As Low Impact Development (LID) continues to be the focus of stormwater permits and has be increasing implemented over the past 10 years in California an understanding of the effectiveness of the LID BMPs is needed. The current understanding of the true effectiveness of LID BMPs in California however is lacking. Based on a recent experience and a recent survey of local jurisdictions in California, few LID BMPs are being regularly inspected and even fewer have monitoring or evaluation requirements. Monitoring is conducted primarily at grant-funded public demonstration and research sites. Even within these case sites, current monitoring methods and objectives are not consistent. The result is a lack of data regarding LID effectiveness in California. A consistent approach for monitoring LID in California is needed to understand the effectiveness and benefits of LID, which can then help to modify design and implementation of LID as well as understand the overall watershed effects through implementation of LID.
In response to the clear need for a better understanding of the performance of LID BMPs as well as the factors that contribute to variations in performance the SMC initiated and funded the LID BMP Monitoring/Effectiveness project. This project will begin by exploring lessons learned from recent monitoring of LID measures as well as describing the current efforts in California to monitor LID. The project will also develop a comprehensive effort to identify the key elements for a consistent approach to monitoring and determining the effectiveness of LID BMPs for pollutants of concern and for reduction in hydromodification impacts in California. The effort to have a comprehensive understanding of LID monitoring efforts in California through coordination with agencies and organizations which are working to monitor and understand the performance of LID BMPs will also be described.
Through the TAC an initial approach to identifying answering key questions regarding LID BMPs will be outlined, which include; an evaluation of relevant LID BMP monitoring work, compilation of existing LID BMP performance data and information, characterization and quantification of water quality benefits, evaluation of LID BMP performance over time, evaluation of the role of maintenance of LID BMPs in performance and monitoring, evaluation of LID BMP designs for inclusion of monitoring and maintenance features, and determination of what data to collect that will most effectively improve LID BMP performance over time.
This project will also seek to be a repository of LID monitoring data from Southern California. Additional sampling may be conducted to fill identified data gaps. Collated data will be analyzed to determine trends in the factors that affect LID performance and to evaluate the effectiveness of selected LID BMPs.
The ultimate goal of this work is a report that will help guide future design, implementation, and monitoring of LID including the adequate collection of data to have a more comprehensive understanding of LID in California and its true benefits. For a complete Scope of work please see the SOW page.
Resources
Technical Advisory Committee
Scope of work
Contact list
Daniel Apt, CPSWQ, CPESC
Vice President
RBF Consulting, a Michael Baker International Company
14725 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618-2027
[O] 949-330-4117 [M] 949-533-9785
[email protected]
www.mbakerintl.com
Michael Trapp Ph.D.
Project Manager
RBF Consulting, a Michael Baker International Company
14725 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618-2027
[O] 949-330-4117 [M] 949-533-9785
[email protected]
www.mbakerintl.com
Matt Yeager
Yeager Environmental Associates, Inc.
3328 North Fairfax Drive, San Bernardino,CA 92404
[O] (909) 659-8038
[email protected]
http://yeagerenvironmental.com/