NATURE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES: Living Water Smart explained from BC local government perspective – “The more we can align local actions with provincial targets, the greater our chances of success,” said Ron Neufeld, General Manager of Operations, City of Campbell River (2008)
“Living Water Smart creates the opportunity/potential for real dramatic change at a local level. Good policy is knowing where the horizon is, so that you know where you want to get to. Success depends on cooperation across jurisdictional boundaries. We must hold the provincial government accountable too. They have given us the long-term vision; and we are looking to them to be accountable for the support that we now need,” stated Ron Neufeld.
The State of BC’s Water Reporting Project will examine pressures on freshwater resources and societal responses
State of BCs Water – Rowena Rae (120p)
The State of Environment Reporting Unit at BC Ministry of Environment is leading the development of a report on the State of BC's Water for publication in 2010. The report will fulfil the commitment in Living Water Smart: BC’s Water Plan to publish a report on the state of our water by 2012.
Ensuring Safe and Sustainable Groundwater for the Community
The Township of Langley, in cooperation with the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture and Lands, is developing a water management plan to protect local groundwater and promote its sustainable use. This is the first plan to be developed in British Columbia under the Water Act, and it is expected to protect local groundwater quality and quantity.
The University of Victoria’s POLIS Project Thinks Beyond Pipes and Pumps – and Takes Action Towards a New Water Infrastructure in BC and Beyond
Oliver Brandes
Since 2000 the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance at the University of Victoria has filled a unique niche on campus as a place where academic and policy research meets community action. The Water Sustainability Project began at POLIS in 2003. It focuses on reorienting Canadian water management from a supply development approach toward stewardship and managing demand as priorities for governments and decision makers.
NATURE WITHOUT BORDERS: Comox Valley Conservation Strategy contributes to Living Water Smart
At the final seminar in the “2008 Comox Valley Learning Lunch Series” Jack Minard of the Comox Valley Land Trust, connected the dots between the Living Water Smart provincial initiative and the Comox Valley Conservation Strategy. “It is an exciting initiative to create a region-wide strategy for land conservation in consultation with the community and decision-makers in the Comox Valley,” he said.
Focus on Water – Part of Future Forest Management
report cover
According to a new federal report by the Untited States National Research Council titled “Hydrologic Effects of a Changing Forest Landscape,” forest management in the future may be as much to achieve a sustainable supply of clean water as it is for any other goal. Forest management will not increase water supplies, but it can help sustain water supplies and water quality.
Our Climate is Changing…Now What?
“While there may be general consensus on climate change predictions at the global scale, real discussion of climate change impacts in our own “backyard” – be it a city, a watershed, or a particular project site – is just getting started. In most cases, the emergence of “best practices” – or even “standard practices” – is still on the horizon,” states Eric Bonham.
Climate science and politics in an age of change
“More and more thoughtful people are concerned that climate change, in combination with a number of contributing environmental circumstances, is poised to create a perfect storm of economic, social and political consequeces,” stated Bob Sandford.
Adaptation to climate change: it’s all about the water, says Assistant Deputy Minister
“There are two responses to climate change: mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation is alleviating the effects of climate change through reducing greenhouse gases. Adaptation is responding to the changes that will inevitably occur. If migation is about CARBON, then adaptation is about WATER,” stated Jim Mattison.
LIVING WATER SMART IN THE COWICHAN VALLEY: Changing the way British Columbians do business around water in the Cowichan Valley
The Cowichan Valley Regional District hosted the first of the Vancouver Island Learning Lunch Series in Summer 2008. At Seminar #2, Kate Miller used the “elephant in the room analogy” to capture audience attention vis-a-vis the implications of Living Water Smart for rainwater management. “There is an elephant in our room right now…which is around how do we deal with rainwater management…how do we deal with the larger policy issues…what’s the objective,” stated Kate Miller.