Low Impact Development (LID) is an environmentally-friendly approach to land use development and storm water management that aims to reduce and mitigate impacts to land, water, and air. The approach emphasizes the integration of site design and planning techniques that conserve natural systems and hydrologic functions on a site. The practice has been successfully integrated into many municipal development codes and storm water management ordinances throughout the United States.

Specifically, LID aims to:

• Preserve open space and minimize land disturbance;
• Protect natural systems and processes (drainage ways, vegetation, soils, sensitive areas);
• Re-examine the use and sizing of traditional site infrastructure (lots, streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks) and customize site design to each site;
• Incorporate natural site elements (wetlands, stream corridors, mature forests) as design elements; and
• Decentralize and micromanage storm water at its source.

s.319 Grant Program

In early 2004, the NSRWA was awarded a §319 grant from the MA Department of Environmental Protection to provide LID training for decision-makers in four South Shore communities (Pembroke, Hanover, Kingston, and Plymouth). The primary goals of the program were to:

• Provide training and technical assistance on LID to municipal officials, municipal board members, developers, and engineers.
• Promote and encourage the use of LID techniques in new development through changes in local regulations and bylaws.
• Implement direct LID control measures.

Bylaw Review

We hired an environmental engineering consulting firm, Comprehensive Environmental Inc., to work with us on the more technical aspects of the program. CEI reviewed the land use bylaws and regulations in each of the towns to identify barriers to LID implementation. CEI also provided several models that can supplement municipal regulations to encourage this type of development:

• Stormwater Design Criteria
• Landscape Design Criteria
• Example Steep Slope Language
• Example Earth Movement Language

CEI has also developed a Pollutant Load and Reduction Model that can be helpful to a variety of users including watershed groups, municipal land use decision-makers, and engineers. The Model allows the user to determine how different types of LID techniques can reduce the pollutant loads in a given area.

• Pollutant Load and Reduction Model (Opens in Excel)
• Pollutant Load and Reduction Model Tutorial

Outreach and Training

LID workshop participants learn about a new raingarden at the Lily Pond Treatment Plant in Cohasset

We also held a series of training workshops in September 2005 for municipal officials, volunteer board members, developers and engineers. The workshops were well attended and well received. If you would like a copy of the workshop materials, please contact our office: 781-659-8168.

In addition to the workshops, we distributed copies of a film called “Reining in the Storm – One Building at a Time.” The 30-minute film provides a comprehensive overview of LID concepts by providing vivid examples and case studies. It was produced in Virginia in 2004 by independent film-maker David Eckert and was funded in part by the VA Department of Conservation and Recreation.

To make the film more relevant to our viewers, the NSRWA created a 15-minute Chapter entitled “LID in Massachusetts”. Our segment highlights four LID projects in our state: a rain garden in Cohasset, a green roof in Billerica, a permeable paver boat launch in Littleton, and an LID subdivision in Tyngsboro. We distributed over 300 copies of the film in our watershed alone. If you would like to view the film, you can borrow a copy for free from the NSRWA library, 214 South Street in Norwell. We only have DVD format; no VHS.

As an added incentive to watch the video, we offered a “Watch and Win” contest to anyone who watched the film and answered four questions on our website. Congratulations to Gregory Robbins, winner of a chartered boat cruise for 6 on the North River, courtesy of Rick Railsback and North River Charters! Drawing was held on December 5, 2005.

Ongoing Participation and Networking

The NSRWA is currently involved in the planning phases of several LID projects in our watershed, and will continue to maintain contact with land use boards to promote this type of development. Another aspect of our LID Program was to design four different LID retrofits in locations where there are known stormwater pollution problems. We have received subsequent 319 Grant Program funding to install three of these retrofits over the next few years: the Pembroke Town Hall, the Pembroke Oldham Pond Public Boat Launch, and the Kingston Intermediate School. We expect these retrofits to be complete by Summer 2007. If you would like to see the conceptual plans for these sites, as well as several other LID sites in our watershed, download our “Self-Guided Tour on LID”.

Finally, the NSRWA participates in the state's inter-agency LID Working Group led by the MA Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. The LID Working Group provides updates on LID projects across the state and facilitates networking among professionals interested in LID in the public and private sectors. If you are interested in joining the working group please email Andrea Cooper. Anyone can join the Working Group.

This project has been financed with Federal Funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (the Department) under a s. 319 competitive grant. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of EPA or of the Department, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.