What is Integrated Stormwater Management?
“In British Columbia, the term Integrated Stormwater Management Plan (ISMP) has gained widespread acceptance by local governments and the environmental agencies to describe a comprehensive approach to stormwater planning. The purpose of an ISMP is to provide a clear picture of how to be proactive in applying land use planning tools to protect property and aquatic habitat, while at the same time accommodating land development and population growth… At the highest level of effort and complexity, all watershed stakeholders work together to achieve watershed management objectives while considering inter-related social, economic, and environmental issues. These high level watershed management plans include not only the hydrology aspects of [master drainage plans] but also consider other issues, such as the environment, water quality (surface and groundwater), fisheries and aquatic life, wetlands, riparian corridors, transportation, and agriculture. An urban watershed is an ecosystem with a
