Convening for Action in British Columbia

DOWNLOAD A COPY OF: “Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Land Development and Watershed Protection Can Be Compatible” – released by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in June 2022

June 7, 2022 - Posted in ...2022, PUBLICATIONS & DOWNLOADS

Note to Reader:

Waterbucket eNews celebrates the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the Living Water Smart vision. Storylines accommodate a range of reader attention spans. Read the headline and move on, or take the time to delve deeper – it is your choice! Downloadable versions are available at Living Water Smart in British Columbia: The Series.

The edition published on June 7, 2022 featured Peter Law and the “story behind the story” of Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia, released in June 2002. Without Peter Law, there would have been no Guidebook. Peter saw the need, garnered support within government, and was hands-on in shepherding the Guidebook from inception to completion.

Restore the ‘natural Water Balance’ to stabilize streams, restore aquatic habitat, and sustain summer streamflow

Twenty years ago, the government of British Columbia released Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia. This moment of celebration is the opportunity to reflect on what we know in order to foreshadow what comes next.

In 2002, the Guidebook was recognized across North America for its science-based foundation and its innovation. Tom Schueler, the respected thought leader who founded the Center for Urban Watershed Protection, extolled the Guidebook because of the night-and-day contrast with cookie-cutter guides and manuals in the United States.

The Guidebook demonstrates how to apply a Watershed / Landscape-based Approach to Community Planning a description coined by the late, great Erik Karlsen (1945-2020). Developed by a Metro Vancouver intergovernmental working group concurrently with the Guidebook, the importance of this landmark document is now lost in the mists of time.

The Guidebook premise is that land development and watershed protection can be compatible, BUT ONLY IF communities apply systems thinking and Design With Nature to restore the natural water balance.

Guidebook is a Shared Responsibility

The story behind the story is about the visionary leadership of the Ministry of Environment’s Peter Law, Chair of the Guidebook intergovernmental steering committee. Without Peter Law, there would have been no Guidebook. Peter saw the need, garnered support within government, and was hands-on in shepherding the Guidebook from inception to completion.

When the Partnership for Water Sustainability morphed from an intergovernmental technical committee into a non-profit legal entity in 2010, the Ministry of Environment entrusted the Partnership with responsibility as stewards of the Guidebook. Peter Law is a founding Director of the Partnership.

Beyond the Guidebook Series

The Guidebook is the foundation document for the Beyond the Guidebook Series of guidance documents. The titles themselves tell a story about the partnership journey in building on the Guidebook through case studies that showcase and celebrate good work, and advance implementation of science-informed approaches.

Context for Rainwater Management and Green Infrastructure in British Columbia (2007)

Implementing a New Culture for Urban Watershed Protection and Restoration in British Columbia (2010).

Moving Towards “Sustainable Watershed Systems, through Asset Management (2015).

The fourth in the series, scheduled for release in June 2022, is titled A BC Strategy for Community Investment in Stream Systems.

TO LEARN MORE:

To read the complete story published on June 7th 2022, download a PDF copy of “Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Land Development and Watershed Protection Can Be Compatible”.