LID Fact Sheets
This series of five fact sheets helps community officials, residents, and others understand the benefits of Low Impact Development (LID), Green Infrastructure (GI), and sustainable design. From reduced flooding and improved water quality to lower maintenance costs and increased property value, these fact sheets will help communities navigate the many aspects of LID and put them to use, and include cost breakdowns, success stories, and answers to frequently asked questions.
What are GI and LID?
Together, LID and GI not only manage stormwater and improve groundwater supplies, but also offer many free ecosystem services including cleaner air and water, flood control, shade and energy savings, recreational opportunities, and enhanced property values and quality of life. Preserving our existing GI is our first line of defense against climate impacts such as increased storm intensities as well as achieving long-term cost savings. Learn more about GI & LID > |
Fact Sheets
Hard copies of all fact sheets below are available on request and are formatted on 11x17 paper. Contact us for copies.
Fact Sheet 1: Preserving Natural Assets—Nature-Based Solutions
Learn about the benefits of GI, why it’s important for managing water resources, how development impacts the landscape, and why saving land will also save communities water and money.
Fact Sheet 2: Conservation Design
Explore the principles of conservation design, how and why it’s used, the financial benefits it can provide, and examples of local communities that have implemented these techniques.
Fact Sheet 3: Low Impact Development Best Management Practices
Learn how nature-based solutions can work with engineered solutions to manage stormwater by reviewing the costs, benefits, and answers to common questions around 5 LID Best Management Practices (BMPs), as well as tips to consider in site design to reduce pavement and save money.
Fact Sheet 4: LID In Local Zoning and Regulations
Make sure your local regulations reflect the priorities of your community by coordinating local planning, learning what to look for in your own bylaws, and seeing how you can get involved to shape the future of your community.
Fact Sheet 5: Urban Water Quality Improvements
Discover how one Massachusetts town restored an urban stream’s nutrient problems through LID practices—including the BMPs that got them there and how much they saved over using conventional stormwater management practices.
References
This is a master compilation of all the references used in this series of fact sheets.
This project was funded by an agreement (CE96184201) awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission on behalf of the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program. Although the information in this document has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under agreement CE96184201 to NEIWPCC, it has not undergone the Agency’s publications review process and therefore, may not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency and no official endorsement should be inferred. The viewpoints expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBEP, NEIWPCC, or US EPA nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or causes constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
This project is funded in part by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust. Learn more about the Trust and the programs it supports through specialty license plate offerings at www.mass.gov/eea/met