“Local governments will benefit from the information sharing between four Vancouver Island regional districts, learn from the experiences of the other regional districts, and be able to participate in workshops delivered locally and elsewhere on Vancouver Island,” stated Glenn Harris.
Through collaboration, the four Comox Valley local governments are striving for a coordinated approach to watershed-based rainwater management in the Comox Valley and across boundaries. There is region-wide commitment to develop Watershed Blueprints. Kevin Lagan’s leadership helped make this possible.
“The Regional Board is committed to achieving the vision that we share for watershed sustainability in our region. We also appreciate the leadership shown by Kate Miller in guiding the CVRD to the destination. Kate truly is a champion. She is demonstrating how benefits are flowing to this region because we collaborate with other regions,” stated Mayor Rob Hutchins, Chair of the Regional Board.
“The educational approach is helping us to identify and empower a core group of local champions who will then have the expertise to apply and advance the water balance approach to land development,” stated Peter Nilsen.
“Recognizing the importance of the issue, the Regional Board identified a rainwater strategy as a NOW priority in its 2012 Strategic Plan. An action item was a legal and technical review of current practices and future options…recommendations were approved by the Board in March 2013, and implementation of first steps is proceeding,” states Kevin Lorette.
“The Provincial Government’s Living Water Smart Plan and the modernization of the BC Water Act provide significant potential to improve water management and protect water resources in British Columbia,” wrote Jack Wong.
“The report draws on data from other agencies such as the Community Energy and Emissions Inventory from the provincial government. Most of the targets in the report have been established in either the City’s Official Community Plan or the Comox Valley Regional Growth Strategy,” explains Nancy Hofer.
In August 2011, the Comox Valley Regional Board passed resolutions pertaining to an integrated watershed approach to rainwater management. “While stormwater and drainage issues are often dealt with on a case by case basis, an integrated basin-wide approach is ultimately required to handle issues that affect all local governments within the CVRD,” wrote Debra Oakman.
