Low-Impact Development

Low-impact development, or LID, is a relatively new approach to land development that reduces and prevents stormwater pollution.

Traditionally, we treat stormwater runoff by moving it quickly off our property and roads with pipes and ditches and collecting it in ponds. These conventional systems are costly and fail to protect coastal water quality. Polluted runoff enters shellfish and fishing waters through the curb and gutter, pipe and pond approaches closing these resources to harvest.

LID mimics nature's water cycle by putting the landscape to work to slow and soak up rainwater, preventing polluted runoff from reaching coastal creeks and sounds. LID is a key tool to protect and restore coastal waters.

Conventional vs. LID

Conventional design

• End of pipe- w/pipes, ponds, curb and gutter
• Centralized/engineered approach
• Alters natural hydrology
• Costly to Construct and Maintain
• Fails to adequately protect shellfish waters

LID Approaches and Principles

• Conserve natural systems and features
• Minimize development impacts
• Maintain predevelopment runoff rates
• Less costly to developers
• Protects water quality

LID techniques can improve water quality, minimize the need for expensive pipe-and-pond stormwater systems and create more attractive developments. In short, there are multiple benefits with LID.

LID is versatile and can be used to prevent stormwater pollution in new developments (residential and commercial) and can reduce or eliminate sources of stormwater in existing developments.

• Watch a Powerpoint on LID
• Download our Low-Impact Development and the North Carolina Coast
  

LID Instead of Stormwater Ponds

Instead of clear-cutting a construction site, moving mountains of dirt and building large expensive stormwater infrastructure, LID developments work with the land, mimicking the safeguards that nature provides.

The N.C. Coastal Federation is working on several fronts to help “pave” the way for LID in new developments across the coast. We are also working with partners coastwide to install targeted stormwater reduction measures at existing sources of stormwater pollution.

Read about our LID work in the Northeast, Central and Southeast coastal regions as well as our statewide and national efforts to make LID an effective tool for managing coastal stormwater.

• LID:

• Techniques
• Benefits
• State & National LID Work