques such as impervious surface reduction
3) provide for strategic runoff timing by slowing flow using the landscape
4) use an array of integrated Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce and filter runoff
5) advocate pollution prevention measures to reduce the introduction of pollutants to the environment

Brush Creek Mid-Shed Project Pages: