Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC informs Delta Council about inter-regional value of Delta's rain garden program
Inter-Regional Collaboration
“Local governments learn from each other and progress through sharing of case study experience,” stated Kim Stephens, Executive Director of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia when he met with the Corporation of Delta’s Mayor and Council in early December 2015. “By telling the stories of those who are spearheading changes in practice, this helps other local governments eliminate the disconnect between information and implementation. Your story is a really important story.”
“The Partnership is pleased to recognize the Corporation of Delta as one of our Champion Supporters. Delta’s long-term commitment is helping the Partnership advance the vision for achieving watershed sustainability through implementation of green infrastructure policies and practices.”
Kim Stephens (Partnership Executive Director) presents “letter of recognition” to Mayor Lois Jackson
Rainwater Management & Rain Gardens:
Creating the Future in Delta Municipality
“Delta is a leader in implementing green infrastructure practices that will ultimately protect stream health. Your case study experience helps the Partnership achieve our educational mission,” explained Kim Stephens. “Hence, we are pleased to celebrate your accomplishments in our Watershed Blueprint Case Profile Series. In a publication titled Creating the Future in The Corporation of Delta: Rain Gardens Help Restore Nature to Urban Areas, we tell Delta’s story in the words of those who are implementing it.”
“Delta’s story is a case study illustration of how a ‘design with nature’ ethic has taken root in local government in British Columbia.”
To Learn More:
Delta has some 500 kilometres of roadways. The corporate vision is to enhance community liveability by beautifying streets, one block at a time. In 2005, the municipality embarked upon a long-term initiative to incrementally improve the urban landscape though a streetscape program that embodies three objectives:
- build a greener community,
- adapt to a changing climate, and
- protect Delta’s natural watercourses.
To download a PDF copy of Delta’s story, click on Creating the Future in The Corporation of Delta: Rain Gardens Help Restore Nature.
Georgia Basin Inter-Regional Education Initiative
“There is a bigger picture context, and that is the Georgia Basin Inter-Regional Educational Initiative,” continues Kim Stephens. It is a unique collaboration, with five regions working together, and sharing and learning from each other. In April of this year, we went back to all the Regional Boards and asked them to reaffirm commitment to building of capacity and talent in the local government sector.”
“Looking ahead to 2017, we have a 2-year mind map. We are not trying to change the world over night. The goal is actually pretty modest. If we can just get everybody in local government understanding HOW to achieve sustainable watershed systems, that will be the measure of success. That is why it is so important to have the success stories like the Delta rain garden program. Now that you have been doing it for a decade, it is a way to show other local governments that one can make a difference, one municipality at a time.”
To Learn More:
Launched by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in 2012, the Georgia Basin Inter-Regional Education Initiative (IREI) supports implementation of integrated and watershed-based community planning processes on the east coast of Vancouver Island and in the Lower Mainland regions of British Columbia.
To access the IREI home page, click on Georgia Basin Inter-Regional Education Initiative.
Delta Municipality is a Champion Supporter of the Partnership for Water Sustainability
The Champion Supporter category of membership is the way in which the Partnership for Water Sustainability formally recognizes agencies and organizations that are playing a leadership role in assisting the Partnership with implementation of the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia.
To Learn More:
To read the complete story posted on the Convening for Action community-of-interest, click on Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia recognizes the Corporation of Delta as one of its “Champion Supporters”.
