Projects funded under the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative

Restoring Great Lakes Areas of Concern

Fiscal year 2023 to 2024

Project: Implementation of the Bay of Quinte Phosphorus Management Plan

Proponent: Lower Trent Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $276,000 over 3 years

Project Description: This project will reduce soil erosion and phosphorus loads to the Bay of Quinte by working with rural landowners to implement Best Management Practices in areas with the largest sources of phosphorus loads in the Area of Concern. The project will advance activities required to address nutrient issues and the degradation of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the Area of Concern.

Project: Collavino Wetland Management

Proponent: Essex Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $80,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will improve fish and wildlife populations and habitat quality in the Detroit River Area of Concern. The project will provide effective water level management of the 65-hectare Collavino wetland, which will support the growth of native wetland vegetation, and help manage aggressive invasive aquatic plants, and support a more diverse marsh bird community.

Project: Evaluating Fisheries in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern Using Acoustic Telemetry (2023-2026)

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $166,456 over 3 years

Project Description: This project will track and assess fish habitat use and movement patterns using acoustic telemetry at important locations across the Toronto waterfront. This is a key science activity required to assess the rehabilitation of fish habitat and populations in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern following the implementation of habitat restoration efforts in the Area of Concern.

Project: Improvement to the Migration Corridor on the Current River

Proponent: North Shore Steelhead Association

Government of Canada Funding: $85,000 over 2 years

Project Description: The project will help restore fish habitat in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern by improving habitat conditions in the Current River. The project will modify the internal walls of the concrete fishway / fish ladder to ensure it operates effectively during low and high water level conditions. This will improve fish access between Lake Superior at Thunder Bay and 63 kilometres of upstream cold-water habitat important for native fish including coaster brook trout.

Project: Neebing-McIntyre River Corridor Habitat Improvement - Redwood Site

Proponent: Lakehead Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $54,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will help restore fish and wildlife habitat in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern by rehabilitating riparian habitat, managing invasive species, and creating meadow habitat on the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway Corridor to enhance the ecological health of the waterway.

Project: Community engagement on restoration of Bay of Quinte Area of Concern - Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte

Proponent: Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte

Government of Canada Funding: $75,656 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will support the participation of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte in decision-making related to status of fish consumption restrictions, nutrient issues, as well as phytoplankton and zooplankton in the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern.

Project: Community engagement on restoration of the St. Clair and Detroit River Areas of Concern – Walpole Island First Nation

Proponent: Walpole Island First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $50,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will support the participation of Walpole Island First Nation in decision-making related to the status of fish and wildlife habitat and populations in the St. Clair River Area of Concern, as well as the status of fish populations and bird and animal deformities in the Detroit River Area of Concern. It will also support community engagement on the sediment management project in the St. Clair River Area of Concern.

Project: Community engagement on restoration of the Detroit River Area of Concern – Caldwell First Nation

Proponent: Caldwell First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $41,400 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will support the participation of Caldwell First Nation in decision-making related to the status of fish and wildlife consumption restrictions, fish populations, bird or animal deformities, and fish and wildlife habitat  in the Detroit River Area of Concern.

Project: St. Marys River Area of Concern Engagement and Whitefish Island Fish Habitat Improvement – Permitting and Partnerships

Proponent: Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways

Government of Canada Funding: $75,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will support the participation of Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways in remediation and decision-making on the status of dredging restrictions, fish tumours, and fish consumption restrictions in the St. Marys Area of Concern. The project will advance the implementation of a sediment management strategy as well as preparations for a habitat improvement project at Whitefish Island, which is the final major remedial action to be completed in the St. Marys Area of Concern.

Project: Shoreline/Riparian Remediation and Stabilization Within the Thunder Bay Area of Concern

Proponent: Fort William First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $40,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will help restore fish and wildlife habitat in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern by naturalizing and stabilizing shoreline habitat along the Mission Bay, Grand Pointe and Kaministiquia River areas. This will be achieved by planting native trees and shrubs to create stabilized shorelines, new vegetated habitat, and improved riparian and coastal habitat conditions.

Project: Superior Fine Papers Habitat Restoration Phase 2 - Engineering Design and Site Preparation

Proponent: Bare Point Restoration Co.

Government of Canada Funding: $146,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will help restore fish and wildlife habitat in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern by completing engineering design and site preparation to construct a new wetland complex and restore a cold-water creek system that will create 20 hectares of improved riparian and coastal habitat.

Project: Implement Thunder Bay Area of Concern Wildlife Habitat Strategy and Lake Superior Remedial Action Plans

Proponent: Lakehead University

Government of Canada Funding: $108,500 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will advance implementation of the Thunder Bay Area of Concern Wildlife Habitat Strategy. It will also facilitate interagency collaboration as well as community and Indigenous engagement in the clean up of and decision-making related to the Thunder Bay, Nipigon Bay, Jackfish Bay and Peninsula Harbour Areas of Concern.

