Changes

This guide has been developed as a tool to help developers, consultants, municipalities and landowners understand and implement more sustainable stormwater management planning and design practices in their watersheds. Many jurisdictions have defined the term low impact development. The Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program uses the following definition:  

This guide has been developed as a tool to help developers, consultants, municipalities and landowners understand and implement more sustainable stormwater management planning and design practices in their watersheds. Many jurisdictions have defined the term low impact development. The Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program uses the following definition:  

:::Low impact development (LID) is a stormwater management strategy that seeks to mitigate the impacts of increased runoff and stormwater pollution by managing runoff as close to its  source as possible. To accomplish this, it uses practices that help to preserve or to restore predevelopment hydrological and ecological functions. For preservation, it uses site design strategies to minimize runoff and to protect natural drainage patterns. For restoration, it uses distributed structural practices that filter, detain, infiltrate (retain), evapotranspire and harvest stormwater. LID practices can effectively remove sediment, nutrients, pathogens and metals from runoff, and they reduce the volume and intensity of stormwater flows.

:::Low impact development (LID) is a stormwater management strategy that seeks to mitigate the impacts of increased runoff and stormwater pollution by managing runoff as close to its  source as possible. To accomplish this, it uses practices that help to preserve or to restore predevelopment hydrological and ecological functions. For preservation, it uses site design strategies to minimize runoff and to protect natural drainage patterns. For restoration, it uses distributed structural practices that filter, detain, retain, infiltrate, evapotranspire and harvest stormwater. LID practices can effectively remove sediment, nutrients, pathogens and metals from runoff, and they reduce the volume and intensity of stormwater flows.

The field of stormwater management has undergone considerable evolution in the last 40 - 50 years, from underground drainage systems for rapid water disposal, to stormwater management ponds, to today’s myriad of near-to-nature practices and technologies<ref name ="Fletcher" />. This paradigm shift could be explained by a change of perception about water from a waste to a resource. With this evolution comes the evolution of terminology to describe the latest visions, practices and technologies.

The field of stormwater management has undergone considerable evolution in the last 40 - 50 years, from underground drainage systems for rapid water disposal, to stormwater management ponds, to today’s myriad of near-to-nature practices and technologies<ref name ="Fletcher" />. This paradigm shift could be explained by a change of perception about water from a waste to a resource. With this evolution comes the evolution of terminology to describe the latest visions, practices and technologies.

GI describes a strategically planned and delivered network of natural and semi-natural elements that collectively deliver a wide range of ecosystem, social and economic services to help reduce dependence on grey infrastructure and to address environmental resilience and climate change.

GI describes a strategically planned and delivered network of natural and semi-natural elements that collectively deliver a wide range of ecosystem, social and economic services to help reduce dependence on grey infrastructure and to address environmental resilience and climate change.

The LID approach to stormwater management falls under the overarching umbrella of GI as a semi-natural element.

The LID approach to stormwater management falls under the overarching umbrella of GI as a semi-natural element.

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