Water Stewardship in a Changing Climate: “In British Columbia, we are being challenged to re-assess our thinking regarding how we practice water management in the 21st century,” stated Eric Bonham, a founding member of the Partnership for Water Sustainability
Note to Reader
Released in March 2018, The Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia – Our Story provides a comprehensive picture of the integrated program that the Partnership is delivering under the umbrella of the Water Sustainability Action Plan for BC. The post below is extracted from Our Story and provides a perspective on future directions.
Released in 2004, the purpose of the Action Plan is to build practitioner capacity to explore new ideas so that those in the local government setting can build greener and more water resilient communities in British Columbia. In the early years, initiatives were inspired by and built on the conceptual foundation provided by A Water Conservation Strategy for British Columbia, released in 1998.
Ian McHarg’s “Design with Nature” vision has influenced Action Plan implementation. The desired outcome is to achieve settlement, economy and ecology in balance. The focus since 2012 has been on an initiative branded as Sustainable Watershed Systems through Asset Management.
The Partnership, Looking Forward
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There is no question that water resiliency will be the focus of the future and will be an essential condition to maintain a stable society and an effective economy, as it is a given that water is truly the connector of all activities on earth. This realization demands innovation and creative partnerships, heretofore not considered possible,” states Eric Bonham, a founding member of the Partnership of the Partnership for Water Sustainability. Prior to retirement from government, he was a Director in two provincial ministries – Environment and Municipal Affairs.
From Awareness to Action
“It is against this backdrop that the Partnership was formed in 2010 with a specific focus of promoting the protection and management of natural and engineering water resources in British Columbia,” continues Eric Bonham.
“This has been achieved through a combination of strategies, including, partnerships, education, innovation, networking, outreach, capacity building and the provision of products and tools. This translates to action on the ground and an effective, as well as a forward thinking approach to water management in British Columbia and beyond.”
Collaborate, Collaborate, Collaborate
“In essence, central to the success of the Partnership has been the collaboration developed with provincial, regional, local levels of government and the community, through the provision of leadership, innovation and expertise, ‘stepping outside the box’ and ‘looking outside the pipe’ for solutions that address the reality of climate change and its impact on water management,” explains Eric Bonham
“This is a major shift from addressing water management through an infrastructure response alone, to recognizing the role of natural systems in achieving water resiliency and stability, given the backdrop of an unpredictable water cycle.”
Provincial Influence
“By way of information, the Partnership members have also been involved in the development of many of the key water policy initiatives in BC including the Water Conservation Strategy of BC, the Water Sustainable Action Plan for BC, the new Water Sustainability Act, and the Stormwater Planning, A Guidebook for BC, as well as hosting or co-sponsoring almost a 100 workshops including a number of conferences.”
Vision + Pragmatism
“Indeed future planners, engineers, scientists, politicians and citizens alike will be called upon to demonstrate both vision and pragmatism, working as a team towards consensus, commitment and collaboration for the common good. Such collaboration is essential and must cross all political and community boundaries given that climate change is no respecter of such creations. This premise is fundamental and the basis for each of the Partnership initiatives.”
“In effect we are being challenged to re-assess our thinking regarding how we practice water management in the 21st century. Albert Einstein captured the challenge well when he observed: “No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it. We have to see the world anew.” The Partnership has accepted this challenge and its implementation,” concludes Eric Bonham.
TO LEARN MORE:
To read the complete story about the Partnership and the Action Plan, download a copy of The Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia – Our Story (March 2018).
