“To make it possible to achieve Living Water Smart targets and actions, the Province has developed a suite of tools that support new approaches to water management. These tools are all web-based and accessible to anyone with a computer. They are intended to support new approaches to water management,” stated Ted van der Gulik.
The South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy provided the first opportunity to test the ‘convening for action’ approach. That experience has been adapted in Metro Vancouver and on Vancouver Island. The cross-fertilization process has now come full circle. “Convening for Action’s influence was apparent in documentation (including graphics) and corporate knowledge used in producing the Regional Growth Strategy plan,” reported Bryn White.
Trees can intercept upwards of 50% of the rain that falls each year on a watershed. Removing the tree cover means that more and more rainfall is converted into runoff volume. “One of our research interests was to determine the effectiveness of a single taken at premiers awards dinnertree versus that for a cluster of trees,” explained Richard Boase.
“Beyond the Guidebook 2010 describes how water sustainability can and will be achieved through implementation of green infrastructure policies and practices. Getting there relies on a change in mind-set,” stated John Finnie. “When the right people with the right knowledge are involved at the right time to apply informed judgment in a collaborative process, the outcome-oriented approach saves time and money.”
“OCEP promotes a ‘water-centric’ approach to community planning and development. The program comprises inter-connected elements that give local governments and practitioners the tools and experience to better manage land and water resources,” stated Mike Tanner.
