“Council endorsed a new ‘systems approach’ philosophy which aims to offset impacts in one area of a watershed with gains in another for a ‘net environmental benefit’. The objective was to meet or exceed the standard of no net loss (of fish habitat) used by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans,” explains Bill Susak.
“The proposed land use pattern evolved, through an iterative process, to maximize environmental protection and rainwater management outcomes, while still meeting the financial objectives of the development,” states Perry Staniscia.
“The new strategy promotes a practical and proactive approach to erosion and sediment control that includes updated discharge criteria, clear roles and responsibilities, and mandatory best management practices. These changes were necessary to counter the erosion and sediment issues we were experiencing, especially in sensitive areas with substantial construction,” states Steffanie Warriner.
“Watercourse inventory and classification assists in determining appropriate riparian setbacks and protection. The plans also identify opportunities for improvements which can be used by the City or developers looking for compensation or by streamkeepers with access to grant funding,” states Hagen Hohndorf.
“The Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable was formed in 2011 as a unique organization focused on advancing the health and sustainability of the watershed. The mandate of the group is to provide support to those with legislative authority so that they can make informed decisions about activities in the watershed,” states Margaret Birch.
“The Case Profile describes how the City of Coquitlam has evolved an effective and adaptable approach to watershed-based community planning. By telling the stories of those who are spearheading changes in practice, this helps other local governments eliminate the ‘disconnect between information and implementation’ that may otherwise hold them back,” states Kim Stephens.
“The AMF is meant to be a ‘living document’, adaptively managed itself, and updated as required to reflect advances in stormwater/rainwater management, monitoring techniques, and to build on the accumulated experience of stakeholders in the ISMP process,” states Andjela Knezevic-Stevanovic.
