Six local governments will be initial demonstration applications
“An increasing
building footprint on properties is short-circuiting the WATER BALANCE. This
creates risks for local government, both financial and environmental. If we
want to make change, then we have to find a way to influence landowners to look
at their properties differently,” stated Richard
Boase (District of North Vancouver) at a training workshop for local
governments.
“HOW the members of
the Water Balance Model Partnership plan on doing this is through the Water Balance Model Express for Landowners.
As part of the approval process, this tool will allow a landowner to look at what
is on the property now; and quantify the kind of footprint change they intend
to make. Then they will be able to examine the water impacts associated with that
change in footprint; and determine how they can make different decisions about
how to manage that change.”
“Three watershed-specific
performance targets that link rainfall to stream health are pre-set by local
government. When the landowner clicks on a pop-up location map, much like for
garbage collection schedules, it pre-sets the target values by zone. The
Express guides the landowner through an iterative PASS/FAIL process to select
and test options and choices.”
“Stream health
depends on ALL properties in a watershed. If everyone reduces their ‘water
footprint’, and if we ensure the integrity of groundwater flow, we can then
protect stream health,” concluded Richard Boase.
TO
LEARN MORE:
Six Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island local governments will be the initial
demonstration applications when the Express is rolled out later in 2012. To read
the complete story about the preview presentation by Richard Boase, click here. He is Co-Chair of the Water Balance Model Partnership.
Anyone can register as a Water Balance Model TRIAL
USER. Just go to www.waterbalance.ca
to set up an account.
E-Blast #2012-24
June 19, 2012
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