HD35 - Preliminary Report of the Low Impact Development Assessment Task Force


Executive Summary:
This report introduces the concept of low impact development (LID) and some of its typical techniques and practices. The report also outlines the creation of the Low Impact Development Task Force (LID-TF) by HB 1953, and summarizes the first year activities of the Task Force. Finally, the report concludes with a listing of key findings and issues generated by the LID-TF and a generalized work plan for the second year for the Task Force. This listing should not be interpreted as a consensus product of the LID-TF; rather it is an interim identification of information about LID that requires further study and refinement. This additional work is necessary for the Task Force to be comfortable providing a more complete understanding of the most effective use of LID techniques and to facilitate the use of LID through the development of guidance, a model ordinance, and certification of LID practices.

In general, the LID-TF finds that implementation of the LID approach to stormwater management is still relatively uncommon in Virginia, but there is much interest in the concept and a number of efforts are currently underway at the state and local level to expand the use of LID. While not a panacea to some of the problems with conventional stormwater management approaches, under certain site conditions LID approaches may offer benefits as an alternative technology for stormwater management. Given these potential benefits the proper circumstances for the use of LID should be identified and promoted; however, caution is required to ensure that this effort does not conflict with existing stormwater management programs or create an expectation that LID approaches alone can offer a comprehensive approach for stormwater management and watershed planning.