“This is the start of a long and complex process. The level of flood-protection improvements will depend on the extent to which climate-change predictions come true,” stated Steven Thompson, BC Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.
“All of the coastal cities are well aware of the new guidelines and the risk. They all have plans and programs to monitor and try to manage the risk. The best way to approach this is not to wait for individual projects, but to get out ahead of it in official community plans,” stated Dr. Stephen Sheppard.
“When the City of Vancouver builds new infrastructure, such as replacing the viaducts, we would take projected new ocean levels into account. I think the key is, this is long-term work and you need to do it strategically and practically,” stated Sadhu Johnston.
“The impacts of flooding are so widespread – it’s economic, to personal to your home. It’s just so much smarter to plan ahead than to respond afterward. It’s much less expensive and disruptive,” said Norma Miller.
Published in March 2002 by the Greater Vancouver Regional District, the “Watershed / Landscape-Based Approach to Community Planning” was developed by an interdisciplinary working group and is the genesis of “water-centric planning”. “An important message is that planning and implementation involves cooperation among all orders of government as well as the non-government and private sectors,” stated Erik Karlsen.
“Originally, this COI was to be called Watershed-Based Planning for consistency with the community planning element of the Water Sustainability Action Plan. However, federal and provincial funding enabled us to broaden the scope of the COI to encompass a spectrum of perspectives, ranging from provincial watershed planning to local government community planning. This expanded scope is an ambitious undertaking. We are excited by the challenges that integration of perspectives involves,” stated Robyn Wark.
“Salmon are able to return to Spanish Banks Creek for the first time in over fifty years thanks to a community-inspired project that brought citizens and government agencies together,” stated Zo Ann Morten of the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation.
“Council adopted a ‘Water Strategy’ that includes a vision for water that closely aligns with the province’s Living Water Smart program,” stated Kevin Henderson.
“The Water Sustainability Act will help lighten BC’s water footprint and transition the province to a 'design with nature' way of developing land and managing water,” stated Tim Pringle.
“The plan deals with the pressures of an increasing population while planning to bring an aging infrastructure up to modern standards. Valid for the next eight years, the plan includes upgrades to two existing wastewater treatment plants and incorporates resource recovery to capture heat and energy from sewage,” stated Terry Lake, BC Minister of Environment.
