“Redevelopment of previously developed land can lead to the net improvements in watershed health that we need. Redevelopment triggers restoration activities of our existing built environment. Watershed and sub-watershed analysis, integrated with regional planning and local regulations, should be at the heart of new stormwater regulations,” states John Norquist.
“These days we’re all hearing about ‘Green’, but few people realize to be really ‘Green’ you must be ‘Blue’ too! Nature has designed a partnership between land (‘Green’) and water (‘Blue’) where each benefits the other.” stated Peter MacDonagh.
“Climate change significantly raises the risk of rain-generated floods and infrastructure failure. To maintain current levels of service, drainage infrastructure will need to be modified and upgraded. A key challenge is that for many communities, it will be prohibitively costly to rely on conventional engineered solutions,” states Chris Jensen.
“In addition to interviewing several experts and community leaders with knowledge of rainwater and stormwater issues, the film introduces the ELC report that offers a number of innovative solutions, many of which could be applied in the CRD region and beyond,” states Holly Pattison.
The briefing report on Multi-Functional Urban Green Infrastructure is aimed at policy-makers and practitioners and discusses the drivers and barriers to increasing green infrastructure provision in towns and cities.
“I have to think that the 90 percent number was influenced by our work in British Columbia over the years,” observes Patrick Condon. In the late 1990s, he was influential in helping to facilitate a paradigm-shift when he drew attention to the need to look at the rainfall spectrum differently. One of his sound-bites was “capture the first inch of rainfall”.
The city intends to measure the effectiveness of 300-mm absorbent topsoils for all grassed and vegetated areas, as well as infiltration trenches installed on private properties and pubic road boulevards.
Topsoil Technical Primer – cover (360p)
Green Infrastructure Partnership – February 2010
The Morgan Heights developer exemplifies what is meant by 'shared responsibility'. To ensure the performing topsoil is provided, the developer works with a purchaser from the start of house construction to the point where the purchaser takes possession and moves into the house.
Washington state will do more to prevent polluted rainwater and stormwater from running off state highways into rivers, lakes and Puget Sound, where it poses a serious threat to salmon and other aquatic life.
Local governments are increasingly looking toward non-built rainwater management strategies, including trees, to reduce the cost of constructing stormwater control infrastructure.
