Methodology for Low Impact Development (LID) Site Selection and Integration with Existing Stormwater Management Plans On Military Lands.

Executive Order 13514 “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance” was created to address storm water and water quality issues on Federal lands on projects whose activities disturbance footprint exceeds 5000 ft².  The Executive Order requires that all development projects restore the hydrology to the pre-development conditions to the maximum extent possible.  To help installations meet this requirement, the authors examined the existing hydrology and water conveyance systems at Fort Hood, Texas.  Recently the USEPA released a GIS-based siting and optimization tool (SUSTAIN) that analyzes land use, LID best management practices (BMPs), terrain, land cover, etc., and determines the best possible locations for BMP placement on the landscape as well as identifying costs/benefits.  In this presentation, the use of the software on military installation cantonment areas will be examined as well as the limitations of the software analyses as they pertain to military lands. Using the USEPA’s SUSTAIN model a systematic approach to identifying and siting LID for storm water retention on the installation was developed.