“We have incorporated a session about Beyond the Guidebook 2010 because it demonstrates what can be accomplished when one implements a culture change. Beyond the Guidebook 2010 is the story of doing business differently in the local government setting, and connecting with the community,” states Pia Nagpal.
“Bringing together local government practitioners in neutral forums has enabled implementers to collaborate as regional teams. Their action-oriented focus has resulted in ‘how to do it’ examples that help decision-makers visualize what ‘design with nature’ policy goals look like on the ground,” observes Eric Bonham
“Convening for action as a provincial initiative has evolved over the last five years. We started in the South Okanagan because there was a regional growth strategy and Smart Growth on the Ground in the town of Oliver. By 2006, we were ready to go a bigger scale. We said let’s take on a whole region. That became CAVI,” recalls Kim Stephens.
“The Beyond the Guidebook initiative initiated a course correction that will help local governments and the development community establish what level of rainwater runoff volume reduction makes sense. The objective of protecting stream health is broader than how much volume one can infiltrate on a particular development,” stated Corino Salomi.
The City is leading by example in demonstrating on-the-ground applications of a 'design with nature' approach within the highly urban Lonsdale Avenue corridor. “”Rain gardens have been included in bus bulges on Lonsdale to minimize the impact of the built environment on the City’s small streams. But this is just part of the picture,” stated Tony Barber.
A key challenge in ensuring urban stream health has been getting all the players involved in the community to move in the same direction. The aim is to improve the management of urban watersheds through the implementation of green infrastructure policies and practices,” wrote Deborah Carlson.
“What has been lacking is this – written information on green infrastructure from the perspective of elected officials, for elected officials,” said Kim Stephens.
Beyond the Guidebook 2010 describes the evolution of an integrated approach, one that envisions achieving water sustainability through implementation of green infrastructure policies and practices. The time is now right to make the break from ‘ISMP’ and instead use ‘IRMP’ – that is, Integrated Rainwater Management Plan,” stated Peter Law.
“The overall objective is to move municipal governments beyond conventional stormwater management, and inspire them to use rainwater as an integrated resource. The Rain to Resource workshop will bring together a wide cross-section of interested and knowledgeable individuals and provide an opportunity for them to share their knowledge and experiences. BCWWA is pleased to partner with the OBWB in this initiative,” stated Daisy Foster.
“The Partnership will continue to evolve and deliver program elements developed under the umbrella of the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia,” stated Kim Stephens, Executive Director. “Now, the Partnership provides a legal entity for building on the existing Action Plan foundation and creating a lasting legacy. The Partnership vision is that water sustainability will be achieved through implementation of green infrastructure policies and practice “
