Guidance Documents & Resources


Access a selection of British Columbia documents that provide communities and land use professionals with guidance for implementing watershed-based planning, rainwater management, green infrastructure, and water sustainability.


  • Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia

    Catalyst for action to establish performance targets for watershed protection and restoration

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  • Rainwater Management: An Introduction to the Guidebook for British Columbia

    Provides a broad-brush picture of what is in the Guidebook; written for expert and non-expert audiences

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  • Beyond the Guidebook 2007: Context for Rainwater Management and Green Infrastructure in British Columbia

    Initiated paradigm-shift for defining water sustainability as an outcome of green infrastructure policies and practices

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  • Living Water Smart, British Columbia’s Water Plan

    Established expectations and targets that will influence the form and function of the built environment

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  • Beyond the Guidebook 2010: Implementing a New Culture for Urban Watershed Protection and Restoration in British Columbia

    Provides guidance for aligning local actions with provincial and regional goals to ‘design with nature’

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  • Integrated Rainwater Management Planning: Summary Report for ISMP Course Correction Series

    Synthesizes guiding principles for an integrated and watershed-based approach to rainwater management

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  • Develop with Care: Environmental Guidelines for Urban and Rural Development in British Columbia

    Stewardship can benefit the community, the property owner and the developer, as well as the natural environment

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  • A Guide to Green Choices: Ideas and Practical Ideas for Land Use Decisions in British Columbia Communities

    Many of the ideas in this Guide are eligible for funding through provincial government programs

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  • Resources from Waste: A Guide to Integrated Resource Recovery

    Offers suggestions for making municipal infrastructure more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable

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  • Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia: Framework for Building Partnerships

    Goal: encourage province-wide implementation of fully integrated water sustainability policies, plans and programs

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  • The Green Infrastructure Guide: Issues, Implementation Strategies and Success Stories

    Shares tools and collective wisdom gained as a result of implementation experiences

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  • Bill 27: Opportunities and Strategies for Green Action by BC Local Governments

    Analysis and practical guidance regarding how local governments may use available legal tools

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  • A Recommended Policy Framework for Liquid Resource Management for Metro Vancouver

    19 recommendations are reflected in the strategies and actions that constitute the regulatory document

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  • Integrated Liquid Waste & Resource Management Plan for Metro Vancouver

    Provides framework for moving beyond regulatory compliance to achieve the Sustainable Region Vision

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  • Re-Inventing Rainwater Management: A Strategy to Protect Health and Restore Nature in the Capital Region

    Documents how 'green' rainwater management has been adopted across North America

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  • From Rain to Resource 2010: Managing Stormwater in a Changing Climate

    16 recommendations from 2010 Kelowna Workshop are organized under five categories

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  • Groundwater Bylaws Toolkit: An Appendix to the Green Bylaws Toolkit

    Helps local governments protect quality and quantity of groundwater within their geographic and legislative jurisdictions

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  • Green Bylaws Toolkit for Conserving Sensitive Ecosystems and Green Infrastructure

    Provides an understanding of how local governments and developers can safeguard the environment

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