Convening for Action in the South Okanagan: Water for Life and Livelihoods
Everything is Connected
In his presentation at the 2007 Annual Conference of the BC Water & Waste Assocation (BCWWA), Ted van der Gulik elaborated on the Agricultural Component of the Okanagan Water OUT = Water IN Management Model that is now under development under the aegis of the Okanagan Basin Water Board.
“Within the next 10 to 15 years it is projected that the available water in the Okanagan Basin will be fully allocated. At the same time, agricultural development is also expected to increase, with potential growth in the grape and wine sector leading the way. Also, the region will continue to experience both the benefits and consequences of climate change – that is, a longer growing season and changes in form and pattern of precipitation and runoff, respectively.
“The purpose in ‘convening for action’ is to build regional capacity and understanding of what Water OUT = Water IN means in the context of a Regional Growth Strategy and its goals,” emphasized Ted van der Gulik.
Ted van der Gulik is the Senior Engineeer with the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. He is also Vice-Chair of the Okanagan Water Stewardship Council, Vice-Chair of the Water Sustainability Committee of the BCWWA, and Chair of the Inter-Governmental Partnership that has developed the Water Balance Model for British Columbia.
South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy
“Everything is connected, and how we develop land determines how water is used and how water runs off the land. Because water has been identified as the #1 concern of the public, the South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy is a provincial pilot for advancing the water balance way-of-thinking and acting”, noted van der Gulik.
To Learn More:
To download a copy of the presentation by Ted van der Gulik, click on this link to Convening for Action in the South Okanagan – Water for Life and Livelihoods.
The South Okanagan presentation was one of five cascading presentations that comprised a half-day session on Convening for Action in Brtish Columbia. The session was co-organized by the BCWWA Water Sustainability Committee (WSC) and the Green Infrastructure Partnership (GIP). For a comprehensive story that provides a synopsis of each presentation, click on 2007 BCWWA Annual Conference Theme: Working Towards Sustainable Communities
