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www.epa.gov/greeninfrastructure (CSOs). sewer overflows ofSee combined magnitude and occurrence the reduce goal to primary the with often runoff, stormwater manage and control to specifically ecosystems engineered-as-natural or natural on rely that approaches emphasizes Infrastructure Green Weather Wet or Infrastructure Stormwater Green asLID, such fit. terms, other which under many, term umbrella an becoming is GI For benefits. environmental broad provide that LIDpractices and of elements natural collectively,integrated an system is GI Considered Wet Infrastructure. Weather Green or Infrastructure Stormwater Green with interchangeably used often is it context, this systems.In collection to drainage flows reduce and runoff stormwater harvest and/or to infiltrate, evapotranspirate, vegetation and soil using on rely largely practices) that LID also are (which pavement, gardens rain and swales porous roofs, as green such ecosystems of stormwater, context the In to engineered-as-natural refers GI (see infrastructure natural as may known be also term the context, this In functions. habitat natural creating and values,preserving and property and aesthetics enhancing carbon, storing and sequestering islands, heat urban mitigating demands, energy reducing pollutants, air filtering from ranging benefits and services floodplains).ecological provides This (e.g., greenway and and corridors ofecosystems natural forests networking and creation the to describe of context astormwater outside used been has GI (GI) Infrastructure Green . www.epa.gov/greenkit/natural_infrastructure.htm has been used in different ways by different entities. ways entities. by different in used been has for more information. more for

). . space and wildlife in benefits an andcosts, provides energy green D.C., absorbs rain water, reduces Sidwell Friendsin School Washington, A green roof, such as this one at Virginia. County, Stafford in lot residential a from runoff treats and collects garden A rain camouflage. provides barrel rain the of top the as incorporated planter A use. later for runoff roof stores and captures barrel A rain • Sustainable Stormwater Management provides stormwater drainage solutions that minimize both stormwater impacts from development and the need for ongoing or long-term maintenance. Since sustainable stormwater management focuses on natural solutions to restore or maintain a predevelopment water balance and minimize long-term costs for stormwater drainage and treatment, holistic LID generally represents the current state of the art for accomplishing this goal.

• Better Site Design applies to an approach to new residential and commercial development that focuses on reducing pollutant loads, conserving natural areas, saving money and increasing property values. Key principles of this approach include reducing impervious cover, increasing the amount of natural lands set aside for conservation, and better integrating stormwater treatment systems on-site. The term Better A roadside swale built in a public right-of-way Site Design was coined by the Center for Watershed Protection. It has provides aesthetic benefits and collects and filters many elements in common with nonstructural LID practices, conservation road runoff in Olympia, Washington. design and natural resources .

• Conservation Design seeks to protect the natural environment of an area by controlling growth and applying with an eye toward sustainability. Open space landscapes and vistas are intentionally preserved, along with high quality wildlife habitats and existing farmland and rural communities. In some regions, conservation design is used to explicitly protect water quality. It is related to “preservation development,” which is more narrowly focused on preserving farmland.

• refers to a range of development and conservation strategies intended to preserve and protect the natural environment while simultaneously making communities more attractive, economically stronger and more socially diverse. Smart growth relies on ten key principles, such as taking advantage of compact building design and increasing density to prevent sprawl and preserve more undisturbed natural areas, mixing land An open space next to a school in Philadelphia uses to reduce transportation needs and improve quality of life, creating was transformed into an outdoor learning lab, recreation area and stormwater management walkable neighborhoods, providing a variety of transportation choices. For system (rain garden) that captures and filters more information on smart growth, see www.epa.gov/smartgrowth. parking lot runoff.

• New is closely related to Smart Growth and for many can be used interchangeably. It focuses on traditional neighborhood design, provides improved connectivity through traditional street grids, promotes a strong sense of place and local identity, and minimizes dependency on cars.

• Light Imprint Design is a term that grew out of the New Urbanist movement that seeks to integrate Low Impact Development with . It encourages sustainable, compact, mixed-use community development and walkable communities. Placement of stormwater and other green practices strive to encourage interaction between people and the environment, not block it. For example, communities not only preserve natural areas, but also include access paths. Note that although Light Imprint Design purposefully uses the same acronym as Low Impact Development (which is the older term), EPA uses LID to refer to Low Impact Development, but in any case strives to define the acronym before using it. The roof of this Washington, D.C. parking garage doubles as a school athletic field, reducing runoff and offering usable open space.

United States Environmental Protection Agency • Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460 EPA 841-N-12-003B • March 2012