California Stormwater
Quality Association
P.O. Box 2105
Menlo Park, CA 94026-2105

Phone: (650) 366-1042
E-mail: info@casqa.org

California Stormwater
Quality Association
P.O. Box 2105
Menlo Park, CA 94026-2105

Phone: (650) 366-1042
E-mail: info@casqa.org

SMC LID Manual Roadmap

Section 1: The Impacts of Development and How LID Can Help

This section provides a summary of the potential environmental, economic, and community benefits associated with the use of LID. It also describes how LID can be used to address major water quality and regional environmental challenges.

Section 2: The LID Site Design Process

This section outlines the LID site design process that informs all stages of planning and design. The process includes an emphasis on specialized site planning methods that are intended to be integrated into the overall site design rather than implemented as an afterthought.

Step 1, Comprehensive Site Assessment

Serves as the fundamental starting point in the development of and LID site design. This step includes information on a variety of data sources ranging from on-site visual inspection to professional surveys and geotechnical reports.

Step 2, Define Goals

Describes how LID fits into the regulatory environment and how it can be used in green building. This step outlines common regulatory requirements for water quality and hydromodification.

Step 3, Implement LID Principles

Outlines specific LID strategies that can be selected and implemented to address the potential impacts of development. The LID strategies are divided into two types: LID Principles (minimize impacts) and LID BMPs (mitigate impacts).

Step 4, Use LID BMPs to Mitigate Impacts

Emphasizes that LID Principles alone may not completely address potential impacts of development and subsequently meet minimum project goals. This step includes descriptions, basic design guidance, and selection criteria for the most commonly used LID BMPs.

Step 5, Evaluation Design

Identifies methods for assessing the successful application of LID to a given site. This includes technical guidance on the estimation and control of stormwater runoff quality and quantity.

Section 3: Case Studies

This section presents four case studies showing how LID is applied in various contexts including retrofit of existing commercial, retrofit of existing residential development, new commercial development design, and new residential development design.

Appendix A: Lists of Plants Suitable for LID in Southern California

This appendix provides lists of plants suitable for general landscaping, bioretention, and green roofs in Southern California. The plant lists included in this manual are intended to serve as a general guide for identifying plants likely to be suitable for use in LID.

Appendix B: California Planning and Regulatory Framework for LID

This appendix serves as an overview of how LID fits into California’s regulatory environment. This includes a discussion of LID in NPDES Stormwater Permits and municipal permits within the region have contained specific LID and hydromodification requirements.

Appendix C: LID, LEED, and the Sustainable Sites Initiative

This appendix outlines how LID can be used to achieve LEED or Sustainable Sites Initiative Certification. Three tables are provided to display some of the options for achieving LEED credit points through LID: LEED for New Construction Credit Options, LEED for Neighborhood Development Credit Options, and Sustainable Sites Initiative Prerequisite and Credit Options.

Image Credits:

  • Section 1: The Hydrologic Cycle, Source: FISRG, 1998.
  • Section 2: The LID Site Design Process, Source: The Low Impact Development Center, Inc.
  • Section 2, Step 1: Joshua Tree Woodland, Source: Carrie Tai.
  • Section 2, Step 2: Levels of LID, Water Quality Treatment, and Hydrologic Control, Source: The Low Impact Development Center, Inc.
  • Section 2, Step 3: Commercial area in which impervious surfaces have been disconnected. Runoff from the roof and sidewalk are captured by bioretention cells. Sidewalks are separated from the parking lot by a large vegetated area. The parking lot drains to a bioretention cell rather than directly to the street. Source: The Low Impact Development Center, Inc.
  • Section 2, Step 4: Bioretention cell for street/yard drainage, Downey, CA., Source: Bill DePoto
  • Section 2, Step 5: Commonly Used Models for LID Design, Source: The Low Impact Development Center, Inc.
  • Section 3: LID retrofits to an existing residential lot. These retrofits are to be applied to each lot in the subdivision. Source: The Low Impact Development Center, Inc.
  • Appendix A: Master Plant List (last page)., Source: The Low Impact Development Center, Inc.
  • Appendix B: California State Water Resources Control Board Logo, Source: California State Water Resources Control Board.
  • Appendix C: LEED for New Construction Credit Options, Source: The Low Impact Development Center, Inc.