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“To our knowledge, Minnesota is one of the first states, if not the first, to add a chapter on trees to its manual, as well as add analysis on the stormwater benefits of tree and soil systems. While trees have always provided stormwater benefits, they are just recently starting to be recognized by regulators as viable stormwater control measures. Cities, states and homeowners are taking notice,” said Nathalie Shanstrom.

Mayors are looking for alternatives to traditional infrastructure projects that will be cost-effective and provide amenities. “When a city incorporates natural infrastructure into its planning, it turns to living assets such as urban trees, wetlands, and watersheds to reduce pollutants and provide protection from storms and hurricanes. So effective is the strategy that the US Conference of Mayors approved a resolution that encourages its members to start building green bulwarks against climate change,” wrote Hannah Hoag.

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.”

“Bowker Creek is provincially significant and precedent-setting. It is also inspirational. In my 40-year career as a professional engineer, there is nothing that equals it. And the reason it is so important is that it gave the rest of us a vision of what can be. The experience of what this region has done is informing others, from Metro Vancouver all the way up to the Comox Valley,” stated Kim Stephens.

“Breakthroughs in science-based understanding occurred in the mid-1990s. Yet engineering practice generally did not incorporate this understanding. The Water Balance Methodology has addressed this historical oversight and is being enhanced over time to incorporate fresh insights,” stated Jim Dumont. “If the stream flows and durations of flow can be maintained without increasing the magnitude and duration of above average stream discharges, then success can be demonstrated.”

“Breakthroughs in science-based understanding occurred in the mid-1990s. Yet engineering practice generally did not incorporate this understanding. The Water Balance Methodology has addressed this historical oversight and is being enhanced over time to incorporate fresh insights,” states Jim Dumont.

“After expanding its analysis of potential ways to reduce CSOs, Philadelphia chose a Green Stormwater Infrastructure approach over more traditional engineered solutions and is addressing the total water balance, where all components of water supply, stormwater and wastewater are managed in a closed loop,” states Mark Maimone.

“I do a lot of talking around North America and elsewhere about models and model requirements. As a result, I have been able to distil a synthesis of the opinions of several hundred people from all around the world who I consider to be the premier people in their field. When we discussed the question…what are the major issues?…seven themes emerged,” stated Charles Rowney.

“QUALYHYMO is an approved rainfall-runoff model for The City of Calgary. As an alternative to the sledgehammer of SWMM, the new QUALHYMO is of specific interest for a holistic water quantity + quality evaluation of LID features on private sites. We are privileged to have Dr. Charles Rowney, the author of this model, presenting this course in person,” states Leta van Duin.

“The Case Profile describes how the City of Coquitlam has evolved an effective and adaptable approach to watershed-based community planning. By telling the stories of those who are spearheading changes in practice, this helps other local governments eliminate the ‘disconnect between information and implementation’ that may otherwise hold them back,” states Kim Stephens.