Project: Remedial Action Plan Coordination for the St. Marys River Area of Concern

Proponent: Algoma University

Government of Canada Funding: $90,000 over 2 years

Project Description: The project will facilitate interagency collaboration as well as community and Indigenous engagement in the clean up of and decision-making related to the St. Marys River Area of Concern.

Project: Communications, Engagement, and Leadership Towards Implementation of the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan

Proponent: Bay Area Restoration Council of Hamilton and Halton Inc.

Government of Canada Funding: $70,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will support decision-making in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern by developing and maintaining online information resources, and engaging with stakeholders and agencies on the implementation of remedial actions.

Project: Remedial Action Plan Coordination for the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern

Proponent: Halton Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $80,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will facilitate interagency collaboration, and community and Indigenous involvement to support the clean up of and decision-making related to the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern.

Project: Royal Botanical Gardens Wetlands Rehabilitation Program, 2023-2025

Proponent: Royal Botanical Gardens

Government of Canada Funding: $350,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will improve habitat in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern by restoring 110 hectares of wetlands. This project will address issues related to nutrients, degradation of fish and wildlife populations, as well as loss of fish and wildlife habitat in the Area of Concern.

Project: Lagoon Road Shoreline Restoration Project

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $256,500 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will improve habitat in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern by restoring approximately 110 metres of degraded shoreline along the north shore of Centre Island within the Toronto Islands. This will provide important fish habitat and enable increased productivity of desired fish species.

Project: Pool 6 Habitat Restoration Project

Proponent: Lakehead University

Government of Canada Funding: $230,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will improve water quality and restore fish and wildlife habitat in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern by building bioswales and Low Impact Development features to filter stormwater entering Lake Superior. The project will result in new nearshore habitat and an improved riparian zone on the Thunder Bay waterfront.

Project: Implementing actions for restoration of St. Lawrence River (Cornwall) Area of Concern - Mohawk Council of Akwesasne

Proponent: Mohawk Council of Akwesasne

Government of Canada Funding: $158,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will support the participation of Mohawk Council of Akwesasne in the development and implementation of remedial actions in the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern to address nutrient issues as well as restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption.  

Project: Community engagement on restoration of the St. Clair and Detroit River Areas of Concern – Aamjiwnaang First Nation          

Proponent: Aamjiwnaang First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $40,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will support the participation of Aamjiwnaang First Nation in decision-making related to the status of fish and wildlife populations and habitat in the St. Clair River Area of Concern, as well as the status of fish populations and bird or animal deformities in the Detroit River Area of Concern. It will also support community engagement on the sediment management project in the St. Clair River Area of Concern.

Project: Six Nations of the Grand River engagement on restoring beneficial uses and decision-making for the Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara River Areas of Concern

Proponent: Six Nations of the Grand River

Government of Canada Funding: $20,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will support the participation of Six Nations of the Grand River in remediation and decision-making to restore water quality and ecosystem health in the Toronto and Region, Hamilton Harbour, and Niagara River Areas of Concern. Activities will focus on establishing delisting criteria, developing remedial actions, and assessing impairments through community engagement activities.

Fiscal year 2022 to 2023

Project: Waterfront Integrated Restoration Prioritization Strategy Implementation

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $75,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will support Geographic Information System development to improve the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority's Waterfront Integrated Restoration Prioritization (WIRP) tool, and the development of detailed designs for priority projects identified by the tool. The WIRP tool guides decisions on how and where habitat restoration efforts would be most beneficial. This project will contribute to fish and wildlife habitat restoration in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern. 

Project: Jackfish Bay Area of Concern in Recovery - Aesthetics, Fish Populations and Habitat Assessment Review

Proponent: Pays Plat First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $10,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will support the participation of the Pays Plat First Nation in assessments and decision-making related to the status of aesthetics, fish populations and fish habitat in the Jackfish Bay Area of Concern in Recovery.  

Project: St. Marys River Area of Concern Community Engagement and Status Assessment Review

Proponent: Garden River First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $12,500 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will support the participation of the Garden River First Nation (Ketegaunseebee) in remediation and decision-making related to fish and wildlife populations, benthos, and fish consumption in the St. Marys River Area of Concern.

Project: Nipigon Area of Concern Delisting Review and Jackfish Bay Aesthetics, Fish Populations and Habitat Assessment Review

Proponent: Red Rock Indian Band

Government of Canada Funding: $15,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will support the participation of the Red Rock Indian Band in decision-making on the delisting of the Nipigon Bay Area of Concern and technical review of the status of aesthetics, fish populations and fish habitat in the Jackfish Bay Area of Concern in Recovery.

