Stormwater Management Considerations for Aquatic Species: Risks, benefits, and design considerations for stormwater ponds and ditches for wildlife

From Watersheds to Ditches: Wetlands Workshop for Municipalities Investigates Wetland Conservation in Metro Vancouver

“In February 2014, the BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) released a summary report on our Wetlands Workshop for Municipalities – hosted in November 2013 at the Stanley Park Ecology Centre in the City of Vancouver,” reports Christine Cooper, Wetland Intern. “The workshop targeted municipal and regional staff in Metro Vancouver to strengthen the region’s capacity to secure wetlands as green infrastructure for the benefit of human health and nature.”

“Working from watersheds and focusing down to sites, this one-day workshop explored ways to integrate wetland conservation through a variety of tools – from policies to design considerations for built infrastructure.”

“Elke Wind, biologist, outlined rainwater management considerations for aquatic species, focusing on design considerations for amphibians.  Amphibians are particularly vulnerable due to their semi-permeable skin and both aquatic and terrestrial habitat requirements – making them good indicators of wetland health. The variety of artificial water features in the developed environment can endanger amphibians as stormwater ponds typically contain contaminants and non-native species.”

“To prevent the need for costly salvage operations, techniques to increase amphibian survival can be used including exclusion techniques to prevent amphibian access to contaminated sites or creating stormwater ponds that better mimic the natural habitat.”

To Learn More:

To read the complete story posted on the Water-Centric Planning community-of-interest, click on From Watersheds to Ditches: Wetlands Workshop for Municipalities Investigates Wetland Conservation in Metro Vancouver.

To download a copy of the summary report, click on Synopsis of Wetlands Workshop for Municipalities.