Friday, January 28, 2011

Water Balance Model supports ’designing with nature’ to protect stream health



DFO Urban Stormwater Guidelines have evolved into Beyond the Guidebook 2010 
The rollout of Beyond the Guidebook 2010 commenced in September at the 2010 annual convention of local governments. This ‘water-centric’ guidance document tells the stories of how change is being implemented on the ground in BC. In the last week of October 2010, there were presentations at major regional events in Metro Vancouver, Nanaimo and Kelowna.

LOOKING BACK: In November 2000, DFO produced the “Urban Stormwater Guidelines and Best Management Practices for Protection of Fish and Fish Habitat, Draft Discussion Document"; and set a direction for the development industry. By 2007, the Guidelines had evolved into "Beyond the Guidebook". The goal: encourage ‘green’ development that is in balance with ecology. The desired outcome: protect stream health, fish habitat, and fish.

LOOKING FORWARD: Drawing on case study experience, Beyond the Guidebook 2010 provides local governments with guidance for developing urban watershed plans and implementing green infrastructure. By ‘designing with nature’ at the site scale, the desired outcome is an improvement in watershed and stream health.

The Water Balance Model is a tool to assess green infrastructure effectiveness. The user can correlate runoff volume management strategies with stream erosion and water quality outcomes. This process allows the delivery of watershed-specific and outcome-oriented plans that are specifically applicable to the municipality, watershed and stream.


News Release #2010-42
November 2, 2010

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