WCEL > Issues > Urban Growth and Development > Smart Bylaws Guide > Part 2 > Integrated Stormwater Management > Greater Vancouver Regional District

Smart Bylaws Guide – Water Balance Model - Greater Vancouver Regional District

The GVRD Liquid Waste Management Plan Stage 2: Stormwater Management Plan (1999) sets the stage and provides a comprehensive framework for the municipal approach to stormwater management in the region.  After assessing future impacts and costs of stormwater management, member municipalities adopted an Integrated Planning Approach to Stormwater Management.  This approach in the GVRD includes policies and specific commitments of both the GVRD and member municipalities.

Policies

Five Year Time-Frame

The stormwater management policies and commitments will apply to all District municipalities, and as appropriate the District, for a period of five years after approval of the Liquid Waste Management Plan, at which time they will be reviewed and updated.

Integrated Planning Approach

The member municipalities, in consultation with the District where appropriate, will undertake a proactive integrated planning approach to municipal stormwater management, in areas serviced by separated stormwater systems, thereby improving the efficiencies and effectiveness of regulatory approvals.  This integrated planning approach will integrate watershed, catchment, master drainage plans, and  stormwater plans into relevant municipal planning processes such as Official Community or Neighbourhood Concept plans, Recreation and Parks Master plans, Strategic Transportation plans, etc., in order to address the impacts of stormwater management on relevant community values.  These values include recreation, agriculture, fisheries, greenways, heritage, archaeology, safety, transportation, economics, property values, flood protection, affordability, the environment, and related issues.

Stormwater management planning would strive to be consistent with the stormwater management guiding principles as referenced in Table 13-1 of the Liquid Waste Management Plan Discussion Document.  One of the guiding principles is to strive to plan at a watershed scale even in non-urban (greater than 80% of watershed area is Green Zone as defined in the 1996 Livable Region Strategic Plan) watersheds where municipalities may have limited infrastructure.

Commitments

Interagency Liaison Group

Stormwater management planning will build on the improved information on stormwater problems and solutions developed during the Liquid Waste Management Plan process.  To facilitate the ongoing exchange of information on stormwater issues, and implementation of the Liquid Waste Management Plan, municipalities and the District will participate in an interagency liaison group similar to the existing Stormwater Management Task Group.  The group will provide advice to the District about stormwater issues.

Stakeholder Participation

The community, senior and local government agencies, and other stakeholders will be invited to participate in the integrated planning process intended to proactively address issues on a long-term basis.

Policies and Bylaws

Municipalities, in consultation with the District where appropriate, commit to adopting or updating, policies or bylaws related to improving stormwater  management for at least two stormwater issues over the five-year period of this agreement.  Issues to be considered may include, source control, flood protection, sediment and erosion control, impervious area, and protection of riparian areas.

Rate of Watershed Planning Work

Municipalities commit to undertake (or review) integrated watershed management planning for urban (less than 80% of watershed area is in the Green Zone as defined in the 1996 Livable Region Strategic Plan) watersheds at an annual rate such that each watershed is reviewed every 12 years.  The District will participate in watershed management plans as appropriate and where watersheds include two or more municipalities, a coordinated approach will be undertaken.

GVRD Liquid Waste Management Plan Stage 2: Stormwater Management Plan, p.78

See pages 78 to 81 for a discussion of cost estimates for policy and specific commitments, and for case studies providing examples of how different municipalities have incorporated integrated stormwater management approaches.

For More Information

Ed von Euw, Stormwater Interagency Liaison Group 
(604) 436-6375
ed.voneuw@gvrd.bc.ca