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Success Stories: Implementation of Green Projects in British Columbia and Beyond

Rain gardens soak up urban stormwater pollution

Properly designed “rain gardens” can effectively trap and retain up to 99 percent of common pollutants in urban storm runoff, potentially improving water quality and promoting the conversion of some pollutants into less harmful compounds. This is according to new research scheduled for publication in the February 15, 2006 issue of the American Chemical Society journal, “Environmental Science and Technology”. The affordable, easy-to-design gardens could help solve one of the nation’s most pressing pollution problems.

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Smart Bylaws Guide for British Columbia Municipalities:

Many municipalities and developers in B.C. are emerging as North American leaders in smart growth practices at the regional and local scale. Residents are demanding more choices in housing, and in the quality of neighbourhoods and job opportunities. In recognition of this leadership role, West Coast Environmental Law has developed a comprehensive web-based “Smart Bylaws Guide” to help local governments implement smart growth strategies through policy and bylaw changes.

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Post-project monitoring of BMPs/SUDS to determine performance and whole-life costs

This Water Environment Research Foundation report by LK Lampe, entitled “Post-project monitoring of BMPs/SUDS to determine performance and whole-life costs”, states that, over the past 20 years, the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the United States has been instrumental in reducing both the detrimental impacts to receiving water quality and the exacerbated flooding caused by urbanization and storm water drainage. More recently, Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) have started to be used in the United Kingdom.

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Source and on-site controls for municipal drainage systems

The National Guide to Sustainable Municipal Infrastructure recently released another in its “best practice” series. “Source and On-Site Controls for Municipal Drainage Systems” provides a brief overview of the rationale behind stormwater management programs, and explains why implementing run-off controls is important in a sustainable development context.

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North Vancouver

The Silva Building in the City of North Vancouver is the first residential building in Canada to achieve this certification, and represents the City’s commitment to pursue opportunities that support its goals for a sustainable community.

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Lantzville introduces low-impact development bylaw

The District of Lantzville is one of B.C.’s newest municipalities and the first incorporation of the new millennium. A key task is to develop its own policies and, in particular, establish standards for anticipated development. As a coastal community in a semi-rural setting, but also in a growing region, it is important to the community of Lantzville to ensure that future growth adheres to strong environmental standards.

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Assessing the value of natural capital in the Lower Fraser Valley

The term 'natural capital' refers to a region’s natural, environmental, and ecosystem resources, and land. It is capital because it contributes goods and services necessary for environmental and economic health. In addition to some of the more obvious benefits of environmental conservation such as habitat preservation, flood control, and ensuring water quality, there are significant financial benefits. Assigning a monetary value to our natural resources creates another motivation for environmental preservation and restoration.

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