Urban development traditionally replaces natural landscapes with impervious surfaces such as rooftops, pavement, streets, and storm drain systems. This transformation increases the volume and rate of polluted stormwater runoff that flows directly into creeks and other waterways.
The impacts of urban development on waterways can be reduced through the use of Low Impact Development (LID) techniques. LID strategies reduce runoff and mimic a site’s natural (predevelopment) hydrology by minimizing disturbed areas and impervious surfaces, and by retaining and treating stormwater through infiltration, evapotranspiration, rainwater harvesting and reuse, and biotreatment.
Multi-Agency Post-Construction Stormwater Standards Manual
SJVSWQP member agencies have adopted a shared Post-Construction Stormwater Standards Manual that describes the design criteria, sizing methods, and required documentation for new and redevelopment projects subject to MS4 post-construction requirements.
Resources
- CASQA — California LID & Green Infrastructure resources
- CASQA Stormwater BMP Handbook — New Development and Redevelopment (provided as PDF)
- Final Stormwater Post-Construction Standards Manual (adopted 2015, provided as PDF)
- LID Bioretention Details & Specifications (provided as PDF)