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Low
Impact Development (LID)
The
implementation of Low Impact Development (LID) techniques across the
United States has demonstrated that the proper implementation of LID
techniques not only results in water quality protection benefits and
in a reduction in the cost of land development and construction, but
also bears other positive attributes that go beyond economic benefits
such as enhanced property values, improved habitat, aesthetic
amenities, and improved quality of life (Ventura County MS4 Permit
Findings B17 (May 2009); Reducing Stormwater Costs through Low Impact
Development (LID) Strategies and Practices, USEPA Doc No. EPA
841-F-07-2006, December 2007). Additionally, properly implemented LID
techniques reduce the volume of runoff leaving a newly developed or
re-developed area thereby lowering the peak runoff rate, and thus
minimizing the adverse affects of hydromodification on stream habitat
(Ventura County MS4 Permit Findings B17).
VCK
advocates for all new developments and re-developments to adopt the
LID provisions and standards set forth in the May 2009 Ventura County
MS4 Permit (“MS4 Permit”). These provisions require the design
storm volume (the 85th percentile storm; the .75 inch storm
event; or 80% of the total annual runoff volume) to be retained onsite
via evapotranspiration, infiltration, or harvest and re-use through
limiting the effective impervious area (EIA) of the site to 5% of a
site’s area. Impervious surfaces are considered ineffective or
effective pervious areas if BMPs are implemented that do not allow a
discharge to the MS4. For
sites where retaining the storm design volume is determined to be
infeasible, alternative compliance via offsite same sub-watershed
mitigation is allowed that achieves the stormwater volume and
pollutant treatment that would have been achieved under the Permit’s
onsite LID requirements. However, all new development or
re-development sites must at least achieve an EIA of 30% or less.
Click
here for VCK’s Newhall Ranch Development LID Advocacy
Click
here for VCK’s Ormond Beach Specific Plan LID Advocacy
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