Integrated Stormwater Management Planning

What is an Integrated Stormwater Management Plan (ISMP)?

Stormwater planning and service delivery is evolving from what was traditionally perceived as a pipe-capacity exercise, towards a comprehensive management approach that reflects water quality, water quantity, environmental services, and climate change resiliency, among other factors. This approach is reflected in Integrated Stormwater Management Plans (ISMPs) which provide a roadmap to meet service objectives while helping the District maintain or improve overall catchment health. Integrated stormwater management is founded upon five fundamental pillars:

  • Drainage infrastructure asset management
  • Policy
  • Environmental protection
  • Land use planning
  • Working in partnerships

How do ISMPs Align with Other Strategies and Plans?

Adopting an integrated approach to stormwater management that reflects the fundamental pillars also aligns with several diverse goals and initiatives identified in District strategic plans and strategies. These goals relate to stormwater quality, natural systems and assets, drainage infrastructure and development.

Council’s 2019 to 2023 Strategic Plan identified the development of a District-wide Drainage Master Plan and the 2023 to 2027 Strategic Plan includes an initiative to continue to advance this work as baseline ISMPs over the next four years. In addition, Climate Plan objectives include the acceleration of this work and the integration of climate change impacts on infrastructure and assets.

How is Saanich Approaching the Development of ISMPs?

The District of Saanich has 15 primary watersheds, each with unique characteristics or shared features such as growth patterns and environmental concerns. To make the ISMPs more manageable and tailored to the specific needs of these areas, an ISMP Development Strategy was created. This strategy involves developing four ISMPs and one Stormwater Plan for the following areas:

  • Cordova Bay;
  • Douglas Creek-10 Mile;
  • Colquitz; 
  • Boundary Streams (covering several inter-boundary streams along Saanich's borders);
  • Rural Areas Stormwater Plan (focuses on catchments primarily located outside Saanich's Urban Containment Boundary).

The figure below outlines the boundaries for each of the five plans:

 
Figure #1: Outlines the boundaries of the ISMPs and the Stormwater Plan.

ISMP Program Updates

Council has received the following updates regarding the development of Integrated Stormwater Management Plans (ISMP).

Overall Timeline for Developing ISMPs

Figure #2: Outlines the development of Integrated Stormwater Management Plans 
Click on the image to expand