University of British Columbia Brings Rainwater Management Science into the Community
Clovelly-Caulfeild in West Vancouver is the first North Shore neighbourhood to step forward and participate in the UBC Tree Canopy Interception Research Project. “The community volunteers are excited to play a part in this project. This on-the-ground research by UBC will inform the neighbourhood planning process by bringing science into the discussion of the role that trees play in the urban environment,” stated Paddy Sherman. Clovelly-Caulfeild is distinguished from most other West Vancouver neighbourhoods because it has a recorded history that dates back to the late 1800s.
Performance Targets for Rainwater Management
Stormwater Guidebook (200pixels)
KAS
“Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia” formalized a science-based understanding to set performance targets for reducing rainwater runoff volumes and rates.
Canadian Guide for Sustainable Concrete Design Embraces Water Balance Model
The “Guide to Sustainable Design with Concrete” is a tool developed to assist the design community in their drive toward sustainable design. The guide includes an application of the Water Balance Model to demonstrate the use of pervious pavers.
District of North Vanouver Partners with North Shore Association for the Mentally Handicapped to build Tree Canopy Climate Stations
“The program involves placing wooden monitoring stations. The Real Estate Foundation grant is what really allowed us to venture into the community and establish this relationship with ARC Woodworking,” said Richard Boase. “We were able to go to ARC Woodworking with a rather unique and weird-looking contraption and they immediately said ‘Yes we can help you’. They have been great to work with I am sure we will be working together in the future,” stated Richard Boase. The unique nature of the project equipment, combined with the timing, required the District to look outside for assistance with assembly.
Green Infrastructure Performance – On the Ground Results for East Clayton Sustainable Community
The challenge for high growth communities is to make informed choices that will produce cumulative benefits over time, and thereby ensure long-term community vitality and liveability. The Green Infrastructure Partnership brought its ‘design with nature' message to a receptive audience at a Sustainability Community Breakfast hosted by the Greater Vancouver Regional District.
First VICT presentation to local governments was titled "Rainwater Management is at the heart of Green Infrastructure"
Design with Nature on Vancouver Island (360p)
Three provincial Ministries and DFO aligned their efforts to facilitate a consistent, science-based approach to rainwater management on Vancouver Island.
Peace River region introduced to the 'Water Balance Model for British Columbia'
The City of Dawson Creek hosted a workshop titled “Sustainable Planning and Development for Small Communities”, a program developed by Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation to help small communities. Held in December 2006, the workshop was attended by municipalities from throughout the Peace River region. The workshop provided a timely opportunity to introduce the Water Balance Model to the City of Dawson Creek and others in the region.
Greening Local Roadways – Integration of Rainwater Management and Transportation Design
At the third in the 2006 Showcasing Green Infrastructure Innovation Series, three roadway projects were showcased: the Country Lanes Demonstration Project and Crown Street Streetscape & Fish Habitat Enhancement Project in the City, and the Sustainability Street Project at UBC.
Looking at Rainfall Differently: “Stormwater management is at a crossroad. Whether one realizes it or not, there are two paths to follow. The fundamental difference between the two approaches lies in how rainfall data is used,” wrote Jim Dumont (an article in Innovation Magazine, 2006)
The first published article about the “Beyond the Guidebook Initiative” appeared in the Journal of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC). “The Stormwater Guidebook for British Columbia, published in 2002, offers direction and guidance on how to do stormwater management planning, design principles, and objectives,” wrote Jim Dumont. “We must be driven to investigate the problems and issues that stimulated preparation of the Guidebook. In doing so, we will be able to advance the science and engineering practice in a manner intended by the Guidebook.”
Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia provides funding for Tree Canopy Research
“Our Governors have supported development of the Water Balance Model because this on-the-ground tool fits with the Foundation’s mission to support sustainable real estate and land use practices for the benefit of British Columbians,” stated Tim Pringle. it was a grant from the Foundation in 2003 that made it possible to immediately make the Water Balance Model an Internet-accessible tool. This research will directly inform urban planning and will be used to populate the model with performance data for rainfall interception by the tree canopy in an urban forest..