Low Impact Development
Curb cut at Grass Creek development. See the LID Driving Tour of Anchorage text for more images. |
What is Low Impact Development ( LID)
Low Impact Development or LID is a development technique that manages stormwater by mimicking the natural water cycle of the site pre-development. This minimizes hydrologic changes to receiving water bodies and decreases pollutants entering the system. LID techniques have been shown to significantly decrease impacts of urbanization on receiving water bodies.
View the Municipality of Anchorage Low Impact Development Design Guidance Manual (Dec 2008) for guidance on how to design rain gardens, infiltration trenches, soak-away pits, and filter strips. The manual also touches on constructed wetlands, pervious pavements, and green roof technologies.
LID Driving Tour of Anchorage
The Municipality of Anchorage, Watershed Management Services (WMS) is developing an online resource to help residence find examples of LID being implemented in Anchorage. Follow the link to view a google map marked with sites in Anchorage that have LID techniques.
More information on LID can be found at:
Low Impact Development Center at http://www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/
Environmental Protection Agency's LID webpage at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid.