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“In 2002, ‘Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia’ articulated a principle that performance targets at the watershed scale provide a starting point to guide the actions of local government in the right direction,” stated Kim Stephens. “The objective is to translate those targets into appropriate site design criteria that then provide local government staff and developers with practical guidance for achieving the goal of stream protection.”

“UBC-Okanagan is pleased to have provided the venue for this application of sustainability-on-the-ground. This sponsorship opportunity was an outcome of a meeting with the Chair of the Inter-Governmental Partnership (IGP), at which time we realized that UBC-Okanagan and the IGP shared a common objective in advancing the state-of-the-art for water management in the Okanagan,” stated Bernard Bauer, Dean ot the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences.

The plan is based entirely on implementing ‘green solutions’ as an alternative to conventional engineered ‘blue solutions’. “The Fergus Creek plan demonstrates how to protect stream health in the urban environment”, noted David Hislop. “In addition to rainwater capture on individual lots, the strategy for replicating natural infiltration processes includes creation of contiguous large-scale green corridors through the watershed.”

“We are at a crossroad in the path defining the methodologies and applications used in rainwater management. In a nutshell, Beyond the Guidebook enables us to make a clear distinction between a rainfall-based approach and a runoff-based approach”, stated Jim Dumont. “The runoff-based approach is best suited to the analysis needed to assess environmental impacts and effectiveness of mitigation techniques.”

“While considerable research has been done in the natural environment, very little has been in an urban setting anywhere in North America. We have installed 60 tree canopy climate stations across the North Shore,” stated Richard Boase. “At the end of the day, the project will enable communities to make informed planning decisions about designing with nature. Research results will populate the Tree Canopy Module in the Water Balance Model.”

Liliana Bozic noted that the inter-provincial dialogue with British Columbia provided the catalyst for formation of the Alberta Low Impact Development Partnership (ALIDP) in 2004. “The purpose in having an inter-provincial partnership with BC is to collaborate and share resources in order to facilitate improvements in land development practices in both provinces,” she stated.

“Decisions related to urban and rural land development in this province are shared by many; therefore, this document is intended to support and encourage good decision making by all those involved in land development in British Columbia. Develop with Care emphasizes the use of the Water Balance Model to achieve desired rainwater management outcomes”, stated Peter Law.

“In 2002, British Columbia’s Stormwater Guidebook facilitated a paradigm-shift in the state-of-the-practice because it demonstrated that rainfall capture was achievable. The Inter-Governmental Partnership envisions the next paradigm-shift in the state-of-the-practice will revolve around the way we relate runoff volume management to stream erosion and water quality. Volume is something that local government has control over, and it is measurable,” stated Ted van der Gulik.

“Delta has developed a rain garden program with local elementary schools, whereby city employees design and construct rain gardens at schools and then coordinate a community planting day with local streamkeepers, school children, and neighbourhood volunteers,” stated Sarah Howie, the municipality’s urban environmental designer forstreetscapes and natural areas.

“VICT is a grassroots coordinating team with representation from various jurisdictions and disciplines across Vancouver Island. Beyond building partnerships and strengthening local sustainability initiatives, VICT’s goal is to build local capacity for change,” explained Jay Bradley. The VI Coordinating Team has been established to facilitate a consistent, science-based approach to rainwater management on Vancouver Island.”