Creating Vibrant Communities

Green Infrastructure for Engaging CommunitiesElizabeth BalderstonAugust 13, 2013

Spirit in Service for Vibrant Communities

Elizabeth Balderston

Green Infrastructure for Engaging Communities

Low Impact Development

Creating Vibrant Communities Liliana Bozic

Elizabeth Balderston

August 2013

Low Impact Development

definitions and components

Interchangeable Terminology

LID Low Impact Development SUDS Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems WSUD Water Sensitive Urban Design BMP Best Management Practices SCP Source Control Practices

What is LID?LID is an approach to land development that works with nature to manage stormwater as close to its source as possible

Key principles: Preservation of natural soil infiltrating potential; Small scale integrated controls dispersed throughout

the site; Minimizing and disconnecting impervious areas; Prolonging stormwater runoff flow paths and times Creating multi-functional landscapes.

Why LID?Today’s challenges:

Urban growth impacts watershed health

Limited effectiveness of conventional drainage practices

Regulatory requirements

Climate change

Land development alters the natural balance between runoff and natural absorption

• greater amounts of impervious surface

• increased rates and volumes of surface runoff

• increased susceptibility of eroded land to flooding,

• damage to public and private property

• in-stream and wetland habitat degradation

Watershed Impacts

Limited Effectiveness of Stormwater Ponds

Limited pollutant removal • Effective for large sediment particles only• Limited nutrient removal

No runoff volume reduction

Concerns with winter operation

High maintenance cost

New Requirements New regulation requires better

stormwater quality treatment

Stormwater rate and volume control targets are established through watershed management planning process

12

Water dependencies

Watershed

Drinking Water

Wastewater

People

Bow & Elbow River

Land Use

• Source protection• Watershed Yield (Glaciers)

• Water resources• Water rights• Water Quality

• Pollutants• Collection infrastructure

• Total loadings• Assimilative capacity

• Supply and demand• Service levels

• TreatmentInfrastructure

• Drinking waterquality

• Distributioninfrastructure

• Imperviousness• hydrology

• Storm water infrastructure

Storm Water

• Urban runoff

Bioswales / Vegetated SwalesShallow and deep infiltration

Low susceptibility to cold climate

Treatment

Porous pavementShallow and deep infiltrationLow to high susceptibility to cold climateTreatment

Green RoofsShallow infiltrationLow susceptibility to cold climateVolume reduction

Rainwater reuseVolume reduction

LID calls for an integrated Strategy Plan at Site, Neighborhood, and

Watershed Level

A variety of easy and practical, cost-saving techniques to manage stormwater runoff close to its source (where rain falls) while preserving and protecting natural landscape features

Principles of Low Impact Development

LID Components- Better Planning Practices

LID Components- Better Planning Practices

LID Components- Absorbent Landscaping

LID Components- Absorbent Landscaping

LID Components- Bioretention / Bioswale

LID Components- Bioretention / Bioswale

LID Components- Vegetated Swale

≠

LID Components- Box Planters

LID Components - Permeable Pavement

LID Components- Permeable Pavement

LID Components - Green Roofs

LID Components - Green Roofs

LID Components- Rainwater Harvesting

LID Components- Rainwater Harvesting

Source: www.rainwaterpillow.com

LID Components- Rainwater Harvesting

Courtesy Cultec

LID Components- Stormwater Capture & Re-Use

Low Impact Development

creating vibrant

communities

Stormwater oriented low impact development strategies contribute to Vibrant Communities on multiple fronts:

• financial infrastructure – construction, repairs, maintenance, operation

natural and environmental disasters

environmental services

property values and development costs

• community resources community health

delight / aesthetics

education

community interaction

LID - Community Impacts

Vibrant Communities- community health / connection with nature

Vibrant Communities- education / community interaction

Vibrant Communities- community interaction / education

Vibrant Communities- delight

Vibrant Communities- urban greening / delight

Vibrant Communities- urban greening / community amenity

What is LID2?Low Impact Development is a creative design strategy that informs development opportunities on how to better connect with the surrounding energetic, ecological and social patterns to promote integrative sustainability.

Key principles: Designing with the environment and the land Give priority to social dimensions and environmental

protection Do we need it? Can we maintain it? Is there a solution

requiring fewer interventions? Is it local, integrated and decentralized?

What is LID2?

What is LID2?

What is LID2?

What is LID2?

What is LID2?

Creating Vibrant Communities

Next lecture: Tuesday September 17

Mark Anielski

Creating Flourishing Communities of Wellbeing and Happiness

www.urbansystems.ca