Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
Urban development has significantly disrupted the City of Vancouver’s (the City) natural water cycle. Building on multi-year strategic planning, the City is undertaking a major shift in the way infrastructure services are planned, designed and delivered by developing interconnected blue-green systems (BGSs) networks. BGSs, park like networks and corridors, aim to manage water and improve water quality; promote connectivity, active transportation, and recreational; and increase access to nature and biodiversity. The “blue” in blue-green systems refers to integrated water management and green rainwater infrastructure (GRI) services. This function includes nature-based constructed practices like rain gardens, wetlands or other forms of GRI, as well as climate adaptation and flood management functions associated with both minor and/or major rainfall events. The “green” in blue-green system refers to the value of and the services provided by elements of terrestrial vegetation and biodiversity including trees or urban forest as well as other layers of plants, soils and biota present within the system. Together, BGSs support both place-making and functional infrastructure that encourages walking and cycling transportation modes. The City and the Park Board are taking steps to actively implement BGSs in the urban area. Showcase projects are bring piloted, such as St. George Rainway, Alberta Street BGS and Columbia Park Renewal. They are intended to provide benefits on drainage system performance, water quality treatment, combined sewer overflow, climate resilience, biodiversity and equity outcomes, and enhance walking, cycling and recreation opportunities. This presentation will showcase these BGS examples in Vancouver, explain the process and methodology followed, discuss how the BGSs are optimized to maximize co-benefits, and introduce some of the key trade-offs, such as reduced parking and vehicle access, that were resolved through community engagement.
Session Title
Green Infrastructure
Conference Track
SSE10: Contaminants
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-traditionals-44
Start Date
26-4-2022 1:30 PM
End Date
26-4-2022 3:00 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Cities and towns--Growth; City planning--British Columbia--Vancouver; Climatic changes--British Columbia--Vancouver; Integrated water development--British Columbia--Vancouver
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Vancouver (B.C.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Building with Nature: Blue-Green Systems for Solving Urban Growth and Climate Challenges in Canada
Urban development has significantly disrupted the City of Vancouver’s (the City) natural water cycle. Building on multi-year strategic planning, the City is undertaking a major shift in the way infrastructure services are planned, designed and delivered by developing interconnected blue-green systems (BGSs) networks. BGSs, park like networks and corridors, aim to manage water and improve water quality; promote connectivity, active transportation, and recreational; and increase access to nature and biodiversity. The “blue” in blue-green systems refers to integrated water management and green rainwater infrastructure (GRI) services. This function includes nature-based constructed practices like rain gardens, wetlands or other forms of GRI, as well as climate adaptation and flood management functions associated with both minor and/or major rainfall events. The “green” in blue-green system refers to the value of and the services provided by elements of terrestrial vegetation and biodiversity including trees or urban forest as well as other layers of plants, soils and biota present within the system. Together, BGSs support both place-making and functional infrastructure that encourages walking and cycling transportation modes. The City and the Park Board are taking steps to actively implement BGSs in the urban area. Showcase projects are bring piloted, such as St. George Rainway, Alberta Street BGS and Columbia Park Renewal. They are intended to provide benefits on drainage system performance, water quality treatment, combined sewer overflow, climate resilience, biodiversity and equity outcomes, and enhance walking, cycling and recreation opportunities. This presentation will showcase these BGS examples in Vancouver, explain the process and methodology followed, discuss how the BGSs are optimized to maximize co-benefits, and introduce some of the key trade-offs, such as reduced parking and vehicle access, that were resolved through community engagement.
