Saturday, September 3, 2011

Re-Inventing Rainwater Management: A Strategy to Protect Health and Restore Nature in British Columbia's Capital Region


Design with Nature
In October 2010, the Okanagan Basin Water Board hosted the 'From Rain to Resource Workshop'. Calvin Sandborn, Director of the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Victoria elaborated on Re-Inventing Rainwater Management: A Strategy to Protect Health and Restore Resources in the Capital Region, released in February 2010 at the Bowker Creek Forum.

"Stormwater has turned bountiful urban salmon streams into barren, polluted drainage ditches.  It has closed many of the Capital Region’s shellfish beds, and threatens the survival of local orcas," stated Calvin Sandborn.  "This is the legacy of our obsolete 19th century stormwater management system – a system that fails to respect natural systems and water cycles." 

"However, rainwater management practices have now been developed that make the 21st century Green City possible. Instead of relying on pipes and concrete alone, this new approach relies upon soil, trees and open space to naturally absorb, store, evaporate and filter rainwater. The strategy must actively involve residents, developers, businesses, and stewardship groups."

TO LEARN MORE: To read the complete story on the Water Bucket website, click here. 



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