Low Impact Development (LID)
Please check with the local Governing Agency for specific requirements.
Intended for Private Design & Development Community and Public Agency Staff responsible for the design, compliance, or review of LID measures. This year’s training will include case studies, discussions, and presentations including private industry civil engineers, municipal staff, and representatives from the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. Topics will include:
- Stormwater Calculator: A Design Engineer’s Perspective
- Final SWLID Submittals
- FAQs
- Design/Installation Challenges
- Future of LID Manual and Calculator Updates
All participants are encouraged to attend in person; however, a virtual on-line option will be available. Space is limited and an RSVP is required. Come connect, collaborate, learn, and communicate with us in Healdsburg this December!
stormwaterlidtraining2024.bpt.me
Low Impact Development is a design approach that integrates specialized landscape features into the urban environment. Runoff is directed into these features where it can soak into the ground. This approach mimics the storm water benefits of the natural environment. Specialized swales, planters, and rain gardens provide beauty while also slowing runoff and removing pollutants. Plants and microbes that live in healthy soil use pollutants as nutrients, removing them from runoff.
The Cities of Cotati, Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, Santa Rosa, and Ukiah; the County of Sonoma; and the Town of Windsor are responsible for applying Permit requirements in conformance with the LID Manual, at a minimum, to new development, retrofit projects, and applicable infrastructure improvement projects within their jurisdiction. Requirements are intended to reduce storm water pollution, protect water quality of our local waterways and promote groundwater recharge. Design guidelines for permanent storm water features have been provided in a series of manuals since July 13, 2005.
The Storm Water Low Impact Development Technical Design Manual (LID Manual) provides technical guidance for project designs that require the implementation of permanent storm water Best Management Practices (BMPs). This Manual is intended to satisfy the specific requirements of the most current National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit and Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. Additional design requirements imposed by Governing Agencies, such as local grading ordinances, CAL Green, CEQA, 401 permitting, and hydraulic design for flood control still apply as appropriate. Governing Agencies may, at their discretion, determine that designing in accordance with this Manual satisfies other requirements. Additionally, coverage under another regulation may trigger the requirement to design in accordance with this Manual. Please check with the local Governing Agency for specific requirements.
NOTE: Development projects that received discretionary approval prior to manual version adoption dates are exempt from following current manuals and guidelines. The table below is provided to guide the use of the correct Manuals, determination worksheet, storm water calculator and other tools that are applied to your development project.
Manuals & Related Documents
What date did the project receive discretionary approval?
5/3/2017 – Present
LID Manual
- 2017 Storm Water Technical Design Manual-Narrative (revised 1-6-21)
- 2017 Appendices (revised 4/11/22)
- 2017 Reference Docs – LID Manual
Determination Worksheet
Storm Water Calculator
Tools
Reference Documents
- LID Design Details
- 2017 BMP Selection Table
- 2017 BMP Inspection Checklist
- Maintenance Declaration (PDF)
- CALGreen Building Code Memo – LID Requirements [updated 12-31-19] (PDF)
- City of Santa Rosa Resolution No. 27973 (PDF)
BMP Factsheets
- LIVING ROOF FACT SHEET
- RAINWATER HARVESTING FACT SHEET
- VEGETATED BUFFER STRIP
- BOVINE TERRACE FACT SHEET
- INTERCEPTOR TREES FACT SHEET
- IMPERVIOUS AREA DISCONNECTION
- INFILTRATION TRENCH
- POROUS PAVEMENT
- UNITS
- VEGETATED SWALE
- BIORETENTION
- CONSTRUCTED WETLAND
- FLOW THROUGH PLANTER
7/1/2010 – 5/2/2017
LID Manual
- Low Impact Development Technical Design Manual (PDF)
- LID Manual – Appendices (PDF)
- LID Manual – Reference Documents (PDF)
Determination Worksheet
Storm Water Calculator
Tools
- Low Impact Development Technical Design Manual (PDF)
- Preliminary SUSMP Submittal Example (PDF)
- Preliminary SUSMP Submittal Guide (PDF)
Reference Documents
- CALGreen Building Code Memo – LID Requirements [updated 12-31-19] (PDF)
- City of Santa Rosa Resolution No. 27973 (PDF)
- Maintance Declaration (PDF)