Abstract
Low Impact Development (LID) is an approach to land development that preserves natural resources and uses natural processes in a designed approach to slow, disburse, and filter stormwater close to its source to allow for soil infiltration, thereby preventing flooding and protecting the water quality in our rivers, bays, and bayous. Commercial sites, parks, green ways, new development subdivisions, medians, and urban street-scapes all provide opportunities to take pressure off existing municipal stormwater systems through Low Impact Development strategies. This presentation will introduce the science behind Low Impact Development as a proven and economically viable stormwater management strategy that will maximize dollars being invested in downstream restoration projects. With significant resources being directed toward these restoration projects directly adjacent to the coastline, the connection between upland management strategies and activities to downstream flooding and natural water body pollution is undeniably more important now than ever. The cross-disciplinary practice of Low Impact Development stormwater management is highlighted in over 50 case studies near the Gulf Coast region in the "L.I.D. Gulf Coast" Story Map which will be showcased during this presentation. This growing collection of regional low impact development and green infrastructure projects serves as a learning tool to inspire practice, and as a catalyst for dialogue to drive sustainable stormwater management policy that will protect our natural water bodies. The audience will be invited to contribute projects to the story map collection, and to become involved in the ongoing dialogue around policy for Low Impact Development on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
