Low Impact Development (LID)

A Sensible Approach to Land Development and

Stormwater Management
An educational
program for land
use decision
makers that
addresses the
relationship
between land use
and natural
resource
protection.

What is Low Impact Development (LID)?

LID is an alternative method of land development that seeks to maintain the natural hydrologic character of the site or
region. The natural hydrology, or movement of water through a watershed, is shaped over centuries under location-
specific conditions to form a balanced and efficient system. When hardened surfaces such as roads, parking lots, and
rooftops are constructed, the movement of water is altered; in particular, the amount of runoff increases and infiltration
decreases. This results in increased peak flow rate and volume, and pollution levels in stormwater runoff. LID designs
with nature in mind: working with the natural landscape and hydrology to minimize these changes. LID accomplishes
this through source control, retaining more water on the site where it falls, rather than using traditional methods of
funneling water via pipes into local waterways. Both improved site design and specific management measures are
utilized in LID designs. LID has been applied to government, residential, and commercial development and
redevelopment, and has proven to be a cost-efficient and effective method for managing runoff and protecting the
environment.

Using LID Tools in Residential Development

NATURAL DRAINAGE FLOW PRESERVED NATIVE

Reduces need for grading VEGETATION
and constructed drainage Enhances the aesthetic
systems by building house quality of community and
in a location that permits improves the evaporation-
preservation of natural transpiration rate
pattern of stormwater
drainage

POROUS PAVEMENT
Concrete that allows rain
BIORETENTION CELL to infiltrate, thereby
OR RAIN GARDEN reducing runoff and
Depressions that promoting groundwater
contain soil recharge
amendments that
promote infiltration of
stormwater
GRASSY SWALE
Vegetated channels that slow
AMENDED SOIL
stormwater runoff and
Soil enriched with sand and REDUCED HARDSCAPE promotes infiltration, traps
organic materials increases the Narrower streets, sidewalks, and sediment, and helps treat
capacity of soil to infiltrate water driveways increases pervious pollutants
areas and open spaces

Diagram adapted from Prince George’s County Maryland Low-Impact Development Design Strategies
 Traditional vs. LID Stormwater Management
Historically, in the U.S., the motto for stormwater In contrast with the traditional approaches, the guiding
management has been “conveyance:” move water away principle of low impact development approaches is not
from the site where it falls as quickly and efficiently as conveyance; it is “source control and infiltration”. LID
possible. Traditional management tools include street techniques seek to maximize the area available for
gutters and curbs, pipes, and canals to remove water from infiltration so that runoff volume and pollutant
the developed areas. To receive this increased volume, concentrations are reduced. This is achieved through a
creeks and rivers are re-shaped and lined with concrete. variety of site design and engineered infiltration
Detention ponds, some with water quality filtration devices, techniques. Site design techniques include locating open
regulate discharge to reduce peak flow impacts on spaces in low-lying areas to serve as a detention/retention
receiving waters. For the most part, these practices reduce basin and avoid development on permeable soils to
flood impacts, but do not completely address water quality, promote infiltration and groundwater recharge.
and aquatic and riparian habitat degradation issues. Engineered techniques include the use of grassy swales,
bioretention cells, and porous pavement.

LID Benefits LID Challenges

Water Quality Lack of Information
• Contributes to groundwater recharge through infiltration • Many municipal planners, consultants and the general
• Improves surface water quality public are unfamiliar with the benefits of LID practices
• Protects stream and lake quality from large volumes of and how to utilize them in different environments.
polluted runoff Inflexible Regulations/Ordinances
Meets Clean Water Act Requirements • Existing rules often lack the flexibility to implement LID
• Source control reduces the pollutant level and volume solutions
of runoff entering a water body, complying with National Maintenance
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and • Some LID tools require maintenance by homeowners
anti-degradation policy; and local public works departments to function properly
• This also aids in complying with 401 certification Presence of Contaminants
requirements • Use of filtration practices can threaten groundwater
Flood Control quality if high levels of soil contaminants are present.
• Reduces frequency & severity of floods
• Reduces peak flow volume & velocity
Habitat Protection
• Preserves stream & riparian habitats
• Preserves regional trees & vegetation
• Reduces eroded sediment loading into streams & lakes
Community Value
• Increases aesthetics and recreational opportunities in
protected riparian habitats
Stormdrain leading to
• Increases land value by having a cleaner environment bioretention cell
Roof runoff drains to grassy swale
• Increases public/private collaborative partnerships
www.main.nc.us/riverlink/content/12chap/chap12.htm

