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City of Parksville Official Community Plan Review

Living Rivers and Partnership for Water Sustainability align efforts in Mid-Island Region to advance Living Water Smart provincial initiative


Established by the Provincial Government in 2006, the vision of the Living Rivers Trust Fund is to create a legacy for British Columbia based on healthy watersheds, sustainable ecosystems and thriving communities. “Initially, Living Rivers and the Partnership will collaborate with local governments and others within the boundaries of the Nanaimo Regional District and Cowichan Valley Regional District to advance Convening for Action in the Mid-Island Region. Collaboration will enable us to advance a shared vision for settlement change in balance with natural ecosystems,” stated Alan Lill.

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Parksville City Council introduced to ‘water balance’ approach to watershed sustainability


The proposed ‘water balance’ pilot study would evaluate the effects of development and climate change scenarios on surface and groundwater levels feeding Englishman River. Councillor Sue Powell moved that the offer be referred to staff for review and to obtain input from the Official Community Plan consultant and report back to Council. The pilot study will address the WATER FOOTPRINT – that is, how land development modifies the water cycle; and more particularly, the role of ground cover and how water enters and goes through the land.

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City of Parksville’s OCP can be a demonstration application for Living Water Smart, says Kim Stephens


“The OCP is high-level in creating a ‘vision and goals’ through a community consultation process. Therefore, a desired outcome from the Partnership’s perspective is that the OCP Review would simply incorporate appropriate language that connects the dots to Living Water Smart, British Columbia’s Water Plan,” stated Kim Stephens. “While other local governments have referenced Living Water Smart in their regulatory and/or guidance documents, the City of Parksville has the opportunity to be the first to actually embed the vision for Living Water Smart.”

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City of Parksville supports collaborative effort to develop "Primer on Integrated Rainwater and Groundwater Management for Lands Adjacent to Englishman River"


“The City supports the 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 the project’s objectives with the new Official Community Plan,” wrote Blaine Russell. “City collaboration with the British Columbia Conservation Foundation 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.”

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Parksville OCP Advisory Committees introduced to the vision for the Vancouver Island Inter-Regional Education Initiative


In February 2012, Parksville City Council authorized staff to proceed with a collaborative effort that had been initiated by the BC Conservation Foundation on behalf of Living Rivers and the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC. “The City invited us to provide an overview on the topics of groundwater science, aquatic ecosystem health and the web-based Water Balance Model. This invitation opened the door to explaining the significance and relevance of the Inter-Regional Education Initiative, and how Parksville can benefit from participation,” stated Craig Wightman.

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Preparing for Climate’s Change: Securing BC’s Future


“The vision for the BC Regional Adaptation Collaborative is to enhance resilience to a changing climate and the anticipated, related impacts on water and aquatic ecosystems. Project activities have led to recommendations and actions for improved policies, practices and plans, as well as tools,” stated Jim Vanderwaal. The RACs Program provided funding for the Primer on Integrated Rainwater and Groundwater Management for Lands on Vancouver Island and Beyond, released in April 2012 by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC and the Living Rivers Trust. 

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Mid-Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society champions precedent-setting groundwater research in the Englishman River watershed


“Early in my involvement with Streamkeepers it became evident that the problems we were dealing with came about because decision-makers had not prioritized the needs of the environment before altering the land. We took the initiative to secure funding so that all stakeholders would have a science-based understanding of surface water / groundwater interaction in the Englishman River watershed,” said Faye Smith. The efforts of MVIHES demonstrate what can be accomplished by a “top-down and bottom-up” initiative when grass-roots visionaries partner with decision-makers in local government.

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Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia releases "Primer on Integrated Rainwater and Groundwater Management for Lands on Vancouver Island and Beyond"


“Released in 2008, Living Water Smart, British Columbia’s Water Plan is a call to action to prepare communities for change and do business different. Actions and targets in Living Water Smart establish expectations as to how land will be developed and water will be used. Now, the Primer provides local governments with guidance for implementation of Living Water Smart principles on the ground,” stated Ted van der Gulik. The City of Parksville OCP is a demonstration application for the Primer. The learning captured in this Primer is being shared with other local governments on Vancouver Island.

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Look at Groundwater Differently: Vancouver Island Demonstration Project Establishes Water Balance Precedent


“Characterizing aquifers is a complex and costly exercise because you need wells in order to reach aquifers and to monitor the depth and fluctuation of the level of the water table. The approach that we took in the Englishman River Watershed was to involve the community,” stated Dr. Gilles Wendling. “Community members will more willingly modify their behaviour and management of the land, after they appreciate the direct connection between what happens at surface and what happens in the subsurface, on their property, the property of their neighbours and their local environment.”

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British Columbia Guidance Documents Provide Educational Foundation for Rainwater Management in a Watershed Context


“Released in 2008, Living Water Smart, British Columbia’s Water Plan is a call to action to prepare communities for change and do business differently. To help the Province implement Living Water Smart, the Partnership for Water Sustainability is producing guidance documents and developing tools. The latest series comprises a set of three Primers,” stated Peter Law. “The ultimate goal is to foster responsible decisions about use and development of land in British Columbia. This approach is founded on an understanding of HOW the Water Balance Methodology integrates the site with the watershed and stream.”

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