Chattanooga, Tennessee, through its Resource Rain program, kicked off a Low Impact Development (LID) Design Challenge on March 13. To win, design teams will need to demonstrate efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective approaches to stormwater management and city beautification. The competition is intended to familiarize the design sector with new Environmental Protection Agency standards, which will take effect December 2014. Under the new standards, LID will be the preferred method of managing stormwater. Competition entrants are asked to follow the city of Chattanooga’s Rainwater Management Guide. Development types in the competition include two streets, a new development, and an urban infill. Registration closes April 7, submittals are due June 6, and the final event is July 10.  Prizes are $10,000, $3,000, and $1,000 for first, second, and third with a People’s Choice at $2,000.

Memphis-Shelby County Office of Sustainability launched its LID Competition during a two-day LID Conference March 6-7. Teams will focus on one 5-ha (12.5-ac)  site, which is a new development for senior living on property owned by the nonprofit United Housing Inc.  Registration closes April 11, submittals are due July 18, and the final event is September 5.  The winning team receives $15,000.

The Green Country Sustainability Forum also launched a regional LID design competition in the Metropolitan Tulsa area in November. The awards ceremony on April 3 will be held in conjunction with the Great Plains LID Research and Innovation Symposium.

Read more about LID design competitions.