Qualicum Beach hosts 2011 Saving Small Towns Conference and Workshops

A Workshop on 'Sustainable Service Delivery' will be of interest to Local Governments 

The Saving Small Towns Conference is a two-day event with concurrent streams of presentations covering the economic, environmental and social aspects of what makes small communities special; and what continues to threaten them.

“2011 will mark the fifth Saving Small Towns Conference and, as in the past, this event will continue to bring new and relevant issues to the floor for understanding, discussion and debate,” states Mac Fraser, Chief Administrative Officer of the Powell River Regional District, and conference founder. Mac Fraser was also a founding member of the CAVI Leadership Team.

“The conference will be followed by a day of workshops. Of particular relevance to local government is one featuring the Province’s Glen Brown. His session will be about Sustainable Service Delivery.”

To learn more, click on Qualicum Beach hosts 2011 Saving Small Towns Conference and Workshops on June 23-24-25 to read a supporting story posted on the Water Bucket website.

News Release #2011-27

June 9, 2011

Comox Valley Local Governments Showcase “A Regional Response to Infrastructure Liability”

Just go to the WaterBucket website to preview the Seminar #3 program

The initial capital cost of infrastructure is about 20% of the life-cycle cost; the other 80% largely represents a future unfunded liability. Through a program of professional development, the regional district and three municipalities are aligning efforts and striving for a consistent Comox Valley regional approach to Sustainable Service Delivery.

The theme for the third in the 2011 Comox Valley Seminar Series is risk management. The spotlight is on flooding and floodplain issues. A unifying theme is alignment of efforts at a watershed scale. To preview what participants will learn about on June 30, click on the links below:

1. Comox Valley Local Governments Showcase A Regional Response to Infrastructure Liability on June 30 
2. Sustainable Service Delivery: Comox Valley Regional Team Identifies Key Objectives for Holistic Approach 
3. Sustainable Service Delivery in the Comox Valley: Joint Report on a Regional Response to Infrastructure Liability 
4. Cowichan River Integrated Flood Management Plan: How One Community is Adapting 
5. Restoration Vision for Tsolum River: A Self-Sustaining System 
6. "Tsolum River restoration story is all about sharing a vision and mutual respect," observes CAVI's Eric Bonham 
7. City of Courtenay and Comox Valley Regional District partner with TimberWest to study Tsolum River flooding

"Showcasing of the Lower Cowichan River integrated plan for flood management creates an opportunity for inter-valley sharing because we in the Comox Valley can learn from the recent experience of our peers in the Cowichan Valley," states Glenn Westendorp, Public Works Superintendent with the Town of Comox. He is Chair of the 2011 Seminar Series.

To access the Seminar #3 “homepage”, click here.

Comox Valley Update #2011-10

June 8, 2011

Province approves Metro Vancouver’s visionary plan for Integrated Liquid Waste & Resource Management

Requirement for On-Site Rainwater Management is Regulatory Driver for Water Balance Model

Two years in the making, the Integrated Liquid Waste & Resource Management Plan establishes the framework for moving beyond regulatory compliance to transitioning Metro Vancouver to an approach that achieves the Sustainable Region Vision.

“The region’s integrated plan provides municipalities with clear direction for implementing green infrastructure – for example, Action #1.1.20 commits us to updating our bylaws to require on-site rainwater management. By achieving a lighter water footprint, we can protect stream health; and we can adapt to climate change,” reports the District of North Vancouver’s Richard Boase. He is Co-Chair of the Water Balance Model Partnership.

Richard Boase, WBM Co-Chair

“Action #1.1.20 is now the regulatory driver for the Water Balance Model. So, it is timely that Version 2.0 is currently in beta-testing mode. We will go live in a matter of weeks. This scenario comparison tool is used to assess the effectiveness of green infrastructure.”

To learn more, first click on Province approves Metro Vancouver's visionary plan and then click on Rollout Plan for Re-built Water Balance Model to read two supporting stories posted on the Water Bucket website.

Advisory Role of the Reference Panel: Appointed by the Metro Vancouver Board in April 2008, the advisory Liquid Waste Management Plan Reference Panel played a key role in informing and educating members of the Board through interaction with two regional committees. The Reference Panel produced A Recommended Policy Framework for Liquid Resource Management in Metro Vancouver.

News Release #2011-26

June 7, 2011

Light Imprint Handbook Integrates Sustainable Green Infrastructure and Community Design

A Recognized Rainwater Mitigation Practice

Light Imprint is a design methodology that combines ecologically sensitive rainwater management techniques with community design principles. The Light Imprint tool set is used at the regional, neighbourhood, and block scale.

"The basic premise is to recover and maintain the pre-development natural hydrology of the site when land is developed or redeveloped,” states Thomas Low, author of the Light Imprint Handbook and a partner in the firm of Miami-based Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, Architects and Town Planners.

