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“Soil depth is a primary water management tool for use by local government to adapt to a changing climate. A well-designed landscape with healthy topsoil helps communities through both wet and dry times. Soil is a sponge. It holds and slowly releases rainwater. This can limit runoff during rainy weather; and reduce irrigation water need during dry weather. In the City of Surrey, we specify a minimum soil depth of 300 mm,” states David Hislop.

Provincial programs provide direction as to where the Province wants to go with Living Water Smart and the Green Communities Initiative. “At the end of the day, planners and engineers and other disciplines must come together to determine the issues and solutions. No statute will help them do that. Living Water Smart is about motivating and inspiring everyone to embrace shared responsibility,” stated Lynn Kriwoken.

“It helps to look back to understand how we got to here. In 2000, DFO released Urban Stormwater Guidelines and Best Management Practices for Protection of Fish and Fish Habitat. By 2007, however, we had concerns about how the document was being interpreted and applied. ‘Beyond the Guidebook 2007’ represented the initial course correction,” stated Corinio Salomi.

Imagine a city without rainspouts. Picture streets that absorb rain as it falls. “It matters a great deal. It matters because so much of how we define ourselves rests on our association with the ocean. We must protect our ocean. It defines us, it supports us, it distinguishes us from other communities,” stated Bill Harris.

“Trees are the oldest form of green infrastructure in cities, but the urban forest is now broken. Planting trees in appropriate quantities of good soil and using stormwater and its nutrients to irrigate is beneficial to the urban forest and reduces city taxes by tens of millions of dollars,” stated Peter Macdonagh.

The City of Columbus, Ohio is using green infrastructure to turn liabilities into assets. What made Mayor Michael B. Coleman take pause was that while the costs of building additional storage capacity were high, the benefits were markedly low and limited. The project would result in a new piece of infrastructure used maybe four or five days a year, and it would sit underground, literally, doing nothing for the landscape of the city and its citizens.

“We are excited about the direction Chattanooga is taking with stormwater management and have a desire to become citywide leaders in low-impact stormwater management design. As Chattanooga continues to grow and develop, it is important that the site designs that are provided minimize negative environmental impacts,” said Jan Trousdale.

Philadelphia’s plan envisions transforming the city into an oasis of rain gardens, green roofs, treescapes, and porous pavements. “We are taking that (old, grey infrastructure) barrier down, and are stopping the water from ever hitting the system,” says Howard Neukrug. The City has produced a video that explains how this green vision will be accomplished over time.

Mayor Rob Hutchins moved the motion that “the Water Balance Web Tool and supporting documents be shared with the CVRD and partner municipal planning staff; and further, that planning staff consider integrating the tool into the planning framework to support watershed management objectives at the Official Community Plan level and Development Permit level.”

“Requirements that municipalities use green infrastructure as part of their rainwater and stormwater management practices are becoming more common in local and state permitting procedures and regulations. It’s common now that green infrastructure is part of the solution” in Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) settlements,” stated Bob Newport.