GVRD Integrated Stormwater Management Template
The Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) sought to standardize integrated stormwater management planning (ISMP) in the region. It retained Kerr Wood Leidal (KWL), with assistance from Entranco Inc., to develop an ISMP template that would be used by the GVRD-member municipalities as a reference guide for their stormwater management planning.

Identifying Stormwater Issues
KWL interviewed selected staff from municipalities and the GVRD to identify the goals, objectives, concerns and priorities they face in stormwater management planning. This information was used to define the challenges and identify the requirements for creating ISMPs that can be implemented readily for each watershed. Through a series of workshops, the template was developed, discussed and refined.
Integrating Stakeholders’ Concerns

The template strikes a balance between the often conflicting needs of environmental protection and land development. A key principle, when examining an entire watershed, is "no net loss" of fisheries habitat. The document calls for a comprehensive technical approach and stakeholder involvement. This planning process provides for input from not only municipal staff, but also from engineers, planners, environmental scientists, landscape architects, regulatory agencies, and the general public as part of the decision-making process.

The planning approach also integrates watershed, catchment, master drainage, and stormwater plans with relevant municipal planning processes such as Official Community Plans, Neighbourhood Concept Plans, Recreation and Parks Master Plans, and Strategic Transportation Plans.