From Stormwater Management to RAINwater Management: Implementing a Course Correction in Metro Vancouver
“The Integrated Plan for liquid waste and resource management provides a framework for developing and implementing outcome-oriented watershed plans that have clear linkages with municipal land use planning and development approval processes. Local watershed planning and on-site rainwater management are plan requirements. The Integrated Plan is written as a regulatory document. This limits the extent to which it is able to ‘tell a story’ that will resonate with the public,” stated Kim Stephens.
Ministry of Environment selects Kim Stephens to be a Technical Advisor for the Water Act Modernization process
“The role of the Technical Advisors is to apply their expertise and perspective to the potential policy options for a modernized Water Act. This is about making BC's water laws simpler to understand, communicate, administer and enforce as communities respond to current and future challenges,” explained Lynn Kriwoken. “As we move into our next phase of policy development, we are seeking input from external technical experts. Individuals with First Nations and non-government organizations have been invited to participate in the process in an advisory capacity.”
Green Infrastructure in Metro Vancouver: Langley Township, Delta and Vancouver are leading by example
“The Routley, Yorkson and Northeast Gordon neighbourhood communities illustrate how a ‘water-centric’ approach is changing the way that land is developed in Langley. Each neighbourhood features a different green innovation,” stated Ramin Seifi.
OKANAGAN RAIN TO RESOURCE WORKSHOP: Water Balance Model facilitates adaptive management approach to implementation of alternative green infrastructure techniques – Jim Dumont
“The evolution of the capabilities of the web-based Water Balance Model (WBM) has arisen in response to the need to embrace adaptive management in the creation of watershed objectives and to quickly test alternative green infrastructure techniques prior to implementation,” states Jim Dumont. “The easy access and calculation speed combined with the embedded data and information allows the user to easily and effectively plan and design green infrastructure techniques which will achieve the vision and objectives established for the Site, the Development, or the Watershed.”
Convening for Action in British Columbia: What ‘Outcome-Oriented’ Means
“Outcome-oriented planning is a problem-solving PROCESS. It is not a procedure. It is not a matter of applying a regulation or a checklist. Going through a process becomes talent development. Participants have to be committed to the outcome. Focus on values and actions. Keep it simple,” explained Tim Pringle. “To get there, they have to function as a team. It is the talent development process that enables development of outcome-oriented plans. It is very definitely a grounded approach.”
Okanagan Sustainable Water Strategy
“The Sustainable Water Strategy is grounded in action. Twelve high-level Guiding Principles for water management and policy provide a framework for the Strategy. The key action items were developed respecting these Guiding Principles,” explained Anna Warwick Sears.
Beyond the Guidebook 2010: Road Map for Moving from Awareness to Action in BC to Protect Watershed Health
BC local government is among the most autonomous in Canada, and BC is perhaps the least prescriptive province. Historically, the Province has enabled local government by providing policy and legal tools in response to requests from local government. The future desired by all will be created through alignment of federal, provincial, regional and local policies and actions. Major breakthroughs happen when decision makers in government work with grass-roots visionaries in the community to create desired outcomes. “Everyone needs to agree on expectations and how they will work together, and after that each community can reach its goals in its own way,” stated Eric Bonham.
OKANAGAN RAIN TO RESOURCE WORKSHOP: The Bowker Creek Blueprint demonstrates what can be accomplished through a vision, alignment and collaboration – Jody Watson
“The Bowker Creek Urban Watershed Renewal Initiative, known by the acronym BCI, is a multi-jurisdictional collaborative effort between local government, community groups, post-secondary institutions and private citizens to improve the health of Bowker Creek and its watershed. The BCI has developed a 100-year action plan to restore the Bowker Creek Watershed,” stated Jody Watson.
Inter-departmental integration in the City of Campbell River facilitates ‘green’ development
At the 2009 Comox Valley Learning Lunch Series, Rob Buchan explained how the Development Review Committee is helping to achieve the City’s sustainability vision.
UBCM Annual Convention provides platform for rollout of ‘Beyond the Guidebook 2010’
“We will use this coming together of BC's local leaders to share and learn from each other's experiences, and gain ideas to move our own communities forward. Without action, we cannot move our communities forward. This year’s UBCM Convention will offer an opportunity to take our goals, and forge them into tangible outcomes and continue to build gold medal standard communities,” stated Harry Nyce. Beyond the Guidebook 2010 is about implementing a new culture for urban watershed protection and restoration. It speaks to the convention theme.