“Water-Centric Planning” Defined
It is About Integration
“Water-centric planning means planning with a view to water,” explains Erik Karlsen, a member of the team that created the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia in 2003. Erik Karlsen was Chair of the Agricultural Land Commission from 2005 through 2010. “At the core of water-centric planning is a water balance way-of-thinking and acting. The underpinning premise is that resource, land use and community design decisions will be made with an eye towards their potential impact on the watershed.”
“A water-centric approach puts water stewardship and sustainability front and centre on the agenda of comprehensive land use, development, or resource planning initiatives. Water-centric planning considers the amount of water available, the amount of water needed, innovative efficiency strategies, the quality of water leaving an area, how rain and snow water are managed, and the impact on the natural environment.”
“Implementation of water-centric strategies and solutions ultimately requires integration of missions, mandates and accountabilities of participating agencies,” concludes Erik Karlsen.
Posted November 2009