Project: Improving City of Hamilton Stormwater Management Ponds

Proponent: City of Hamilton

Government of Canada Funding: $30,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will support the City of Hamilton in the implementation of innovative approaches to manage existing stormwater ponds to ensure protection of existing habitat restoration work in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern. This project will support the recovery of native fish populations and wetland habitat.

Project: Improving Youth and Community Action to Improve Freshwater Health within the Rouge River Watershed and the Toronto Area of Concern

Proponent: Friends of the Rouge Watershed

Government of Canada Funding: $30,000 over 1 year

Project Description: The project will restore and maintain 30,000 square metres of lowland riparian and upland forest habitat to protect Lake Ontario by planting 12,000 native trees and shrubs, 2,000 native

wildflowers, and 60 kilograms of seeds. These efforts will help to restore fish and wildlife populations and habitat in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern.

Project: NATURhoods: Naturally Adapting to Urban Runoff in Hamilton, Ontario

Proponent: Hamilton-Wentworth Green Venture

Government of Canada Funding: $40,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will divert phosphorus in storm water from entering Hamilton Harbour by implementing community demonstration projects and engaging property owners in the installation of residential green infrastructure projects, such as rain gardens and swales.

Project: Remedial Action Plan Coordination for the St. Marys River Area of Concern

Proponent: Algoma University

Government of Canada Funding: $45,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will facilitate interagency collaboration as well as stakeholder and Indigenous participation in the restoration of the St. Marys River Area of Concern, including assessing the status of restrictions on fish consumption, fish and wildlife populations, fish tumours or other deformities, and restrictions on dredging activities. The project will also complete the St. Marys River Area of Concern Contaminated Sediment Strategy.

Project: Monitoring Nutrient (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) and Bacterial Contamination in the Chedoke and Red Hill Creek Watershed

Proponent: Redeemer University

Government of Canada Funding: $58,750 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will track sewage contamination from the Chedoke and Red Hill Creek watersheds, which drain into Cootes Paradise and Hamilton Harbour. The collection and analysis of water samples will help the City of Hamilton identify issues and improvements as it corrects sewer cross-connections, in an effort to enhance water quality in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern.

Project: Implement Thunder Bay Area of Concern Wildlife Habitat Strategy and Lake Superior Remedial Action Plans

Proponent: Lakehead University

Government of Canada Funding: $ 65,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will complete the development and organize the implementation of the Thunder Bay Area of Concern Wildlife Habitat Strategy. The project will also facilitate interagency collaboration as well as stakeholder and Indigenous participation in the Thunder Bay, Nipigon Bay, Jackfish Bay and Peninsula Harbour Areas of Concern.

Project: Implementing Real-time Water Quality Monitoring related to Nutrient Concentration to Mitigate the impact of Combined Sewer Overflows in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern

Proponent: AquaSignum Inc.

Government of Canada Funding: $68,410 over 1 year

Project Description: The project will install two passive real-time microbial sensor monitoring systems at the Wellington and Wentworth combined sewer overflow outfalls that discharge directly into Hamilton Harbour. These efforts will contribute to addressing eutrophication or undesirable algae, beach closings, and aesthetics issues in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern.

Project: Barrier Removal Project

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $72,760 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will restore fish passage and aquatic habitat by removing fish barriers, restoring in-stream habitat and planting riparian habitat in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern.

Project: Cornwall Sediment Strategy Long Term Monitoring Program - Assessment of mercury concentrations in nearshore sediment and fishing 2022

Proponent: St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences

Government of Canada Funding: $75,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will contribute to the implementation of the Cornwall Sediment Strategy for the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern by assessing sediment and fish tissue in three contaminated zones for spatial and temporal analysis.

Project: Thunder Bay Waterfront Shoreline Habitat Restoration

Proponent: Lakehead Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $92,000 over 3 years

Project Description: This project will restore 4.5 hectares of riparian habitat across two key shoreline areas within the Thunder Bay Area of Concern.

Project: Remedial Action Plan Coordination for the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern

Proponent: Halton Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $95,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will coordinate interagency planning and implementation of remedial actions and assessments, as well as public and stakeholder engagement in the restoration of the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern.

Project: Lyons Creek East Contaminated Sediment Management Planning

Proponent: Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $98,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will conduct a comprehensive assessment to provide options for managing contaminated sediment at Lyons Creek East in the Niagara River Area of Concern.

Project: Seeking a Better Understanding of Phosphorous Movement in Redhill Creek Through an Integrated Water Quality Model

Proponent: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Government of Canada Funding: $100,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will apply new modelling approaches that integrate land use characteristics with hydraulic structures to better understand phosphorus sources and flows in Redhill Creek. This will provide important insight into the actions needed to reduce phosphorus in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern.