“Established in 2006, the Light Imprint methodology has become a recognized rainwater mitigation practice.  Recent advancements showing great promise for the Light Imprint methodology include design and development approaches with increased cost savings and compelling engineering metrics."

"Light Imprint green infrastructure is compatible with urban design that emphasizes compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented design, and environmental efficiency. It is designed to reduce community infrastructure costs.".
 

To learn more about the Light Imprint Handbook, click here to read a story posted on the Water Bucket website.

News Release #2011-25

May 31, 2011

”Watersheds Are Not All Created Equal,” states Will Marsh at Seminar #2 in the 2011 Comox Valley Learning Lunch Series

Source: Basins of Relations: A Citizen's Guide toProtecting and Restoring Our Watersheds

Comox Valley Local Governments Showcase “A Regional Response to Infrastructure Liability”

In April, Seminar #1 in the 2011 Comox Valley Learning Lunch Series painted a picture of the ‘legacy liability’ of existing hard infrastructure (i.e. roads and pipes). On May 19, Seminar #2 dealt with green infrastructure and ‘sustainable urban drainage’. On June 23, Seminar #3 will focus on floodplain and flooding issues.

Will Marsh, author of the classic textbook Landscape Planning: Environmental Applications, introduced the natural science perspective during the town-hall sharing and learning at Seminar #2.

"We need to understand the sub-systems that are in play between the time that rainfall is received at the top of the tree canopy and the time that it actually gets to the stream as streamflow or other kinds of releases. THAT’S THE KEY TO THE WHOLE SYSTEMS APPROACH. If we unlock that key, if we can just begin to get a handle on that, then we can then begin to put in place the appropriate kinds of measures (to protect watershed health),” stated Will Marsh.

To learn more, click on "Watersheds are not all created equal," states Will Marsh at the second in the 2011 Comox Valley Seminar Series and read the complete story posted on the Water Bucket website. 

THINKING LIKE A WATERSHED: Conservation Hydrology is an applied science being pioneered by the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center in Northern California. It emphasizes the need in many areas for human development designs to move from drainage to retainage. To learn more, click here.

Comox Valley Update #2011-07

May 26, 2011

District of Sooke establishes British Columbia precedent with its ‘Liquid Waste Management Plan for Rainwater’

Protecting Water Quality is a Guiding Principle for Land Use Decisions

The District of Sooke on Vancouver Island has exceeded provincial requirements for liquid waste management and created a rainwater management plan that makes protecting water quality a guiding principle in land use decisions.

The Liquid Waste Management Plan for Rainwater works on three principles: protect existing water quality, prevent future damage, and remediate areas that may already be damaged.

“Sooke is proud of its natural environment. And as the first community in British Columbia to integrate both rainwater and sanitary in a liquid waste management plan, we now have the tools to protect the watersheds and the Sooke Harbour and Basin for future generations,” states Mayor Janet Evans. 

To learn more, click on Sooke is first community in British Columbia to integrate both rainwater and sanitary in a Liquid Waste Management Plan to read a supporting story posted on the Water Bucket website.

CONVENING FOR ACTION IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: The Sooke accomplshment is one of many "convening for action" case studies featured in  Beyond the Guidebook 2010: Implementing a New Culture for Urban Watershed Protection and Restoration in British Columbia, released in June 2010. There is now clear guidance for aligning local actions with provincial and regional goals to ‘design with nature’ so that British Columbians can create greener communities, live water smart and prepare for climate change.

News Release #2011-24

May 24, 2011

United States Environmental Protection Agency launches green infrastructure drive

Strategic Agenda to Protect Waters and Build More Livable Communities

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched an initiative to promote the use of “green infrastructure” by cities and towns, in an effort to reduce rainwater runoff.

On April 29, 2011 Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe announced the release of EPA’s new Strategic Agenda to Protect Waters and Build More Livable Communities through Green Infrastructure. This outlines the activities that the Agency will undertake to help communities implement green infrastructure approaches.

“Through this agenda, we’ll help cities and towns across the nation clean up their waters and strengthen their communities by supporting and expanding green infrastructure,” said Bob Perciasepe. “Green infrastructure changes improve the health of our waters while creating local jobs, saving communities money and making them healthier and more prosperous places to raise a family and start a business.”

THE VIEW FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA: "From a British Columbia perspective, it is great to see the EPA brand their Strategic Agenda as 'protect waters and build more livable communities'," states Kim Stephens, Executive Director of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia. "We have been using almost identical branding since 2008 when the Province released Living Water Smart, British Columbia's Water Plan. Our mantra is: create liveable communities and protect stream health. If we design with nature, the latter will be an outcome of the former."

To learn more, click on United State EPA’s Strategic Agenda to Protect Waters and Build More Liveable Communities Through Green Infrastructure to read a supporting story posted on the Water Bucket website.

News Release #2011-23

May 17, 2011