Beyond the Guidebook 2010: Implementing a New Culture for Urban Watershed Protection and Restoration in British Columbia
“It is a great resource, well written. Down to earth, and in line with what the Water Sustainability Action Plan speaks about… The new business as usual, connecting the dots and giving useful tools and roadmaps for success. It is an easy read, and captivating with the stories, quotes and pictures,” states Kathy Bishop.
Beyond the Guidebook 2010: Table of Contents for ‘The New Business As Usual’
“In 2005, we said that the Guidebook would be the ‘telling of the stories’ of how change is being implemented on-the-ground in BC. Before the chapters could be written, however, the regional case studies had to run their course,” states Glen Brown.
Beyond the Guidebook 2010 – List of 41 Supporting Documents
“Each of the seven chapters in ‘Beyond the Guidebook 2010’ is complemented by a number of supporting documents that elaborate on aspects of on-the-ground successes in British Columbia. In total, there are 41 resource documents. All are downloadable from waterbucket.ca website,” states Mike Tanner.
DFO Urban Stormwater Guidelines have evolved into ‘Beyond the Guidebook 2010’
“We are moving from guidelines to tools. It helps to look back to understand how we got to here. Beyond the Guidebook 2007 represents the initial course correction in applying the Urban Stormwater Guidelines and Best Management Practices for Protection of Fish and Fish Habitat, Draft Discussion Document,” stated Corino Salomi.
A crucially important message in Beyond the Guidebook 2010: “We now have the tools and experience to design with nature”
“So many in local government are searching for the magical ‘silver bullet’to resolve watershed issues and challenges. Yet soil, vegetation and trees can do more for our watersheds than decades of planning, consulting and complicated engineering design will ever achieve,” states Richard Boase.
Water Balance Model now resides within the ‘Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia’
“An essential part of the plan for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Water Balance Model is the creation of a legal entity where the tool will reside permanently. This action has now been completed,” reports Ted van der Gulik.
Rollout of ‘Beyond the Guidebook 2010’ will continue at the ‘From Rain to Resource Workshop’ in Kelowna
“It takes time to change the local government culture. BC communities now have the tools and the case study experience to ‘design with nature’. British Columbia is at a tipping point. Beyond the Guidebook 2010 sets the stage for ensuring that future settlement change (development) is in balance with ecology,” states Ted van der Gulik.
Beyond the Guidebook 2010 Advances Runoff-Based Approach to Setting Watershed Performance Targets
“Stream health protection is a driver for Beyond the Guidebook 2010. The runoff-based approach addresses the interaction of runoff with the physical aspects considered important to the aquatic environment. The approach leads to setting achievable watershed targets that would accomplish the most benefit for the stream,” states Kim Stephens.
Forging Gold Medal Standards for Urban Watershed Protection and Restoration in British Columbia
Beyond the Guidebook 2010 synthesized a set of ten guiding principles that provide a framework for a successful local government implementation process. “So, what we mean by shared responsibility is that everyone has a role, and everyone can act…. all levels of government, developers, regulators, bureaucrats, consultants, planners, engineers…. we all have a role,” stated Ray Fung.
Getting Green Infrastructure Built Right: City of Surrey hosted the 2009 Metro Vancouver Water Balance Model Forum
“The Forum was a success. We have been getting some pretty good feedback from many of the people who attended the workshop (specifically developers and consultants). It’s leading into more direct communication with certain developers who are looking at different approaches … they seemed encouraged with the dialogue that the forum appeared to promote,” stated Remi Dube,