Through its Official Community Plan Update, the District is advancing a vision for restoring the rainfall absorption capacity of our watersheds, one property at a time, over time.
At a rainwater conference hosted by the University of British Columbia in June 2007, this question was posed to a panel of practitioners: Obstacles to innovation; how to introduce changes into stormwater management?
Anna Warwick Sears (120p) – Executive Director, OBWB
To have a sustainable water supply we need more emphasis on keeping pollution out of our lakes and streams, with less run off during storms. We also need to recharge the aquifers under our neighbourhoods.
“The East Clayton Neighbourhood Concept Plan provided the first large-scale opportunity to ‘test’ a new approach advocated by Patrick Condon and others. This new approach, which is sometimes characterized as ‘the future is the past’, embodied a design with nature way-of-thinking about drainage,” stated Paul Ham.
Nelson Jatel (120p) – OBWB Watershed Stewardship Director
The goal of this workshop is to share positive and innovative developments in rainwater management and to discuss how barriers to change are being overcome in communities in B.C. and beyond.
“The cultural change is actually happening. I think we’re at a tipping point right now in terms of cultural changes. I’m not talking about the entire population obviously. I’m talking about those who have some influence in terms of local government and the way we do business,” said Kim Stephens
Jim Dumont (120p)
Once one removes the Tower of Babel by going back to basics and examining the physical processes, there are only two processes in play: rainfall infiltration and runoff excess.
Jacky Grimshaw (120p)
Center for Neighborhood Technology, Chicago
Green Infrastructure creates healthier, more vital communities, protects clean water, saves money and energy, and helps to create green jobs.
“It was both timely and relevant that on the same day at the Bowker Forum, the UVIC Environmental Law Clinic released Re-Inventing Rainwater Management. The day forced us to ‘think watershed’ and transcend jurisdictional boundaries. The politicians are listening. Geoff Young, CRD Chairman, stated that ‘cross boundary problems make managing rainwater more difficult, but some of the ideas they have put forward are ones we have started talking about’,” stated Eric Bonham.
“These new ‘smart’ rainwater management practices can solve the problems associated with urban stormwater runoff. The green revolution in rainwater management gives us pragmatic and cost-effective ways to make a better community for our grandchildren,” states Deborah Curran.
