Archive:

2015

2015 DROUGHT: Longer, Drier, Hotter Summer Triggers Stage 2 Water Restrictions in Metro Vancouver


In order to conserve water during the unseasonably dry and hot weather, Metro Vancouver introduced new water restrictions that include regulations around lawn watering. Declaring that the Metro Vancouver region is in the second stage of a four-stage plan, the Commissioner of the Water District (Carol Mason) said “we are asking residents and businesses to further conserve water at this time.”

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“Fin Donnelly, Ted van der Gulik and Jordan Point – this may be one of the heaviest-hitting panels I’ve ever participated on,” states Anna Warwick Sears, Executive Director, Okanagan Basin Water Board


“We are the only panel that will be talking about watersheds. We will be as frank and forthcoming as possible about the challenges and opportunities. Each member of the panel will speak to Water/Land Use interactions in BC, and along the Fraser River in particular. Each will elaborate on the biggest concerns for the future, anticipated positive changes, what civil society can do to ensure a better future, and where we are going from here,” stated Anna Warwick Sears.

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Englishman River Watershed: Case Study Example of Science-Based Action to Protect Urban Watershed Health on Vancouver Island


“The approach that we took in the Englishman River Watershed was to involve the community,” stated Gilles Wendling. “The long-term health of watersheds depends upon the stewardship of the people who live in the watershed. By getting them involved, the community connects to its watershed, its complexity and how it works. Community members will then be able to more willingly modify their behaviour and management of the land.”

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LIVING WATER SMART IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: Five regional districts endorse inter-regional education program to “Integrate Natural Systems Thinking Into Asset Management”


“The Inter-Regional Education Initiative, known by the acronym IREI, is closely linked to CAVI – Convening for Action on Vancouver Island. The Comox Valley CAVI team facilitates collaboration at the regional level, and IREI connects the regions for inter-regional collaboration and cross-pollination of ideas, policies and approaches for rainwater management and more recently, asset management,” said Kris La Rose.

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North Vancouver District hosts “Workshop on Stream Restoration Techniques to Improve Aquatic Habitat” (June 3 & 4, 2015)


“Through 150-plus workshops in the last 8 years I have taught over 8,000 individuals the philosophy, methods, and concepts of river design and fluvial geomorphology. Over the course of my career as a research hydraulic engineer with the US Army Corps of Engineers, I have been an educator, facilitator, designer, reviewer, and constructor of almost every type of river and stream stabilization/restoration project imaginable,” states Dave Derrick.

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LEADING CHANGE IN BC: Environmental Protection and the Built Environment – Develop with Care 2014


“When we first conceived of creating a document which would collate all aspects of environmental issues around urban/rural land development, we had no inkling that the document would be recognized world-wide, nor that it would be embraced so thoroughly by so many different disciplines,” states Marlene Caskey. Now retired from government, she was the project lead for both the original 2006 and 2012 update versions.

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“Canadian Water Summit 2015” will be held in Vancouver (June 25, 2015)


“The world is more complex and fragile than ever before. These trends are bigger than any one organization can solve,” says Todd Latham. “The Energy of Water theme for the 2015 Canadian Water Summit is more than the water/energy nexus conversation – it’s about water professionals celebrating the positives and opportunity that water can bring to Canada.”

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Protection of Wetlands: “Engineers and biologists approach problems using very different methods,” observed Jim Dumont at Vancouver Island workshop


“Engineers approach design using very specific methods which have been established to provide a uniform result for a wide range of projects. Biologists approach a problem by first defining the goals and objectives before establishing the methods to be used,” stated Jim Dumont. “We need to create a common understanding that can be shared between the professions to achieve more consistent success on projects.”

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Leading by Example in BC: Water Smart Ambassador Program in the Columbia Basin region


“The lessons learned by Basin communities are relevant to any community trying to reduce peak demand driven by irrigation. To measurably reduce irrigation demand through residential water conservation outreach, you need a strong tool kit that includes good data and great personalities who are meeting people right at their homes and places of work,” said Neal Klassen.

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