One of the major non-point sources of pollution to our lakes, ponds and rivers is stormwater. Previously, we managed stormwater by getting it off of our properties as quickly as possible. We now recognize that allowing the water to percolate into the ground where it falls protects our lakes and rivers by capturing pollutants that would otherwise be carried to them in stormwater. There are many ways that stormwater flow can be captured, re-routed and retained until it seeps naturally into the ground.
You may recognize the term LID (Low impact development) but what about GSI (green stormwater infrastructure)? LID refers to the planning and site design process that promotes capture and slow dispersal of stormwater on site. GSI refers to the man-made structures and devices that actually do the work. The Vermont Watershed Management Division recently released a series of information sheets describing various GSI options. While some are designed for use by towns and larger developments, others can be used by homeowners. Follow the links below to learn about the use of GSI in Vermont.
http://www.vtwaterquality.org/stormwater/docs/sw_gi_2.0_green_stormwater_infrastructure.pdf
http://www.vtwaterquality.org/stormwater/docs/sw_gi_2.1_infiltration.pdf
http://www.vtwaterquality.org/stormwater/docs/sw_gi_2.2_evapotranspiration.pdf
http://www.vtwaterquality.org/stormwater/docs/sw_gi_2.3_storage_and_reuse.pdf
Angela Shambaugh, Watershed Management Division
