LiveSmart BC

Thanks for your patience everyone. Although the Blog has been quiet the last few months, there has been no summer hiatus for the Living Water Smart Team. Last December we released a Policy Proposal on BC’s new Water Sustainability Act that provides a proposed framework to respond to current and future pressures on water including population growth, resource development and climate change. We received almost 1400 written submissions including 540 comments on the Living Water Smart Blog.

Over the summer, we have been reviewing the public input and further detailing out the proposed policy solutions, and assessing implications. Throughout this process we’ve received suggestions and ideas on an unprecedented scale and quality. Many British Columbians expressed a need for more detail on the policies and legislation than what we provided in the Policy Proposal.

In response, Government has committed to take more time to further engage with British Columbians in 2012 on draft legislation before it is finalized and introduced into the Legislature. We’ll be providing more information on upcoming engagement opportunities and our progress this fall so stay tuned!

Living Water Smart Team

World Water Day and Canada Water Week may have come to a close, but the spirit which invigorates these days continues here on the Living Water Smart Blog. We are continuing to feature Water Champions – both members of our team here in the BC Public Service and members of the wider water community who stand out by standing up for British Columbia’s water.

 Robin Pike, Watershed Research Hydrologist, BC Ministry of Environment helps understand disturbances to water that affect ecosystems so that we can better manage our potential impacts.  “Of all the natural features in British Columbia,” Robin says. Water is our most important resource.”

Former Dawson Creek Mayor Calvin Kruk left a legacy that included a passion for water in the Peace that still echoes to this day.  Not only was he instrumental in leading water stewardship in his community, but he also championed the use of greener technologies to help reduce Dawson Creek’s carbon footprint.  Not surprisingly, in 2007 Calvin Kruk was named Solar Leader of the Year by the Canadian Solar Industries Association. Calvin passed away in 2008.

The current Mayor of Dawson Creek, Mike Bernier continues to champion Calvin’s legacy of smarter water use. When Dawson Creek faced a water shortage this past year, they worked together to overcome the crisis.  “People really stepped up when they needed to and were very creative and understanding in not watering lawns and how to be economical with the water,” Mayor Bernier said in an interview with Dawson Creek Daily News. “(We) always rely on snow and rain to provide us water. It’s a delicate resource.”

Do you know a Water Champion who you’d like us to feature? Leave a comment or send us an email and let us know who is leading water sustainability in your community.

As we celebrate Canada Water Week in anticipation of World Water Day, in today’s blog post we focus on Water Science. Water Science is an essential tool to help build towards a sustainable future. Today’s post focuses on the BC Water Science Symposium and a local water science champion!

Held in August 2010, the BC Water Symposium marked the beginning of the dialogue to create a Water Science Strategy. Over 200 people participated in the Symposium that was simulcast online and at locations in Prince George, Victoria, and Kelowna. This Symposium brought together a diverse group of leading experts that both create and use knowledge to manage water resources. The Symposium Proceedings are now available here.

What we heard at the Water Symposium will be used to inform the development of the Water Science Strategy. Not surprisingly, it is also consistent with the comments received to date as part of the Water Act Modernization and will also be considered as we move forward in developing the proposed Water Sustainability Act.

As a next step, the Ministry of Environment will facilitate the development of a draft Water Science Strategy framework which will be available for your comment in the summer of 2011.

Today’s Water champion Jody Watson is one of the most dedicated water sustainability advocates we’ve met. Not only does she work on projects applying water science to practical uses, like green roofs in her day job, but she volunteers her after hours time with water protection and sustainability projects.

 “Traditionally, rainwater was treated as a waste to be removed from the landscape as quickly as possible” Jody says.  “Future development will use more vegetated features, such as green roofs and boulevard raingardens, to manage rainwater and to better mimic the natural water cycle in the urban environment”.

 She continues “Healthy watersheds help create healthy communities. Everyone lives in a watershed and can do their part.  At work I have championed the installation of green roof and living wall features to reduce the amount of rainwater entering the storm system and the harbour environment.  At home I have planted native plants (which are adapted to our summer droughts) in place of a front lawn and I am starting to harvest rainwater to use in my garden ”.

 Hats off to you Jody!