6th Announcement: Peer-Based Learning Will Help Local Governments Implement ‘Watershed Blueprints’ in BC

At Heart of Course Correction is Paradigm-Shift to Landscape-Based from Model-Centric

On November 9-10, an inter-governmental team is teaching the first 2-day course on HOW to develop a Watershed Blueprint. The team is led by representatives of the City of Surrey, Capital Regional District, and North Vancouver District. 

The course is designed for an interdisciplinary audience. It will provide planning, engineering, environmental, asset management and other professionals with a common understanding of the fundamentals for a landscape-based approach to watershed protection and restoration.

Until October 14 the early bird registration fee is $200 / $250. After October 14, the fee increases to $245 / $295. 

An ISMP, or Integrated Stormwater Management Plan, is a potentially powerful tool. It can influence other municipal processes for the better. It can generate the blueprint for truly integrated and coordinated action at a watershed scale. 

Titled ISMP Course Correction: Achieve More with Less, the 2-day course will showcase the tools and case study experience behind the paradigm-shift from “a report in four volumes” to a “blueprint to a new watershed”.

ACHIEVE MORE WITH LESS: In May 2011, Kim Stephens (Partnership Executive Director) met with the Metro Vancouver Regonal Engineers Advisory Committee (REAC) to inform the region's municipalities about the 2-day course that the Partnership is developing with assistance from the Green Infrastructure Partnership and Metro Vancouver's Stormwater Interagency Liaison Group. The focus is on the money issue.

"The experience, lessons learned and outcomes described in Beyond the Guidebook 2010 have informed the framework and objectives for the course on the ISMP Course Correction," stated Kim Stephens. 

"In championing this initiative in collaboration with local government, the Partnership's vision is that an ISMP Course Correction will help municipalities achieve more with less, and reduce their infrastructure liability."

"The course will guide local government practitioners through the steps in developing an ISMP that is balanced and holistic. An ISMP that is truly integrated would provide a clear picture of how local governments can apply land use planning tools to create a future watershed condition desired by all."

TO REGISTER: Click on http://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/event/ISMPCourseCorrection.asp

TO LEARN MORE: To access the ISMP Course Correction 'homepage' on the Water Bucket website and learn more about the program design, click here. 

News Release #2011-50

October 13, 2011