Low Impact Development

Low Impact Development (LID) is an innovative stormwater management approach with a basic principle that is modeled after nature: manage rainfall where it falls using uniformly distributed small-scale controls. LID's goal is to minimize runoff by using design techniques that infiltrate, filter, store, evaporate, and slow runoff close to its source. Instead of piping stormwater directly to streams or to facilities located at the bottom of drainage areas, LID addresses stormwater through cost-effective landscape features. LID is a versatile approach that can be applied equally well to new development, urban retrofits, and redevelopment projects.

Eliminating urban runoff is necessary for restoring native salmon and trout runs in the Pacifiic Northwest. Tom Holz's article on Zero Impact Development explains this connection and what can be done to restore these vital fish runs.

The Tualatin River basin, west of Portland Oregon has a particular challenge to implementting Low impact Development: slow draining clay soils. This website inentionally features projects in the Tualatin basin to show that LID is practicable in these difficult conditions. Clean Water Services, the sanitary and storm sewage agency in the Tualatin basin has produced a booklet describing the installation, performance, cost and maintenance of LID techinques in their demonstration projects. This guide titled, Slow the Flow is available on their website, www.cleanwaterservices.org. Links to additional information on Low Impact Development are provided throughout this website and on the connections page. You can also download the Habitat Friendly Development Practices Guidance Manual just published by the City of Beaverton.

Enjoy the virtual tour of LID projects in the Tualatin basin. If you know of additional LID projects in the Tualatin basin that should be featured on this site, please send an e-mail to brian@tualatinriverkeepers.org.