L.I.D. - AAck! Another Acronym. FWIW, FYI, in this article LID is short for “Low Impact Development”. Simply put, LID is used in both site development and in landscaping around homes to mimic natural water flow and absorption. LID helps to reduce stormwater runoff and increases infiltration and natural filtering of rain, returning clean water to the aquifers.
Why Is LID important?
The native soils and forest of the islands store, filter, and slowly release cool, clean water to streams, wetlands, and the Salish Sea around us. The rich diversity of life in marine and fresh water, as well as on land, depends on clean water to thrive. As the population of the islands grows, native forests and soils are replaced with driveways, rooftops and other hard surfaces. When it rains, more water flows from these surfaces than undisturbed areas, carrying oil, fertilizers, pesticides, sediment and other pollutants downstream. In fact, much of the pollution in streams, wetlands and marine waters now comes from stormwater (water flowing off developed areas). The added volume of water and associated contaminants from developed land are damaging water resources and harming aquatic life.
We can make important contributions to reduce the amount of stormwater and pollutants coming from residential and commercial properties by incorporating LID techniques into both original site development and in existing yards and landscaping.
So, What Are Some of the LID Techniques?
