“A threshold may already have been crossed, so that major floods in the Midwest perhaps now should no longer be considered purely natural disasters but instead mixed natural/unnatural disasters. And if emissions keep going up, the forecast is for more extreme storms in the region,” stated Stephen Saunders.
“The Fused Grid is a neighbourhood and district layout model that combines the geometries of inner city grids and of the conventional suburbs. This fusion results in retaining the best characteristics of each and none of their disadvantages while raising the quality of the neighbourhood environment,” states Fanis Grammenos.
“The fused grid is inspired by a theme — the common space — from an 18th-century plan of Savannah, Georgia. “The city plan is organized in repeatable wards, with a square in the centre, which is visible to half of the homes in each ward,” reports Fanis Grammenos.
“The Primer introduces the issue of the ‘unfunded infrastructure liability’. Viewing the watershed through an asset management lens provides local governments with a driver to require that development practices mimic the Water Balance,” states Craig Wightman.
“Good engineering practice relies on astute observation and sound deduction. Breakthroughs in practical understanding and application happen when applied scientists ask the right questions: What are the data telling us?,” states Dr. Peter Coombes.
“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 with the Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society in the Englishman River Watershed was to involve the community,” states Dr. Gilles Wendling.
“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,” states Jim Vanderwaal.
“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 written for expert and non-expert audiences,” reports Peter Law.
“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,” reports Ted van der Gulik.
“Board support enables CRD staff participation in a coordinated inter-regional information sharing process. Local governments will benefit from the information sharing and will be able to participate in workshops delivered locally and elsewhere on Vancouver Island,” stated Glenn Harris.
