Written by Teghan Acres

In the Fall of 2019, the Pacific Water Research Centre (PWRC) hosted a workshop on the challenges of implementing green infrastructure in the Metro Vancouver area. There, the idea was born to continue the workshops as a vehicle for brainstorming, collaboration, and capacity building. That thought has now manifested into reality as the PWRC Virtual Workshop Series on Green Infrastructure.

This series kicked off in June 2020 as a virtual dialogue platform with a focus on groundwater management planning. The workshop brought together representatives from academia, municipal and federal governments, non-profit and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. The day was split into two sessions in which attendees first heard of case studies and then followed up with a dialogue on different aspects of groundwater management.


Groundwater is integral to the health of our natural systems. Figure 1 shows the aquifers below the City of Vancouver, spanning from the coast, along the Fraser River and throughout the metropolitan area. This unseen water that flows beneath our feet is integral to thriving ecosystems that create abundant greenery, healthier communities, and resilience against climate change.

Green infrastructure (GI) and groundwater are closely linked. GI allows water to soak back into the soil instead of running off paved roads and walkways into storm drains. This keeps groundwater levels high which not only maintains a potential future water source for people and the environment, it also keeps soil from settling and sinking when aquifers are drawn down. The workshop attendees found that the four main goals of groundwater management planning are to

1. Preserve and protect existing groundwater resources, considering climate change impacts;

2. Increase the quantity and quality of groundwater reserves;

3. Support healthy ecosystems; and
4. Create a data-rich environment for informed decision-making.


GI can play an important role in reaching these goals. However, there are multiple obstacles to their achievement.

A general lack of data, monitoring, modelling and information on groundwater and related factors is a major issue. This challenge was identified in the 2019 workshop and was fleshed out further in the most recent session. As well, climate change and the rising risk of intense flooding poses an impending threat. The mapping of at-risk infrastructure can help to mitigate this threat through adequate management decisions. Managing groundwater requires the collaboration of multiple entities as aquifers span across different municipalities. Confusion over jurisdiction of this resource has been a limiting factor in action planning.

While all of these issues pose significant challenges for management and planning of groundwater resources, they also provide opportunities for improvement and collaboration. The expansion of data collection can be paired with cross sector partnerships to overcome past jurisdictional obscurity. The strengthening of partnerships was a key recommendation of the workshop discussions. As well, more research into understanding the ecological benefits of groundwater levels and how changing rainfall patterns and citywide imperviousness changes might impact groundwater levels in the future would be widely beneficial. Integrating data from the private sector into municipal models can also help close this current information gap.

Along with improved data and partnerships, policy change provides a huge opportunity for progress. The integration of standards and guidelines related to groundwater and surface water quality intended for infiltration across municipalities could overcome the jurisdictional hurdle. Beyond Greater Vancouver, a cross-Canada dialogue on synchronized policies could also lead to a national approach to managing groundwater.

This virtual workshop series is set to continue and carry on the work that was discussed. The next workshop will be in August to look at water quality standards and GI implementation. Watch our social media channels at Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram for announcements on how to register and get involved.

We respectfully acknowledge that the PWRC operates on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.