Discover how Low-Impact Development (LID) mimics natural systems to manage rainwater close to the source, promoting sustainable land management and environmental stewardship.
Table of Contents
Question
Which of the following strategies is considered an approach to land management that mimics natural systems and manages rainwater as close to the source as possible?
A. Xeriscaping
B. Passive Design
C. Evapotranspiration
D. Low-Impact Development
Answer
D. Low-Impact Development (LID) is the correct answer to the question, “Which of the following strategies is considered an approach to land management that mimics natural systems and manages rainwater as close to the source as possible?”
Explanation
Low-Impact Development (LID) is an approach to land development that uses various land planning and design practices and technologies to simultaneously conserve and protect natural resource systems and reduce infrastructure costs.
LID still allows land to be developed, but in acost-effective manner that helps mitigate potential environmental impacts. This approach aims to manage rainwater as close to its source as possible, mimicking a site’s pre-development hydrology through the use of numerous site design strategies.
Low-Impact Development is a comprehensive land planning and engineering design approach that seeks to maintain and enhance the pre-development hydrologic regime of urban and developing watersheds. LID aims to manage stormwater as close to its source as possible by mimicking the natural hydrologic processes of infiltration, filtration, storage, evaporation, and transpiration.
The goal of LID is to preserve, restore, and create green space using soils, vegetation, and rainwater harvest techniques. By implementing LID principles and practices, water can be managed in a way that reduces the impact of built areas and promotes the natural movement of water within an ecosystem or watershed.
Some examples of LID techniques include:
- Bioretention systems (rain gardens)
- Permeable pavements
- Green roofs
- Rainwater harvesting
- Vegetated swales and filter strips
These techniques help to reduce runoff volume, peak flow rates, and nonpoint source pollution through evapotranspiration, infiltration, and detention. LID also provides additional benefits such as improved air quality, reduced urban heat island effect, and enhanced aesthetic value.
In contrast, the other options mentioned are not directly related to managing rainwater close to the source:
A. Xeriscaping is a landscaping method that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation by using drought-tolerant plants.
B. Passive Design is an approach to building design that uses the building’s location, climate, and materials to minimize energy use and maximize occupant comfort.
C. Evapotranspiration is the process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere through evaporation from the soil and other surfaces, and transpiration from plants. While it is a natural process, it is not a specific land management strategy.
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