FLASHBACK TO 2008: “We are using the slogan ‘The New Business As Usual’ to convey the message that practices that until now have been viewed as the exception must become the norm," stated Dale Wall, Deputy Minister, when he announced that Vancouver Island would be the demonstration region for green infrastructure capacity building
Note to Reader:
The Gaining Ground Sustainable Urban Development Leadership Summit in Victoria was the venue for an announcement by Dale Wall, Deputy Minister (Community Services), on behalf of the Inter-Governmental Partnership that the change-over to the Water Balance Model powered by QUALHYMO was completed on May 22, 2008.
Green Infrastructure: New Water Balance Model supports The New Business As Usual
“We are using the slogan The New Business As Usual to convey the message that, for change to really occur,practices that until now have been viewed as the exception must become the norm moving forward. We have to build regulatory models and develop models of practice and expertise to support The New Business As Usual”, stated Dale Wall.
Vancouver Island Learning Lunch Seminar Series
At Gaining Ground, Dale Wall also announced that Vancouver Island is the pilot for the Learning Lunch Seminar Series, a continuing education program for local government practitioners. This program will build capacity to apply “the new Water Balance Model”, and it will help make the transition to The New Business As Usual.
The Cowichan Valley Regional District and the City of Courtenay are the host local governments for series in the Spring and Fall, respectively. The participating Vancouver Island local governments represent some 250,000 people.
To Learn More:
To download a copy of the Announcement, click on Green Infrastructure: The New Water Balance Model supports The New Business As Usual.
Click on Green Infrastructure: The New Water Balance Model supports The New Business As Usual to download a copy of the PowerPoint presentation by Dale Wall. In addition, watch the YouTube video.
Water Balance Model powered by QUALHYMO
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands provided $160,000 and the Ministry of Community Services $25,000 to integrate the Water Balance Model web interface and the QUALHYMO hydrologic engine,” explained Ted van der Gulik (Ministry of Agriculture), Chair of the Inter-Governmental Partnership that developed the Water Balance Model.
“The City of Calgary also contributed $10,000. The result is a pan-Canadian scenario modeling tool, because QUALHYMO was developed in the 1980s for the Ontario Ministry of Environment.”
According to Ted van der Gulik, a key message is the speed with which scenario analyses and comparisons can now be completed: “What previously took weeks can now be done in hours. The significant benefit of the ‘new Water Balance Model’ is the resulting emphasis on strategy and alternative implementation methodologies.”
The web-based Water Balance Model powered by QUALHYMO is unique, bridges engineering and planning, links development sites to the stream and watershed, and enables local governments to establish science-based watershed targets. The model correlates green infrastructure effectiveness in protecting agricultural lowlands and stream health.
