CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “Failure to grasp water balance fundamentals is a root cause of degraded urban streams. Opening minds to accept changes in practice is a challenge,” stated Richard Boase, career environmental champion within local government in British Columbia
“Members of the Partnership team would have an idea around a research theme. And as often happened, I was the arm that had the energy and willingness to take on the research, apply new science in North Vancouver, and get the work done. There is a lot to be proud of in terms of all that research that we produced in pursuit of making changes to the fabric of our urbanized areas,” stated Richard Boase.
CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “Unless and until land development practices mimic the natural water balance, communities cannot expect to restore the biological communities within streams,” stated Richard Horner, professor emeritus at the University of Washington in Seattle
Many factors influence stream degradation. “So many studies manipulate a single variable out of context with the whole and its many additional variables. We, on the other hand, investigated whole systems in place, tying together measures of the landscape, stream habitat, and aquatic life,” stated Richard Horner. “If we get the hydrology right, water quality typically takes care of itself.”
CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “In the United States, too often we see a cookie-cutter approach. Not so with the British Columbia Guidebook – it is unique, and it is innovative,” stated Tom Schueler, founder and former Executive Director of the Center for Urban Watershed Protection
“I really like what Kim Stephens and his British Columbia team did in developing the water balance methodology, and I told him that after he pinch-hit for me in delivering the conference keynote in Chicago in February 2003. That was shortly after the Guidebook was published. Too often we see a cookie-cutter approach when guidebooks and manuals are replicated across the United States,” stated Tom Schueler.
CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “Use of the Water Balance Model can help municipalities to define achievable and affordable performance targets at the watershed, neighbourhood and site scales,” stated Greg Moore, former Metro Vancouver Board Chair
“Metro Vancouver contributed $50,000 towards development of the Water Balance Express because widespread use of this decision tool will help Metro Vancouver and members fulfil our regulatory commitments. The region and members have committed to protecting stream and watershed health,” stated Greg Moore. The Express helps property owners meet pre-set watershed targets for volume, infiltration, and flow.
CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “Relying solely on engineering solutions will never be adequate for managing flood risk,” stated Younes Alila, professional engineer and professor in the UBC Faculty of Forestry
“Downstream engineering solutions treat the symptoms of the root cause which happens in the headwaters,” stated Younes Alila. “The framework and concepts I advocate for are applicable to all land use and land covers – whether urban, forested or agricultural – to all disturbances, and to watersheds of all sizes. Can we afford to continue on the same path when the stakes are high?
CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “As a predictive tool, the Ecological Accounting Process would make it possible for municipalities to quantify the financial implications of increased development density, including provincial housing policies, for the RIPARIAN DEFICIT,” stated Tim Pringle, EAP Chair
“Both the Metro research in the late 1990s and the current EAP research are spatial analyses. With hindsight, I can say that Metro was ahead of its time and got it right with the RFI index but let it slip away,” stated Tim Pringle. “EAP deals with parcels which is as spatial as you can get. The EAP process allows local governments to transcend the numbers and explore the financial impact of land development choices.”
CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “There are lots of partnerships that exist for selfish reasons. But the EAP Partnership is selfless; and from all angles,” stated Graham Sakaki, Manager of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute
“Vancouver Island University is all-in because the Ecological Accounting Process is an idea that can change the game with respect to protection or restoration of riparian integrity along streams. The strategy ensures that knowledge is retained at an institutional level, that is, VIU. Students are excited to contribute to the change. We will be continuously training youth to apply the EAP methodology,” stated Graham Sakaki.
CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “Natural assets support the delivery of core local government services, while doing so much more,” stated Wally Wells, former Executive Director with Asset Management BC
“Asset management is a process for sustainable service delivery. The BC Framework is designed as a wheel as there is a beginning but no end to the process, The role of natural assets in our communities is not well understood. As the AMBC Primer published in 2019 shows, significant work has been done on the integration of natural assets into the overall asset management program,” stated Wally Wells.
CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “You have to build new political commitment and basically start all over again to coalition-build to develop a renewed shared vision,” stated Ray Fung, former Director of Engineering in local government in the Metro Vancouver region
“What combination of public self-interest and political lever will it take to effect change? One of my legacy projects illustrates leveraging a political moment to make a difference. My story is about why we got commitment to implement a universal water metering program. Self-interest plus political commitment was more persuasive than language about equity, efficiency and water conservation benefits,” stated Ray Fung.
CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “Each new generation lacks direct knowledge of the historical condition of the environment. This lack of understanding plays out as a failure to notice change,” stated UBC’s Dr. Daniel Pauly, a global thought leader who coined the term Shifting Baseline Syndrome in 1996
“Every generation is handed a world that has been shaped by their predecessors – and then seemingly forgets that fact. This blind spot is the reason why a baseline creeps imperceptibly over generations. We transform the world, but we don’t remember it. We adjust our baseline to the new level, and we don’t recall what was there. At the end you want to sustain miserable leftovers,” stated Daniel Pauly.