Protect your property from flooding, save money, and help the environment using Low Impact Development!
Facts About Low-Impact Development
- LID captures rainwater for reuse.
- LID absorbs rainwater to help prevent flooding.
- LID renews groundwater supplies for drinking water.
- LID cleans rainwater that has collected pollution (like litter, dirt, and oil) from our roofs and paved areas, instead of sending it into our rivers.
- LID is simple, affordable, and easier than maintaining big lawns and paved areas.
Each of us can make Mid-Michigan cleaner and greener. Learn more about the problem of non-point source pollution.
Try these simple LID techniques:
- Downspouts: direct downspouts to rain barrels or rain gardens.
- Rain Barrels: catch rainwater off your roof to water plants, wash cars, etc.
- Rain Gardens: dig out patches of your yard and plant with absorbent native flowers like sedum, coneflower, black-eyed susan, lilies, blue-flag, and tall grasses.
- Don’t Pave: instead use gravel, pea stone, interlocking bricks, or mulch and native plants.
- Pervious Pavement: check out this new type of concrete that allows water to run through it and back into the ground.
- No-Mow Zone: if you live on the water, don’t mow up to the water’s edge. Plant a buffer strip of native dogwood, willow, sweetgrass, elderberry, or crabapple to filter pollutants and prevent erosion.
Utilize Rain Barrels
Rain Gardens
Native plants adapted to our climate make rain gardens low-maintenance. They also attract butterflies and wild birds. To get native Mid-Michigan plants, go to Wild Type or contact Wild Type in Mason at 517-244-1140. Rain gardens absorb and filter pollutants, and help prevent flooding. (Taller plants = longer roots = more absorbent).
In addition, we looked all over the web to find the best instructions for building a home rain garden. Here are some of our top picks:
- 10 simple steps that apply in all states. Tells you who to contact in Michigan about utilities before you dig.
Pervious Driveways and Walkways
These interlocking pavers allow rainwater to filter back into the ground. They also last longer than concrete because they contract in winter and expand in spring.