Green Infrastructure

We learn through stories. This is how we pass on our oral history. Storytelling is the way we share intergenerational knowledge, experience and wisdom. “Storytelling is among the oldest forms of communication. Storytelling is the commonality of all human beings, in all places, in all times,” stated Professor Rives Collins, Northwestern University, author of “The Power of Story: Teaching Through Storytelling”.

“The 1990s was a very heady time in government in terms of land use planning and natural resource management. There are initiatives and programs flourishing today that had their beginnings in the Georgia Basin Initiative. And isn’t that how turning that supertanker of thinking happens? Just incrementally, then by gosh, we end up going in a whole different direction than we were when we started,” stated Joan Sawicki.

“Through sharing and learning, ensure that where we are going is indeed the right way,” stated Jody Watson. The Georgia Basin Inter-Regional Education Initiative is a unique mechanism for peer-based learning among local governments and adds to the legacy of the original Georgia Basin Initiative (GBI). The IREI network facilitates collaboration across scales – provincial, regional and local.

“Achieving sustainable service delivery is the primary objective of asset management,” stated Minister Peter Fassbender. “No longer is asset management only about hard engineered assets such as watermains, sewers and roads. The BC Framework encourages local governments to manage their natural assets in the same way they manage their hard engineered assets. Benefits are long term.”

Puget Sound research correlated land use changes with impacts on streams. Hydrology and riparian integrity are of equal importance. “There are many factors that influence stream degradation. There is not a single smoking gun. Impervious area is the main culprit. But you can trash a stream just as badly by deforestation of the riparian zone as you can by paving over the headwaters with a mall,” says Chris May.

“At a critical moment, members of the Partnership team would have an idea around a research theme. And as often happened, I was the arm that had the energy and willingness to take on the research, apply new science in North Vancouver, and get the work done. Look at all the really important science that we were able to produce. There is a lot to be proud of in terms of all that research that we produced in pursuit of making changes to the fabric of our urbanized areas,” stated Richard Boase.

There are many factors that influence stream degradation. “So many studies manipulate a single variable out of context with the whole and its many additional variables. We, on the other hand, investigated whole systems in place, tying together measures of the landscape, stream habitat, and aquatic life,” stated Dr. Richard Horner, professor emeritus at the University of Washington in Seattle.

“In the United States, too often we see a cookie-cutter approach when guidebooks and manuals are replicated across the country. Not so with the British Columbia Guidebook – it is unique, and it is innovative,” stated Tom Schueler. The Guidebook set in motion a chain of outcomes that resulted in BC being recognized internationally as a leader in implementing a natural systems approach to rainwater management in the urban environment.

“Metro Vancouver contributed $50,000 towards development of the Water Balance Express because widespread use of this decision tool will help Metro Vancouver and members fulfil our regulatory commitments. The region and members have committed to protecting stream and watershed health,” stated Greg Moore. The Express helps property owners meet pre-set watershed targets for volume, infiltration, and flow.

“Relying solely on engineering solutions will never be adequate for managing flood risk. Downstream engineering solutions treat the symptoms of the root cause which happens in the headwaters,” stated Younes Alila. “The framework and concepts I advocate for are applicable to all land use and land covers – whether urban, forested or agricultural – to all disturbances, and to watersheds of all sizes.”