“The Ministry's 2007 guidance document provides the Ministry with the capability to align its efforts with municipalities and support a consistent watershed-based approach to rainwater management,” reports Kim Stephens.
“Watersheds are not all created equal. And when we begin to examine them, we find that they function in all kinds of different ways. And what I often see missing in most engineering methodologies is an understanding of how a particular watershed actually functions,” stated Will Marsh.
“The goal of Adaptive Management is to learn from experience and constantly improve rainwater management practices in order to protect and/or (over time) restore watershed health,” states Jim Dumont.
“Provide leadership, education, coordination, participation, etc., to familiarize people with what can be done on the ground and eventually win them over with a new way of thinking. Comox Valley is heading in the right direction here, but there is a price for admission – patience,” commented John Finnie.
“The treatment of Brooklyn Creek for most of the past 60 years, has been an example of what not to do. Let’s use this example as a learning experience that helps us all move toward a better way of doing things,” concluded Dick Stubbs.
“The financial burden and environmental impacts associated with ‘pipe-and-convey’ drainage infrastructure contrast with the benefits of ‘green’ infrastructure: natural landscape-based assets reduce runoff volumes, have lower life-cycle costs, decrease stresses applied to creeks, and enhance urban liveability,” states Jim Dumontt.
Settlement and ecology are equal values and they must be as much in balance as possible for wellbeing of human and natural systems. It is in our best interests to learn about both sides of the balance….if we are to ensure that settlement change results in benefits exceeding liabilities at the site, community and regional scales,” states Tim Pringle.
“My hope is that the audience will understand the challenges that the Town faces, and will be primed to contribute their practical experience and ideas during the town-hall session. We wish to explore how the Town can establish and implement achievable rainfall capture and runoff control targets,” states Glenn Westendorp.
“The spotlight will be on the existing unfunded ‘infrastructure liability’, and why all those involved in land development have a role to play in Sustainable Service Delivery. A desired outcome is that participants will understand why there is a link between infrastructure asset management and protection of a community’s natural assets,” states Shelley Ashfield.
“History shows that local governments are very good at planning ahead, but not-so-good at looking ahead – for example: The initial capital cost of municipal infrastructure is about 20% of the life-cycle cost. The other 80% is an unfunded liability, and is increasing year after year,” states Glenn Westendorp.
