Raingarden or Biofiltration Cell,
Friday Harbor High SchoolOur 'Green Ground' program to help create practices that sustain the use of our natural resources. One of the most important techniques that we promote is Low Impact Development (LID).
When the land is altered native vegetation may be removed to clear the way for buildings and driveways. This may alter the topography and thus the hydrography as well as creating impervious surfaces which prevent water from infiltrating into the soil. With storms the runoff may pick up pollutants such as oil, fuel, pesticides and heavy metals. These pollutants may be responsible for polluting our waterways-streams, wetlands and near-shore waters. LID can be an effective way of slowing down and filtering rain water runoff.
LID techniques are based on natural mechanisms facilitated by the soil and plants to reduce runoff, slow it down, then filter and clean the water. LID also assists in recharging our aquifers.
Efforts to promote the use of Low Impact Development Techniques
• Monthly Green Ground column covering various topics in LID, rain water management, and design.
• LID outreach to new landowners and landowners developing land.
• Eco-Builders Guild Meetings
• LID/Green Builders referral list of local and regional Low Impact – Green builders, landscapers and suppliers.
• Work towards the development of more comprehensive water management guidelines for landowners and building trades professionals.
• LID workshops: Stormwater Site Planing, Low Impact Development techniques: Rain Gardens/Bioretention, Pervious Pavements, etc.
• LID demonstration site
• False Bay Watershed on San Juan Island: LID property assessments for landowners requesting this assistance. (An LID assessment includes a property site visit entailing a natural resource inventory and evaluation and summary report for the landowner.
• False Bay Watershed Action Team (WAT). The WAT serves as a LID program advisory body and action oriented watershed landowners group. The Conservation District and the WAT are working together to find effective methods for LID education and outreach in the watershed and are also working cooperatively in identifying a restoration project for the False Bay Watershed.
LID home example