National LID Atlas: A Collaborative Online Database of Innovative Stormwater Management Practices

Any strategy to protect coastal and marine resources needs to address the issue of polluted runoff, especially urban runoff generated by development. Low impact development (LID) practices, also known as green infrastructure, have been shown to be effective in mitigating the impacts associated with stormwater runoff from development. On-the-ground examples of LID implementation are needed to aid local officials and stakeholders overcome the natural reluctance to embrace new technologies or approaches and encourage or even require their use. The National LID Atlas is an interactive tool that provides these real local examples of LID implementation throughout the country on the Internet in an easy-to-use Google Maps Mashup. The members of the National Nonpoint Source Education for Municipal Officials Network and other outreach educators built the Atlas and continue to add new projects to it. Local officials, developers, contractors, homeowners, and others can use the site to find examples of LID implementation in their state and resources for finding out more detailed information.