City of Parksville supports collaborative effort to develop "Primer on Integrated Rainwater and Groundwater Management for Lands Adjacent to Englishman River"
Desired Outcome: Inform OCP Process
In February 2012, Parksville City Council received a staff report that provided options for partnering with the British Columbia Conservation Foundation (acting on behalf of the Living Rivers – Georgia Basin / Vancouver Island Program) and the the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC. Council authorized staff to proceed with the activities outlined in the report.
“The City supports the British Columbia Conservation Foundation (BCCF) and the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia (PWSBC) in their joint research and information-sharing project related to the science of ‘living water smart’ on the Englishman River. However, since staff resources are very limited to participate with this initiative, a consensus was reached to link their project’s objectives with the new Official Community Plan (OCP), as appropriate, as well as to provide technical information associated with a future Master Drainage Plan, while minimizing the impact to City resources,” wrote Blaine Russell, Director of Planning, in the Council Report.
Collaboration Framework
The Council Report listed six collaborative actions and/or activities that would fulfil the intent of a limited “inform and educate” approach. The tangible deliverable is a “Primer on Integrated Rainwater and Groundwater Management for Lands Adjacent to Englishman River”.
“City collaboration with the BCCF and their partners will inform the OCP review process on the general topics of groundwater science, aquatic ecosystem health, living water smart, and the water balance model. It will also provide a better understanding of the hydrology of land near the Englishman River through a ‘primer’ document which can lead to the inclusion of more informed policies within the updated OCP. This may create policies that will lead to the better protection of surface and groundwater resources,” wrote Blaine Russell.
To Learn More:
To download the Council Report, click on Consideration of Council Resolution #12-007 Regarding a Partnership with the British Columbia Conservation Foundation
To download an article published by the Parksville-Qualicum Beach News, click on City to link water study to its OCP
To download an article published by the Oceanside Star newspaper, click on City signs on to Englishman River study
