Key Principles and Benefits of Low Impact Development (LID)

Key Principles of Low Impact Development

Environmental Protection

Natural features, such as wetlands, woodlands, and stream buffers are protected. By preserving these features, natural drainage patterns can be identified and used as green infrastructure, biodiversity is retained, and wildlife habitat is protected.

Storm Water Management

Rather than flowing off site, water is directed to infiltrationbased storm water management practices and absorbed on site. Keeping water on site reduces pollutant loads, moderates peak stream flow rates and volume, and enhances base flows.

Community Character

In residential settings, homes typically open up to open space and feature recreational trails. Native landscaping provides aesthetic value, adequate storm water conveyance, distribution of water flow, and filtration of pollutants.

Benefits of Low Impact Development

to residents:

• increases community character
• improves quality of life
• increases open space
• promotes pedestrian-friendly landscaping

to developers:

• reduces land clearing and grading costs
• reduces infrastructure costs (streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks)
• increases lot values and community marketability

to communities:

• balances growth needs with environmental protection
• reduces infrastructure and utility maintenance costs

to the environment:

• protects environmentally-sensitive areas
• increases wildlife habitat by preserving trees and vegetation
• protects water quality by reducing pollutant loads
• reduces stream bank and channel erosion by reducing peak flows and moderating the frequent bounce associated with lower intensity storms
• reduces flooding potential

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Last Modified: 07/05/2007