2003 Water Balance Partners Forum: Hosted by Metro Vancouver, the partnership event previewed the work-in-progress online tool for promoting changes in land development practices (June 2003)
Note to Reader:
In July 2002, the Inter-Governmental Partnership (IGP) was formed to implement the Water Balance Model for British Columbia. The project was then initiated with a kick-off workshop in November 2002.
By June 2003, work was sufficiently advanced that the IGP convened a Partners Forum to preview the work-in-progress.
The forum was hosted by Metro Vancouver on June 18. The forum was an opportunity to ratify the policy and operational framework developed by the User Needs Focus Group, an inter-regional and inter-governmental technical committee.
Final Software Review with
Signatory Partners
The Partners Forum was structured in two parts. Part 1 provided the partners with an update on the big picture. Part 2 drilled down into the details of the online tool.
“The original plan was based on a typical approach to software development. By that I mean Water Balance users would have received a CD,” stated Ted van der Gulik, Chair of the Inter-Governmental Partnership (IGP).
“Under the original plan, conversion to an online tool would have been Phase 4. But the funding provided by the Real Estate Foundation enabled the IGP to be bold and go straight to web-based technology in Phase 1.”
Application of Performance Targets
“The purpose of the Water Balance Model is to demonstrate how to meet performance targets for water balance management at the site, neighbourhood and watershed scales, and derive feasibility and affordability relationships,” explained Laura Maclean (Environment 
Canada), IGP Co-Chair.
“Once we got into Part 2 of the forum, this topic generated considerable discussion, in part because there were new players at the table.”
“For developed watersheds the overall targets will be different than the 10% volume target that applies to greenfield sites.”
“Use of the WBM will help local governments determine what watershed target may be achievable and affordable over time through land redevelopment,” concluded Laura Maclean.
Outreach & Continuing Education Program
“The continuing support of the Real Estate Foundation will enable the IGP to promote a change in thinking that will see the application of the WBM become standard practice when making land use decisions,” stated Kim Stephens, IGP Coordinator.
Kim Stephens is the principal author of Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia, and is recognized internationally as a leading expert in water balance management.
To Learn More:
Download Record of 2003 Water Balance Partners Forum.
Download 3-Year Vision for Water Balance Model Evolution.
Download 2003 Water Balance Partners Forum to view a PDF copy of the PowerPoint storyline that informed the discussion.
