DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCE: Cross-border collaboration would enhance water resources research and practice in North America – Moving Towards “Sustainable Watershed Systems, through Asset Management” in British Columbia (released April 2017)
Note to Reader:
Given the evident benefits of strategic interaction, the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia and the Urban Watershed Research Institute (UWRI) have an agreement to collaborate regarding reciprocal benefits and joint actions related to water resources research and practice in North America. The focal point for collaboration is the newly formed and US-based Center for Infrastructure Modeling and Management (ncimm.org).
Cross-border collaboration opens the door to sharing and learning
“Under an agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency, ncimm.org has been created to provide sustainable research, development and outreach for water infrastructure modeling, initially focusing on two foremost modelling tools – known around the world by the acronyms EPA SWMM and EPANET,” states Dr, Charles Rowney.
Dr. Rowney is the Director of Operations for ncimm.org. He is also a Board member of the Urban Watersheds Research Institute and a Research Fellow at the University of Texas. In addition, Dr. Rowney is the Scientific Authority for the Partnership for Water Sustainability and its Water Balance family of modelling tools.
“We will certainly tap into the Water Balance Model experience as the Center explores options for SWMM and EPANET deployment beyond the desktop.
“The Partnership understanding of hydrology and watershed management issues in the Pacific Northwest provides some intriguing insights into new diagnostics, targets and interpretation needs for watersheds, and the tools we develop will very likely need to embrace those ideas.”
Collaboration with
Urban Watersheds Research Institute
“The Partnership for the Water Sustainability is excited to enter into an agreement with the Urban Watershed Research Institute (UWRI) to collaborate in the advancement of water resources research and practice in North America. The focal point for this collaboration is found at ncimm.org,” states Ted van der Gulik, President.
Formerly the Senior Engineer in the Province of British Columbia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Ted van der Gulik received the 2014 Legacy Award when he retired from government. He was also an inaugural inductee into the British Columbia 
Public Service Hall of Excellence.
“This is a mutually beneficial strategic partnership founded on strong human links,” continues Ted van der Gulik. “Since 2005, Dr. Charles Rowney has been the Partnership’s Scientific Authority. And, as the Director of Operations for the new Center for Infrastructure Modeling and Management, Charles is a driving force behind ncimm.org.
“In addition, Jim Dumont, our Engineering Applications Authority, now sits on the Center’s panel of expert advisors. This provides a wonderful opportunity for Jim Dumont to cross-fertilize his experience with that of his peers in the United States and elsewhere.”
Georgia Basin Inter-Regional Education Initiative
The Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia delivers services on behalf of government. In particular, the Partnership is responsible for the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia. Under this umbrella, the Partnership is leading the Georgia Basin Inter-Regional Educational Initiative (IREI).
The Georgia Basin region encompasses the east coast of Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland (Metro Vancouver). These lands drain into the Salish Sea, which includes Puget Sound in Washington State.
Five regional districts, representing 75% of British Columbia’s population, are sharing and learning from each other through the IREI capacity-building program. The current focus is on Sustainable Watershed Systems, through Asset Management.
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