According to Kim Stephens, the majority of workshop presentations were delivered by members of the “convening for action” partnership network, and were about case studies that are featured in Beyond the Guidebook 2010.
“It is an infill and redevelopment challenge. Developers keep hitting the wall with the requirement that they detain 'their' rainwater on their parcels. Larger, cooperative areas could be created, but with existing development it is difficult to reach an agreement of shared improvements,” states John Hooker.
“Local governments bear the entire financial burden to stabilize watercourses impacted by increased runoff volume after land is developed. The challenge is to think about what infrastructure asset management entails BEFORE an asset is proposed and incorporated in a municipality’s capital plan,” states Ray Fung.
“We are working to better match rainwater and stormwater management to the development context through the integration of rainwater into all planning scales, from the region to the building,” states Paul Crabtree.
“People ‘hear’ the word ‘deficit’ and assume the accountants will fix it all. But people ‘listen’ to the word ‘liability’ and often ask questions or realize some action is necessary,” states Wally Wells.
According to Nora Beck, “the Rainwater-in-Context intiative urges modification because lot-level standards alone deliver lower overall performance than holistically-planned shared systems at the community or watershed scale.”
“Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver are learning from each other, and are moving in the same direction. Commencing in 2006, ‘convening for action’ program elements implemented on Vancouver Island have built on Metro Vancouver approaches and precedents,” states Kim Stephens.
“Farmers are saying it is not the big storms that cause them problems. Rather, it is all the little storms. All the water from the uplands is just enough that the farmers cannot get on their land and plant or harvest their crops,” stated Ted van der Gulik.
Stan Westby (120p) – Powell River CAO
ISMP Course Correction Series – Story #4 in December 2010
Asset management usually commences after something is built. The challenge is to think about what asset management entails BEFORE the asset is built. What level does a community wish to provide, and what level can it afford.
“The WBM embeds land use zoning from municipal member partners, soil calculator and a new calculation engine QUALHYMO utilizing the Environment Canada climate data that includes rainfall, snow, temperature and evaporation. The easy access and calculation speed combined with the embedded data and information allows the user to easily and effectively plan and design green infrastructure techniques which will achieve the vision and objectives established for the Site, the Development, or Watershed,” stated Jim Dumont.
