Rainwater Management

“Having both tools accessible from the same website provides drainage modellers with a choice, depending on the modelling objectives and the capabilities of the user,” states Ted van der Gulik.

The September 2008 issue of Stormwater magazine includes an article about a new approach developed at the University of Minnesota that includes controlled testing as a key component in a four-level assessment program for determing if rain gardens are functioning properly.

Typically used for off-road pavements that handle a low volume of traffic flow – parking lots, industrial parks, and driveways – porous asphalt pavement has been around for more than 30 years. But only recently, as land values have climbed and rainwater/stormwater regulations have evolved in the United Stated, have so many developers begun to embrace this paving technology.

“The Water Balance Model powered by QUALHYMO is currently in public Beta Trial mode,” announced Ted van der Gulik. “The Inter-Governmental Partnership (IGP) anticipates that it will be September when the QA/QC process will be completed and the Beta Trail designation removed. During the interim period, the IGP is posting weekly status reports so that users are kept informed.”

“Rather than think of rain gardens primarily as wet environments, we should design them as dry environments that experience only brief wet periods. This shift in thinking increases opportunities for ornamental planting without sacrificing environmental performance,” writes Kevin Burrell in the October 2008 issue of Stormwater Magazine.

The Cottages at Cultus Lake is a 230 single-family home resort community set on 60-forested acres, a 10-minute walk from the lake.

The City of Langford was an early proponent of rainwater infiltration – in fact, its Subdivision Bylaw calls for 100% on-site rainwater management. The Langford experience serves as a case study application of how to implement Adaptive Management as envisioned in Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia.

2008 Cowichan WBM Forum
In October 2008, the Cowichan Valley forum was delivered to a “by invitation” target audience comprised primarily of developers and consultants.

Representatives of the British Columbia Inter-Governmental Partnership, Alberta Low Impact Development Partnership, and the Toronto & Region Conservation Authority met in Calgary on October 31, 2007 to define the framework for an Inter-Provincial Partnership.

Inspired by the City of Portland experience, Angela Evans developed three bicycle routes with the aid of a local cycling guru so that interested professionals and lay people could see firsthand examples of rainwater management on-the-ground.