Nature's Revenue Streams

What is Nature's Revenue Streams (NRS)?

Nature's Revenue Streams (NRS) is a 3-year public-private pilot project, based in Saanich BC, that linked stormwater infrastructure to the restoration of stream and watershed function. The project demonstrated how urban development could be used as an opportunity to improve watershed and stream health, build/restore aquatic habitat and reduce infrastructure costs for developers and the municipality while also addressing stormwater runoff.
The project is a partnership between the District of Saanich and Aqua-Tex Scientific who has been working in the municipality for over 20 years. Aqua-Tex has developed many proven examples of ecologically functional stormwater infrastructure within the municipality's Colquitz River watershed. These projects have shown that by using techniques that mimic the ability of natural systems to store water and treat pollutants, developments can be built for less money, with more stable and cost effective drainage systems, while also creating attractive green spaces, restoring water flows, rebuilding habitat and saving significant municipal infrastructure costs. NRS provides practical, applied solutions for builders and municipalities to implement effective stormwater management techniques that consider the local ecological and economic conditions within a long-term cost-effective strategy to restore natural landscape drainage features.

In 2008, two reports were completed for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation:

"Nature's Revenue Streams: Assessment of Stormwater Treatment via Engineered Ecology™ Treatment Systems and Stream Restoration" December 2008. A synopsis of the stormwater report can provided by email request.

The "Colquitz River Watershed: Proper Functioning Condition Assessment"  report (July 2009)  is available for viewing at the District of Saanich.