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The Water Balance Model:The Water Balance Model: A Tool for Designing with NatureA Tool for Designing with Nature
Douglas College Rain Conference Douglas College Rain Conference
‘Designing with Nature’ means:
Create Greener Communities Strive for a Lighter ‘Hydrologic Footprint’ Achieve Higher Levels of Stream Protection
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Drainage Planning in BC Drainage Planning in BC Has Been Has Been Evolving Over the Over the
DecadesDecades 1960s: Pipe and Remove 1970s: Detain Peak Flows 1980s: Reactive Mitigation 1990s: Stream Stewardship* 2000s: Sharing a Vision**
* Proactive Management** Watershed-Based Rainwater
Management
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The “Trickle-Down” Evolution of Watershed Management in BC
(How the Past is Influencing the Present)
1970s - society’s reaction to the “dam builders”
redefined the engineer’s role, and resulted in an “interdisciplinary and ecosystem approach” to watershed management outside the urban regions
is similarly being translated into an “integrated approach” to urban watershed management at the local government level
2000s - society’s reaction to the “pipe sizers”
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Inter-Governmental Partnership: Vision
To promote changes in land development practices so that:
The built environment will preserve and/or restore the natural water balance over time
Performance targets will be achieved for rainwater runoff volume and flow rate reduction at the source, where rain falls
The Mission is to The Mission is to Create a LegacyCreate a Legacy
1.1. Influence choices by Influence choices by individuals and organizationsindividuals and organizations
2.2. Use the term “sustainability” as a lens for Use the term “sustainability” as a lens for considering approaches that influence choicesconsidering approaches that influence choices
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Water Sustainability Action Plan for British
Columbia
WaterBucketWebsite
Partnership
Convening for Action:
Roundtable on
Water Sustainability
Green Infrastructure Partnership
Water Balance Model
for BC
Water $aveTool Kit for BC
Watershed/Landscape-based Approachto Community Planning
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The Goal is Full Integration of Philosophy Tool Standards
To Achieve the Desired Outcome
Infrastructure Standards
Decision Support
ToolPlanning
Philosophy
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The Missing Link The Missing Link in Watershed Planning has in Watershed Planning has
been...been...
A tool that quantifies the benefits – A tool that quantifies the benefits – in terms of reducing in terms of reducing rainwater runoff volumerainwater runoff volume - of installing source controls under different - of installing source controls under different
land use, soil and climate conditionsland use, soil and climate conditions
Planners: Tool for Better Use of Space Engineers: Tool for Pre-Design Landscape Architects: Tool for Green Solutions Ecologists: Tool for Watershed Function Educators: Tool for Social Marketing
Water Balance Model promotes Water Balance Model promotes Integration of PerspectivesIntegration of Perspectives
How the Water Balance Model can be used to make better
decisions:
Local Governments - when communicating with the public
Planners and Engineers – when setting performance targets
Developers and their Consultants - when testing scenarios
Environmental Agencies - when monitoring watershed health
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The Water Balance Model can be applied at three scales:
Site Site
SubdivisionSubdivision
WatershedWatershed
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Site ScaleSite Scale
CommunityCommunity LiveabilityLiveability
WBMWBM
Building sizeBuilding size
Hard surfaceHard surface
LandscapingLandscaping
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What was a conversation…becomes interaction!
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Subdivision Scale:Subdivision Scale:
CommunityCommunity LiveabilityLiveability
WBMWBM
Lot sizeLot size
Road DesignRoad Design
Green spaceGreen space
LandscapingLandscaping
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Watershed Scale: Watershed Scale:
WBMWBM
ZoningZoning
Road DesignRoad Design
Green spaceGreen space
LandscapingLandscaping
‘‘BMPs’BMPs’CommunityCommunity LiveabilityLiveability
Graphic from Smart Growth BC
Actions on the Ground…
……Will Result in Cumulative Will Result in Cumulative Benefits Benefits Over Time!Over Time!
