CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PERIOD FROM 1997 THRU 2005: “A paradigm is what we think is true and right about a certain subject. Whether our paradigm is, in fact, true and effective is not the point. We believe it is,” Andy Reese, humourist and co-author (with Dr. Thomas Debo) of Municipal Stormwater Management
Note to Reader:
Published by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia, Waterbucket eNews celebrates the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the Living Water Smart vision. Stories are structured in three parts: One-Minute Takeaway, Editor’s Perspective, and the Story Behind the Story.
The edition published on October 28, 2025 featured the third installment of the Chronicle of Green Infrastructure Innovation in Metro Vancouver. Part C covers the period 1997 through 2005. It tells the story of what led up to publication of Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia in 2002, and the impact of what followed in the wake of publication.
Ninety-eight pages long, Part C is a sweeping narrative weaves quotable quote to bring to life an era. It is included as an attachment to of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Leaps of faith and calculated risks – convening for action in Metro Vancouver.
Shifting paradigms of stormwater management in the 20th century
“In a magazine article published in 2001 and titled Stormwater Paradigms, American engineer and textbook author Andy Reese insightfully looked back at why we pursued stormwater management in ways which unknowingly – at the time – foreclosed opportunities for more sustainable, livable communities,” wrote Kim Stephens, author of the Green Infrastructure Chronicle and Executive Director with the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC.
“Andy Reese traced nine such shifts against the backdrop of social change. His article inspired the BC team of Erik Karlsen, Robert Hicks and me to collaborate with Andy Reese and introduce a tenth paradigm in a follow-up article published six months later.”
The Tenth Paradigm in British Columbia
“We can begin to think about the Tenth Paradigm as one involving making decisions aimed at achieving healthy urban watersheds. This reflects the changes taking place in the Georgia Basin. It reaches beyond stormwater and associated professionals to engage broader society,” wrote Erik Karlsen, Robert Hicks and Kim Stephens.
“It will involve a multi-prong attack so that the very fabric of society changes over a generation to appreciate and learn to live with urban nature in all its dimensions. A shared long-term vision is needed to focus the effort that will create a legacy.”
“Building a vision and defining a Target Condition provides direction for the long-term processes of change. An Action Plan then provides a ‘road map’ for getting there over time in order to create a legacy. The road map identifies: interconnected nature of goals, values and expectations; risks and opportunities; what needs to be done to manage risks and achieve opportunities; who should be responsible; general timeline for implementation.
BC diverged from North American practice
“The emphasis on integration with regional livability issues, plus the nature of the root problems to be solved, meant that BC evolved differently,” Kim Stephens pointed out.
To Learn More:
Waterbucket eNews stories are structured in three parts: One-Minute Takeaway, Editor’s Perspective and Context for Busy Reader, and the Story Behind the Story. To read the complete 3-part storyline, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Leaps of faith and calculated risks – convening for action in Metro Vancouver.
DOWNLOAD A COPY: https://waterbucket.ca/wcp/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/10/PWSBC_Living-Water-Smart_Leaps-of-Faith-and-Calculated-Risks-Part-C_2025.pdf