“Stormwater management is the planning, design and operation of systems that store, convey, and treat stormwater runoff. By controlling runoff, mitigating flooding and preventing pollutants from entering water bodies, effective stormwater systems can minimize adverse impacts to communities and the natural environment.
With fast-paced population growth, loss of natural areas, and increased development being a common reality for many Alberta communities, concerns related to stormwater management have heightened. With development, more land coverage by impermeable surfaces contributes to increased runoff rates, volumes, and pollutant loadings. These changes can contribute to the degradation of water quality and aquatic ecosystems, urban flooding, erosion and sedimentation, infrastructure deterioration, property damage, and public health risks (AUMA, Municipal Water Policy on Stormwater, 2014)”.
The CSMI region is unique, in that many of the major stormwater drainage corridors are part of the Western Irrigation District works. In some areas, these drainage pathways are natural streams, and in others they are man-made canals. Within the CSMI region, farmers use irrigation district water to irrigate their crops, with farm lands located all throughout the WID canal system. Managing stormwater from adjacent lands and from urban developments is important to ensure water entering the streams and canals, has a quality that is adequate for crop application, and for protecting the natural stream ecosystems. Appropriately managing storm events also prevents erosion of natural stream banks caused by the significant forces of large volumes of flowing water.
The CSMI is taking steps to ensure appropriate stormwater management is implemented to protect communities and the watershed within the CSMI region.
To learn more about stormwater, visit the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association website.
Figure 1 shows the current stormwater planning process in Alberta. Planning begins at the highest planning level for the entire river basin, followed by development of a water drainage plan, a master drainage plan, and finally a site implementation plan. This process is required for all developments in Alberta.
The CSMI is unique, in that it covers a very specific geographical area. The assessments carried out to determine feasibility of stormwater management system in the region are aligned with both the water drainage plan and master drainage plan activities.
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Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.
Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.
Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market. With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry.
Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector.
He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency.
Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field.
Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation. As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.