“An ISMP is a potentially powerful tool to achieve a vision for ‘green’ development, one that protects stream health, fish habitat and fish; and anticipates climate change. Local governments now have a decade of experience from which to extract lessons learned,” states Kim Stephens.
“Beyond the Guidebook 2010 demonstrates that the practitioner culture is changing as an outcome of collaboration, partnerships and alignment; and provides local governments with 'how to' guidance for developing outcome-oriented urban watershed plans,” states Ted van der Gulik. “The Guidebook recognized that water volume is something over which local government has control through its infrastructure policies, practices and standards.”
“To help tell the stories of local governments that are convening for action to manage settlement change in balance with ecology, we posted a series of stories on Water Bucket during the August through October period. These preview stories foreshadowed what to expect at the workshop,” states Mike Tanner,
“There are a lot of times when we in local government like to blame or put on senior governments the responsibility to provide the framework for doing something…but there are things that we in local government can do. We need to choose to be enabled,” stated Ray Fung.
“A key challenge in ensuring urban stream health has been getting all the players involved in the community to move in the same direction. “Convening for Action” involves bringing everyone together in a workshop setting to share experiences, talk about barriers, and find solutions,” states Deborah Carlson.
“It helps to look back to understand how we got to here. We are moving from guidelines to tools. The objective of protecting stream health is broader than how much volume one can infiltrate on a particular development,” states Corino Salomi, DFO Area Manager.
When it was released, the Guidebook was a catalyst for action to implement a ‘design with nature’ approach to rainwater management and green infrastructure. “The premise underpinning the Guidebook was that land development and watershed protection can be compatible. The basis for this premise was that municipalities exert control over runoff volume through their land development and infrastructure policies, practices and actions,” states Peter Law. “The Guidebook applied a science-based understanding to develop the water balance methodology and establish performance targets.”
“If one goes back 10 years, there was a void of policy and legislation. There is now clear guidance for aligning local actions with provincial and regional goals to ‘design with nature’ so that British Columbians can create greener communities, live water smart and prepare for climate change,” states Glen Brown.
“Beyond the Guidebook 2007 initiated the paradigm-shift from the single-function view of traditional ‘stormwater management’ to the holistic, integrated and landscape-based perspective that is captured by the term ‘RAINwater Management’. The time is now right to make the break from ‘ISMP’ and instead use Integrated Rainwater Management Plan.”,” states Peter Law.
“Bringing together local government practitioners in neutral forums has enabled implementers to collaborate as regional teams. Their action-oriented focus has resulted in ‘how to do it’ examples that help decision-makers visualize what ‘design with nature’ policy goals look like on the ground,” reports Kim Stephens.
