Challenges Impacts of Development Climate Change
Strategies Land Conservation Buffers Low Impact Development Stormwater Utilities Land Use Regulations

Low Impact Development

Low impact development (LID) is an innovative approach that uses natural, or predevelopment hydrology, as guide for design. In the area of stormwater management, LID uses a combination of processes—infiltration, filtration, and detention/storage—to manage rainfall at the source (ideally) and to mimic predevelopment hydrology. LID stormwater strategies are applicable in nearly all locations. However, infiltration into ground-water is only appropriate in certain situations. LID is most effective when used in conjunction with land conservation efforts.

Resources

• Low Impact Development Center, Beltsville, Maryland: www.lowimpactdevelopment.org
• Evaluation of Best Management Practices for Highway Runoff Control: Transportation Research Board: www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=7184
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Low Impact Development Center: www.epa.gov/nps/lid
• Prince Georges County Maryland LID web site: www.co.pg.md.us/Government/AgencyIndex/DER/ESD/low-impact.asp
• Jordan Cove Annual Report: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/alternatives/conserve_info.html