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Courses/Engineering/Stormwater Engineering

Low Impact Development

Master nature-based stormwater strategies to create cost-effective, sustainable site designs that mimic natural hydrology and protect water resources.

Created byHalfMoon Education
BeginnerUpdated Feb 23, 2026
Low Impact Development

What You'll Learn

check_circleMaster site planning for conservation.
check_circleDesign bioretention and rain gardens.
check_circleImplement permeable pavement systems.
check_circleAnalyze soil types for infiltration.
check_circleReduce runoff via impervious disconnect.
check_circleCalculate water quality volumes.

About This Course

This course examines the principles of stormwater low-impact development, hydrology considerations for low-impact development, site planning, structural Best Management Practices, low-impact development economics, construction, and maintenance.

A significant portion of the training focuses on Environmental Site Design (ESD) and specific Best Management Practices (BMPs). You will examine techniques to reduce impervious cover, protect sensitive resources like woodlands and wetlands, and implement site fingerprinting. The course provides detailed technical guidance on designing vegetative systems such as bioretention cells (rain gardens) and grass swales, as well as hardscape solutions like permeable pavements, porous concrete, and green roofs. Through a blend of design theory, regulatory insights, and real-world case studies of both successes and failures, this course provides a practical roadmap for creating hydrologically functional landscapes.

Key Learning Outcomes:

  • Define the principles of Low Impact Development and contrast them with conventional stormwater management impacts.
  • Analyze hydrologic metrics, including Runoff Curve Numbers (RCN) and time of concentration, to match pre-development conditions.
  • Implement site planning strategies that preserve natural landforms, reduce soil compaction, and protect well-drained soils.
  • Design and size vegetative practices, including bioretention systems and bioswales, tailoring ponding depths to specific soil classifications.
  • Evaluate the application and maintenance of structural practices such as permeable asphalt, concrete, and paver systems.
  • Conduct accurate soil investigations and infiltration testing to prevent premature system failure.
  • Develop construction sequences and maintenance plans that ensure long-term functionality of LID infrastructure.

Your Instructors

HalfMoon Education
HalfMoon Education

Online Courses for Engineers

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HalfMoon Education is a nonprofit continuing education provider offering live webinars and on-demand courses for engineers, architects, landscape architects, land surveyors, attorneys, paralegals, accountants and others. Since 1996, we’ve helped thousands of professionals nationwide stay current with industry standards and codes, earn CE hours, and advance their expertise through practical, expert-led learning experiences. Learn more about us at: www.halfmoonseminars.org

Steven  Trinkaus, PE
Steven Trinkaus, PE

Principal at Trinkaus Engineering, LLC

Mr. Trinkaus is an internationally recognized expert in the field of Low Impact Development (LID), having presented at many American Society of Civil Engineers/Environmental & Water Resources Institute (ASCE/EWRI) international conferences and many other regional conferences and workshops on LID and water quality issues. He was invited by the Water Resources Agency in Taichung, Taiwan, to present a 12-hour workshop on LID in December 2011. Mr. Trinkaus has been an invited presenter and consultant multiple times on stormwater and LID in China and South Korea since 2013. He has designed LID retrofits in Zhenjiang, China.   Mr. Trinkaus has reviewed and edited LID reports by Pusan National University and the Land & Housing Institute in South Korea. Mr. Trinkaus has written LID design manuals for the towns of Tolland, Plainville, Harwinton, Morris, and East Granby, Connecticut. He has designed many types of LID treatment systems for a variety of residential and commercial applications.   Mr. Trinkaus is the primary author for the EWRI Filter Strip/Bioswales Task Committee. Mr. Trinkaus is a licensed professional engineer in Connecticut and Maryland. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management in 1980 from the University of New Hampshire. Mr. Trinkaus has more than 39 years of experience in the land development field, more than 19 years of experience designing Low Impact Development treatment systems, and 10 years of experience writing LID regulations and design manuals.

Credit Information

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Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 327+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 29 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.

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