Selkirk leads by example using innovative and natural infrastructure in an ever-changing climate

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An international organization’s research into using natural infrastructure brought some of its members to Selkirk on Oct. 8 to tour the wastewater treatment plant and several other sites, including wildflower and tree plantings. Ashley Rawluk, Policy Advisor for the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), said Selkirk is a great place for others to learn from.

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“We often look to Selkirk as an exemplary example of a city, which is still a smaller community that’s taking initiative on climate adaptation and looking for unique solutions to address some of their municipal infrastructure needs,” Rawluk said.

“(The city) likes to bring people along on this journey to transition to more natural asset management and different solutions…You don’t have to be Winnipeg or Brandon or Calgary or Edmonton, smaller centres can do this as well.”

Rawluk says the IISD is working on a five-year project called Natural Infrastructure for Water Solutions (NIWS), funded by the BHP Foundation, a charitable organization working to address some of the world’s most critical sustainable development challenges.

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Selkirk CAO, Duane Nicol, says the city’s asset management by-law requires administration to look for more nature-based infrastructure solutions and that vision is getting recognized across Canada and even internationally.

“We’re always honoured when people want to come to Selkirk to see the innovative work we’re doing to reduce the long-term costs and risks for our citizens by reintroducing nature into our city as infrastructure. IISD is a leading and trusted voice on sustainability — so we were excited and honoured when they asked to bring a number of leaders in this space to take a tour of our work. It’s a signal that Selkirk’s on the right track,” said Nicol.

The tour, which also welcomed guests from Duke University in North Carolina, Pacific Institute in California, Ross Strategic from Washington State and more, began at the wastewater treatment plant. As the city’s largest capital investment, this state-of-the-art plant worth almost $40 million treats effluent to a higher standard than provincial regulations. It can handle Selkirk’s present-day population and up to 11,000 more, with the capacity to expand in an easy and cost-effective manner.

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The city’s old plant was built in 1976 and no longer met current provincial regulations that require treated wastewater, or effluent, to contain no more than 1mg/L of phosphorus and 15 mg/L of nitrogen. The new plant’s phosphorus levels after treatment are 0.3mg/L and nitrogen is 3mg/L. Water after treatment is as clear as tap water.

Water from the plant is already being used to water trees in the city, and Dimple Roy, Director of Water Management at the IISD, was impressed with that and the city’s strategies for trees in general.

The city has ambitious plans to eventually use effluent as potable water and is currently working with the federal and provincial governments.

The treated water will also be used by Canadian Premium Sands (CPS) when it opens its solar glass plant.

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“Selkirk clearly has a broad and innovative strategy that has incorporated natural infrastructure in a variety of ways. We’re proud to have a municipality like Selkirk to showcase real applications and successes in natural infrastructure to our regional and international partners,” said Roy.

“The work done on Eveline Street and seeing the streetscape with the soil cells in practice was really encouraging to see. Our tour was impressed with the new wastewater treatment plant and how the plant will ensure the long-term sustainability of water quality and nutrient level reductions.”

The tour travelled to Jemima Street where dozens of the more than 260 trees were planted this year between Queen and Robinson Avenues.

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The Street Tree Policy lists several criteria that help determine where trees should be planted. Everything from land drainage, number and condition of existing trees, and whether or not the street is a main artery, all come into play when deciding where new trees should be planted.

The city uses ‘Benefits of Urban Trees’ infographic signs to inform the public of the good that trees do, from carbon sequestration, to shade, to stormwater retention. Residents on streets where new trees are planted are also given handouts to help them understand the value of these trees.

The tour also included a trip down the north section of Main Street where the group was shown naturalization test plots on boulevards that will soon expand into permanent rain gardens filled with shrubs, wildflowers, and prairie grasses — all watered by stormwater. The new rain gardens will improve Main Street’s stormwater management capacity and help remove pollutants that could be released into the Red River.

The project on Main also includes the installation of Active Transportation (AT) pathways on both sides of the street to provide safer routes for cyclists and pedestrians, and the planting of new street trees. These trees will be integrated into Silva Cells, which will optimize root growth and ensure long-term tree health.

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