Low-impact development has been widely adopted for stormwater management, but its use is still limited in some places by technical concerns (“Will permeable pavement work when it’s frozen?” for example) or by a zoning code that has yet to catch up to the new techniques.
Forester Media is offering a one-day program that shows how to overcome many of these obstacles. “Put the LID on Stormwater: Overcoming Technical and Policy Challenges of LID” will take place January 20, 2010, in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Attendees can choose from three different full-day sessions
* “How to Apply LID to the Unique Geology, Hydrology, and Climate of the Great Lakes Region,” taught by LID pioneer Larry Coffman, provides an overview of LID and focuses on challenges specific to cold-weather climates.
* “Integrating Stormwater Management Into Code,” taught by Lisa Nisenson, examines planning and zoning codes—particularly those common to Minnesota cities—and shows how common LID practices can work to meet interrelated community goals. You can read Lisa’s recent article in Stormwater magazine on using zoning code audits and ordinance reviews to better manage stormwater.
* “Before Monitoring,” taught by John Gulliver of the University of Minnesota, looks at what needs to be done before beginning a monitoring program for LID practices and how to determine whether LID techniques are really working.
Each course lasts from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and earns 0.5 continuing education unit. You can find more information and download the full conference program online.