Low Impact Development

A LID is an ecologically friendly approach to site development and storm water management that aims to mitigate development impacts to land, water, and air. The approach emphasizes the integration of site design and planning techniques that conserve natural systems and hydrologic functions on a site. The practice has been success- fully integrated into many municipal development codes and storm water management ordinances throughout the United States. Specifically, LID aims to:

• Preserve Open Space and Minimize Land Disturbance;
• Protect Natural Systems and Processes (drainage ways, vegetation, soils, sensitive areas);
• Reexamine the Use and Sizing of Traditional Site Infrastructure (lots, streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks) and Customize Site Design to Each Site;
• Incorporate Natural Site Elements (wetlands, stream corridors, mature forests) as Design Elements; and
• Decentralize and Micromanage Storm Water at its Source.