Cowichan Water Balance Forum in Duncan: Links to downloadable copies of presentations
The venue for the 2nd Vancouver Island Water Balance Model Forum was the theatre at the Duncan campus of Vancouver Island University, a LEED facility. The 4-hour Forum was structured to facilitate knowledge-sharing. For a program overview, click on Sustainable Rainwater Management on Vancouver Island: What Does It Look Like?
Rainwater Management in the Cowichan Valley
In 2008, the Cowichan Valley was the first demonstration region for the initial rollout of Living Water Smart, and also hosted the inaugural Vancouver Island Water Balance Model Forum. The five local governments (Lake Cowichan, Duncan, North Cowichan, Ladysmith and Cowichan Valley Regional District), Cowichan Tribes, and Cowichan Watershed Board comprise the Cowichan Valley Regional Team.
“At the second Water Balance Forum in March 2012, we reported out on how each has progressed since 2008. Our emphasis was on ‘targets and criteria’, lessons learned, and practices necessary to protect stream health,” states Nagi Rizk, Municipal Engineer with the Town of Lake Cowichan.
To learn more, click on the links below to download PDF versions of two presentations:
Rainwater Management in the Cowichan Valley (13.3MB PDF)
Rainwater Management in Langford & Ladysmith (4.9MB PDF)
Rainwater Management in the District of Central Saanich
The municipality has an award-winning ISMP (Integrated Stormwater Management Plan) and Surface Water Management Bylaw, adopted in Feb 2010. The bylaw requires rainwater capture, encourages use of the WBM, and gives Central Saanich the means to restore the water balance as and when properties redevelop. David McAllister (right in photo below) and Roland Rocheleau (left) reported out on their implementation experience.
To learn more, click on Rainwater Management in Central Saanich (5.8MB PDF)
Rainwater Management in a Watershed Sustainability Context
Four regional districts are embarking upon an Inter-Regional Education Initiative. Sharing of experiences, collaboration, alignment and consistency will allow everyone to go farther, more efficiently and effectively. Representatives of Ministry of Environment (John Deniseger), Department of Fisheries & Oceans (Wilf Luedke) and Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (Bob Wylie) elaborated on regulatory requirements that provide a driver for local governments to protect and/or restore watershed health over time.
To learn more, click on Rainwater Management in a Watershed Sustainability Context (2.4MB PDF)
Introduction to the Water Balance Model for British Columbia
Rebuilt on a new platform, the WBM is quicker and easier to use; and has launch buttons at three scales: SITE, NEIGHBOURHOOD and WATERSHED. Jim Dumont explained the science behind the methodology; demonstrate how to establish and assess performance targets; and showcased modules for stream erosion, rainwater harvesting, climate adaptation, tree canopy interception, infrastructure assessment.
To learn more, click on An Introduction to the Water Balance Model (5.0MB PDF) and Cowichan Water Balance Forum – closing segment (0.2MB PDF)
Click on the image below to download a PDF copy of the original cartoon
About the Water Balance Methodology
The water balance methodology accounts for all the rainfall-days in a year. The methodology links rain that falls on a site…to the runoff leaving the site…to the flow in a stream.
This methodology is a foundation block for those tasked with developing a Master Drainage Plan, an Integrated Stormwater Management Plan (ISMP), the Rainwater Management Component of a Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP), or a Watershed Blueprint.
For more information, click on Water Balance Methodology to download an explanatory document.
