Our News

Building Smarter Shores: How Low Impact Development Is Preserving the Gulf Coast

Building Smarter Shores: How Low Impact Development Is Preserving the Gulf Coast

Summary

Along the Gulf Coast, communities are turning to Low Impact Development (LID) to manage flooding, reduce polluted runoff, and lower infrastructure costs. LID mimics natural water cycles by capturing and filtering stormwater where it falls through methods such as rain gardens, permeable pavement, underground retention chambers, and native landscaping. A local example is The Landing at Oyster Bay in Gulf Shores, Alabama, which incorporates these techniques while preserving mature oak trees. Regional efforts—from Alabama’s Mobile Bay National Estuary Program to green infrastructure projects in Pensacola, Charleston, and Atlanta—demonstrate growing adoption. Studies show LID can reduce runoff by up to 75% and remove significant amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended solids. Beyond environmental gains, LID offers financial benefits like reduced maintenance costs, higher property values, and stronger storm resilience, making it a sustainable and cost-effective approach to future development.

Along the Gulf Coast, flooding, polluted runoff, and costly drainage projects remain persistent challenges as both population and development surge. In response, real estate developers and municipalities are turning to Low Impact Development (LID) — a forward-thinking, nature-based approach to stormwater management that blends environmental preservation with long-term cost savings.

At The Highland Group, we view LID not just as a green initiative, but as a smarter way to build — one that supports resilient infrastructure, enhances community appeal, and protects the coastal environments we call home.

What Is Low Impact Development (LID)?

Low Impact Development is a planning and design approach that manages stormwater where it falls, mimicking the natural water cycle by slowing, filtering, and absorbing runoff through soil and vegetation. Rather than treating rainwater as waste, LID treats it as a resource.

LID methods include:

  • Rain gardens that absorb and filter runoff

  • Permeable pavement that allows water to soak into the ground

  • Underground retention chambers that store stormwater during heavy rainfall

  • Green roofs and native landscaping that reduce runoff and improve water quality

Across the Southeast, these techniques are becoming increasingly common and critical as communities seek cost-effective ways to reduce flooding and preserve natural beauty.

LID in Action: The Landing at Oyster Bay

One example of successful LID integration is our recent project, The Landing at Oyster Bay, a 40-unit multi-family townhouse on Fort Morgan Road in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This project demonstrates how innovative development and environmental stewardship can work in tandem.

Key LID features at Oyster Bay include:

  • Rain Gardens: Capture and naturally filter runoff before it enters the drainage system, reducing erosion and improving water quality.

  • Permeable Pavement: Allows rain to soak through and recharge the groundwater, reducing the burden on municipal systems.

  • Underground Stormwater Chambers: Store thousands of gallons of stormwater, slowing its release and minimizing downstream flooding risks.

  • Tree Preservation and Root Protection: Partnered with certified local arborists and used Air Spade technology — a pneumatic excavation tool — to uncover and protect the root systems of mature live oaks that have stood on Fort Morgan Road for generations.

These practices preserve the natural charm of coastal Alabama while demonstrating our commitment to sustainable, resilient construction.

A Growing Movement

Low Impact Development is gaining ground along the Gulf Coast and across the Southeast, where communities are increasingly embracing natural infrastructure to manage stormwater, protect water quality, and enhance long-term resilience.

Locally, the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (MBNEP) has been a strong advocate for LID adoption throughout coastal Alabama. MBNEP’s Watershed Management Plans emphasize strategies like rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable pavements to reduce runoff, improve habitat, and protect the delicate balance of our estuaries. Through demonstration projects and municipal training, MBNEP is helping cities and developers understand how small, intentional design choices can have a big environmental impact.

Other regional examples include:

  • Pensacola, Florida: Revitalization efforts incorporating bioswales and native landscaping into city streetscapes and stormwater corridors.

  • Charleston, South Carolina & Atlanta, Georgia: Public-private partnerships driving citywide green infrastructure requirements for new developments.

These are not isolated efforts. A 2023 study showed that rain gardens can reduce stormwater runoff by up to 75% during average rainfall events. LID installations can significantly improve water quality by removing:

  • 73% of total nitrogen

  • 72% of total phosphorus

  • 79% of total suspended solids

By incorporating these solutions into both public infrastructure and private development, communities are creating more resilient, attractive, and environmentally responsible places to live and work.

Benefits Beyond the Environment

LID isn’t just environmentally responsible — it’s fiscally sound. By reducing strain on municipal pipes, pumps, and treatment facilities, LID can significantly lower infrastructure costs.

For developers and cities alike, it offers:

  • Reduced maintenance and capital improvement costs

  • Improved property values through enhanced curb appeal and natural landscaping

  • Stronger storm resilience, especially in flood-prone areas

Despite the benefits, adoption still lags. This highlights the need for more visible, successful examples — like The Landing at Oyster Bay — that show LID is not only feasible but beneficial.

Why Champion LID

At The Highland Group, we believe responsible development should enhance the communities we serve, not strain them. Our team brings LID expertise to the table from day one, helping clients and partners design projects that are functional, beautiful, and forward-thinking.

From preconstruction planning to long-term maintenance considerations, we know how to integrate LID seamlessly into the design-build process, particularly in coastal environments like Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi, where stormwater management is not optional — it’s essential.

Looking Ahead: Building Resilient Communities Together

Imagine coastal neighborhoods where parking lots recharge aquifers, stormwater systems work invisibly underground, and landscaped green spaces manage runoff naturally. These aren’t distant ideas — they are the future of sustainable coastal development, and they are already happening along the Gulf Coast.

With continued policy support, education, and investment, Low Impact Development is poised to become the standard — not the exception — for communities looking to grow responsibly. The Highland Group’s Oyster Bay project proves what’s possible.

Discover how LID can benefit your community at The Highland Group.

Sources

  • Burszta-Adamiak, E. (2023). Rain Gardens and Urban Stormwater Management.

  • Smith, J. (2022). LID Effectiveness in Nutrient and Sediment Removal.

  • Le, A. (2023). Homeowner Perceptions of Rain Gardens in Gulf Coast Communities.

  • Kaykhosravi, S. (2018). LID as a Tool for Urban Flood Mitigation.

Back to News