“We’ve reached a point where one WBM interface no longer works for everyone. We now need to provide an environment that supports communities that range from highly experienced experts to enthusiastic newcomers.”
The college’s aging west parking lot consisted of 14 acres of surface parking that drained toward the academic building. Age and configuration contributed to the need for reconstruction.
“Thousands of dedicated streamkeepers across British Columbia put in tens of thousands of volunteer hours every year caring for local creeks, rivers and watersheds,” states states Paul Cipywnyk.
The goal is to prevent sewage overflows into Onondaga Lake, and do it more cheaply and less obtrusively than could be done by building new sewage treatment plants. “There’s something going on here now,” and “Syracuse and Onondaga County are years ahead” of other communities, says EPA Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck.
“Ailing Northwest rivers and lakes face death not so much by a thousand cuts as by a thousand rainstorms, each flushing filthy runoff into our region’s environmentally and economically important waterways. But work is underway to change this. Low-impact development treats larger volumes of water, is cheaper to maintain, boosts propety values, creates wildlife habitat, and reduces greenhouse gases,” writes Lisa Stiffler.
“The experience and wisdom of local government champions who have developed precedent-setting watershed plans will provide the curriculum backbone for a 2-day course. This will go a long way towards ensuring alignment with the Province’s Living Water Smart and Green Communities initiatives,” stated Kim Stephens.
“The Partnership began as a subgroup of Metro Vancouver's Stormwater Interagency Liaison Group. It quickly expanded to become a provincial group with municipal representation from four regions,” states Ted van der Gulik.
“Municipalities have lots of competing interests for spending money; lots of projects to keep staff busy; and finite financial resources. Everyone is challenged to do more with less and get it done,” states Anne Topp.
According to Kim Stephens, the Partners Forum provides an opportunity for local governments to reflect on what has been accomplished through alignment and collaboration. It also enables the leadership team to foreshadow where the inter-governmental initiative will lead next.
The program encourages organizations to make a commitment to the environment. Healthy streams, even very small ones, are an asset to the community.
