Low Impact Development (LID)

Low Impact Development (LID) is a term for a group of techniques that will reduce the stormwater impact upon the surrounding landscape.

Conservation Developments utilize LID techniques in the planning and design of developments, and often incorporate other "green" principles such as energy-effecient design, use of recycled building materials, ecological restoration, and pedestrian-centered development.

Developments that have relatively low impact on the environment do not have to look like "The Shire" from Lord of the Rings (below). Although it does have a green roof and energy-efecient design, it might not be very practical for our lifestyle. The next picture (courtesy of Larry Coffman) shows a scene that is not at all out of the ordinary, and incorporates a raingarden that filters and slows runoff from the surrounding pavement and rooftops.

Often, the quantity of stormwater running off a developed site is as detrimental to nearby streams as the quality of the water.  Thus, many of the LID techniques attempt to lessen the impacts of both components.Some common LID techniques include:

Raingardens/Bioretention

bioretention

Rainbarrels and cisterns

rainbarrels and cisterns

Porous pavement

paver info

Green roofs

green roofs

For a good general resource on LID, try the EPA website on the subject here