Landscape-Based Rainwater Management in Delta, a Metro Vancouver suburban municipality
Note to Readers:
The following story about innovation and leadership in Metro Vancouver is extracted from Chapter 7 of Beyond the Guidebook 2010, released in June 2010. This water-centric guidance document tells the stories of how change is being implemented on the ground in BC. To download a PDF copy of the article below, click on Landscape-Based Rainwater Management in the Municipality of Delta.
Celebrating Green Infrastructure
“We have some 500 kilometres of roadways, and we have embarked upon a long-term program to systematically and incrementally improve the urban landscape. The corporate vision is to enhance community liveability by beautifying streets, one block at a time,” states Hugh Fraser, Deputy Engineer 
of Engineering with the Municipality of Delta
“Within the engineering department, Delta has added a landscape designer to the engineering design team to assist with incorporating rainwater capture technologies into landscaped amenities that beautify roadways.”
To Learn More:
In 2007, Delta was a host municipality for the second year of the Celebrating Green Infrastructure program. The Delta event highlighted the importance of small-scale projects in achieving the big picture.
Mayor Lois Jackson, Chair of the Metro Vancouver Board, welcomed attendees at the Delta event. In her opening statement, Mayor Jackson 
observed that “…when you have examples of what can be done, and projects are being built, you can then wrap your mind around the green infrastructure vision and say to yourself: “what’s the big deal….this is really common sense….if we can do this, then we can do more.”
To read the complete story, click on Showcasing Green Infrastructure Innovation Series in Metro Vancouver launched in Delta.
And
To download a 50-page brochure that contains descriptions and photos for 15 streetscape projects that Delta has completed to date, click on this link to Enhancement of Streetscapes in the Corporation of Delta
Beyond the Guidebook 2010
Released in June 2010 at the ‘Dialogue in Nanaimo’, Beyond the Guidebook 2010 describes how water sustainability can and will be achieved through implementation of green infrastructure policies and practices.
Beyond the Guidebook 2010 demonstrates that the practitioner culture is changing as an outcome of collaboration, partnerships and alignment; and provides local governments with ‘how to’ guidance for developing outcome-oriented urban watershed plans.
To Learn More:
To download a copy, click on Beyond the Guidebook 2010: Implementing a New Culture for Urban Watershed Protection and Restoration in British Columbia
Posted September 2010