Capture Rain Where It Falls: Application of the Water Balance Model to 'Design with Nature'

 

 An article published in the 

Communities in Transition Newsletter

In a guest column published online by the Communities in Transition Information Resource in March 2009, Kim Stephens explained why the Water Balance Model for British Columbia is garnering considerable attention as an important ‘decision support tool’ to help improve the way we develop land in British Columbia.

According to Hans Peter Myer, CIT Editor, "Kim Stephens returns to the CIT Information Resource with more news about ‘design with nature’ approaches to community, land development, and water management. One of our editorial team described Kim’s treatment as the best overview she’s come across."

"The Water Balance Model, as an approach to managing rainwater, was first introduced in 2003. It was an impressive step towards applying a ‘design with nature’ solution to a growing problem for many municipalities. A ‘new’ WBM was launched at the end of 2008 to considerable acclaim. It garnered the Premier’s Award for Innovation & Excellence in February 2009 and considerable attention as an important “decision support tool” to help improve the way we develop land in British Columbia," wrote Kim Stephens. He is responsible for developing the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia.

To download a PDF version of the column, click on Capture Rain Where It Falls: Application of the Water Balance Model to 'Design with Nature'

About Communities in Transition: For many years, Communities in Transition (CIT) was a signature program of the Real Estate Foundation of BC. It was created to help increase the ability of non-metropolitan communities to address the challenges they face when planning for use and conservation of lands.

In 2010, the CIT program was wound down. What does this mean? The Real Estate Foundation's involvement in current projects under the "CIT" label has changed or ceased. The Foundation continues to make grants in all regions of the province--as it has since 1988--though they are no longer identified with the CIT brand.