Economic Issues
The economic benefits of LID include: Issue Savings

• Reduced costs of stormwater infrastructure, including Higher Lot Value $3000 more per lot
curbs and gutters
Lower Cost Per Lot $4800 less cost per lot
• Reduced stormwater utility fees
• Increased land value Enhanced Marketability 80% of lots sold in first year
• Decreased spending on current and future
environmental conservation programs Added Amenities 23.5 acres of green-space/parks
Specific cost savings vary on a case by case basis. There Recognition National, state, and professional
can be additional costs: Total Economic Benefit Over $2,200,000 added to profit
• Higher installation costs for certain soil types and
gradients The above table, from Gap Creek residential subdivision,
Sherwood, AR, illustrates the financial benefits of using LID
• Increased landscape maintenance costs
methods. Tyne & Associates, North Little Rock, AR
 Addressing LID Implementation Challenges
Solutions Some communities that have found solutions
Clay Soils/Limited Space Hercules has modified stormwater management
The combination of clay soils and small lot sizes can guidelines that fit LID principles, city codes that allow
work well together. As clays are naturally less pervious, administrative approval for LID projects, and limited street
less engineering and land is required to achieve lengths.
predevelopment infiltration rates. Use integrated Contra Costa incorporated LID measures into their
stormwater management techniques, a combination of Standard Urban Stormwater Management Plan (SUSMP)
traditional and LID approaches. Significant stormwater for new development (http://www.cccleanwater.org/
runoff reduction can still be achieved. construction/nd.php). Sacramento, likewise, is publishing
Local Codes Aren’t LID-friendly their own design manual in Fall, 2006 that includes LID
Revise local codes & ordinances to support use of LID measures.
techniques. Check out the Center for Watershed San Diego has new parking standards for intensive
Protection’s website for suggested guidelines commercial zones that include smaller parking spaces
(www.cwp.org/COW_worksheet.htm). and driveways, plus new guidelines requiring reduced
Don’t know what would work and where imperviousness for parking spaces.
Educate planning & public works staff. Numerous Santa Monica encourages LID by requiring that all new
references are available on the use of LID in a variety of developments and substantial remodels submit an “Urban
settings (see Online References). Runoff Mitigation Plan”, and reduce projected runoff for
the site by 20%. The city recommends LID technologies.

LID as a Re-design Strategy

Retrofit a Parking Lot to increase permeability. Over sixty-five percent
of impervious areas are associated with “habitat for cars”. Using porous
pavement in parking lots is a simple way to increase infiltration and reduce
runoff. When the US Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. needed to repave its
parking lot, they used porous pavers. They also added bioretention cells to
the landscaped areas and disconnected downspouts. The re-design did
not alter the amount of parking spots, but reduced peak runoff and pollu-
tion, thus protecting and helping to restore the Anacostia and Potomac
Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Porous pavement covers about 1/3 of each
parking space in the D.C. Navy Yard parking

Alter street design to increase infiltration. In a landmark

project in Seattle, the Street Edge Alternative or SEA project
involved building vegetated swales, bioretention cells, and
narrower streets without curbs to promote an effective drainage
and filtration system. The system reduced peak runoff for the 2
year flood event by 98%, and is capable of conveying the 25 year
flood event. The local watershed provides spawning habitat for
endangered salmon. The project was so successful that similar
ones are being planned throughout the city.

LID street design: vegetated swales, no curbs, and

narrower streets promote infiltration of stormwater.

Replace lawns with rain gardens. Rain gardens are small bioretention cells
landscaped with plants, trees, and grasses. They are a particularly good way
for individual homeowners to enhance their landscaping while protecting water
quality. By planting easy-care native wildflowers, hardy perennials and
grasses, attractive gardens can be constructed that have the added
environmental benefits. More information on rain gardens is available at: http://
www.healthylandscapes.org/raingarden.htm. Information on plants compatible
for use in a California rain garden is posted at:
http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/design/2004sp_raingardens.html. Rain garden in a small backyard that
collects runoff from roof and patio.
 LID as a Design Strategy
LID is more than a collection of engineered
tools. It is a comprehensive design technique
incorporating site planning and integrated Traditional LID
management measures.
LID design principles include:
• Extensive site assessment of hydrology,
topography, soils, vegetation and water
features;
• Higher density, clustered housing,
preserving open spaces to facilitate
infiltration and protect habitats;
• Street layout that minimizes road length
and width, calming traffic while allowing In this example, LID design reduces imperviousness by changing the cul-de-sac design,
safe access of emergency vehicles. reducing street width and lot size, and instead clustering houses around common green
LID Technical Guidance Manual for Puget Sound spaces that also serve as infiltration sites and preserving natural features.

Examples of LID
LID Technical Guidance Manual
for Puget Sound

Filter strip
Hardy, native
vegetation
water flow

Detention & Amended soil

filtration zone
Under-drain
discharge pipe

Basic Components of a Bioretention Cell Rain Gardens and grass swales between houses are used at
To see how to engineer bioretention cells with the proper Douglas Ranch, Granite Bay, CA to catch and filter runoff
gradient and components visit: from roofs and driveways before entering a local stream.
www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/epa03/biospec.htm

Curb Cuts permit stormwater to flow into grassy swales to Hollywood Driveways have a dividing strip of grass in order
reduce roadway contaminants that flow into nearby waterways. to reduce the amount of impervious surface. Another way to
They can also be used in existing landscaped areas. reduce driveway space is to share one with a neighbor.

Low Impact Development Center www.lowimpactdevelopment.org

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov/owow/nps/urban.html
Stormwater Manager’s Resource Center www.stormwatercenter.net
Online National NEMO Network www.nemonet.uconn.edu
Resources LID Urban Design Tools www.lid-stormwater.net
National Association of Home Builders www.toolbase.org/index-toolbase.asp
California Stormwater Quality Association www.cabmphandbooks.com
Prepared by Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment & the California Water & Land Use Partnership (CA WALUP)
Written by E. Ruby & D. Gillespie, student interns, OEHHA. For more information contact Barbara Washburn: [email protected].
CA WALUP is an educational program for land use decision makers addressing the relationship between land use and natural resource
protection. The CA WALUP is a Charter Member of the National NEMO Network. CA WALUP website: http://cawalup.usc.edu