Project: Remedial Action Plan Coordination for the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern

Proponent: St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences

Government of Canada Funding: $112,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will coordinate community engagement in assessments and decision-making in the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern.

Project: Bay of Quinte Water Quality Monitoring Project

Proponent: Quinte Conservation Association

Government of Canada Funding: $115,145 over 3 years

Project Description: This project will support the implementation of the Bay of Quinte Long Term Phosphorus Management Plan and ongoing assessment of eutrophication or undesirable algae by providing water quality monitoring data for the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern.

Project: Remedial Action Plan Coordination for the Detroit River Area of Concern

Proponent: Essex Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $127,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will coordinate community engagement in assessments and decision-making in the Detroit River Area of Concern.

Project: Gibraltar Point Sand Dune and Wet Meadow Restoration

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $136,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will re-create sand dune and wet meadow habitat that was historically present at Gibraltar Point in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern by planting 6,850 native trees, shrubs, and other species, as well as installing habitat structures and perimeter fencing.

Project: Remedial Action Plan Coordination for the Niagara River Area of Concern

Proponent: Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $140,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will facilitate interagency collaboration as well as stakeholder and Indigenous participation in the restoration of the Niagara River Area of Concern.

Project: Mohawk Council of Akwesasne: St. Lawrence Area of Concern Community Engagement and Status Assessment Review

Proponent: Mohawk Council of Akwesasne

Government of Canada Funding: $154,240 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will support the participation of Mohawk Council of Akwesasne in remediation and decision-making related to fish consumption, beach closings, fish and wildlife populations and habitat, and eutrophication or undesirable algae in the St. Lawrence River Areas of Concern.

Project: Agri-Action Stewardship

Proponent: Raisin Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $160,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will address eutrophication or undesirable algae and fish and wildlife habitat issues in the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern by planning, designing and implementing agricultural best management practices.

Project: Hamilton Harbour Watershed Stewardship Project

Proponent: Hamilton Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $242,700 over 3 years

Project Description: This project will engage landowners in the delivery of water quality and habitat improvement projects that reduce the volume of nutrients, sediment and stormwater entering the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern (AOC). This project will also collaborate with partners to restore 8.5 hectares of wetland habitat, 1,500 metres of riparian habitat, 6 hectares of forest habitat and 1 hectare of meadow habitat in the AOC.

Project: Remedial Action Plan Coordination for the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern

Proponent: Lower Trent Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $270,000 over 3 years

Project Description: This project will coordinate and engage the community and local stakeholders in decision-making processes in the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern, as well as support the continued implementation of the Bay of Quinte Phosphorus Management Plan.

Project: Remedial Action Plan Coordination for the Toronto and Region Area of Concern

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $270,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will coordinate and engage the community and local stakeholders in remediation, assessments and decision-making processes in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern (AOC). The project will also coordinate Aquatic Habitat Toronto, a multi-agency committee that provides consulting and technical services for waterfront restoration and infrastructure projects, such as the Don Mouth Naturalization project and the Don and Central Waterfront combined sewer overflow project, as well as technical support for evaluating habitat restoration in the AOC.

Project: Integrative Monitoring and Modelling Framework to Explain the Impact of Phosphorus Internal Loading on Water Quality during the Transition Remediation Time

Proponent: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Government of Canada Funding: $428,400 over 3 years

Project Description: This project will conduct analysis and modelling of water and sediment chemistry to advance the understanding of phosphorus dynamics in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern and support the development of appropriate management actions.

Fiscal year 2021 to 2022

Project: Remedial Action Plan Coordination for the St. Marys River Area of Concern

Proponent: Algoma University

Government of Canada Funding: $45,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will facilitate inter-agency collaboration, and stakeholder and Indigenous involvement in the clean up of the St. Marys River Area of Concern.

Project: Riverbed Habitat Restoration at the Mountdale Boat Launch

Proponent: Lakehead Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $44,770 over 2 years

Project description: This project will restore habitat in a section of the Kaministiquia River in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern by removing invasive species, adding native vegetation and improving biodiversity.

Project: Canard River Wetland Restoration Planning

Proponent: MMM Marsh LLC

Government of Canada Funding: $45,500 over 1 year

Project description: This project will repair a dyke that is protecting the Canard River wetland complex, the largest marsh complex in the Detroit River Area of Concern.

Project: Improving Fish Passage and Habitat in the Current River

Proponent: North Shore Steelhead Association

Government of Canada Funding: $33,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will improve the fish passage connection in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern between Thunder Bay and the 50-kilometres of cold water fish spawning habitat upstream in the Current River.

Project: Coordination of the North Shore of Lake Superior Remedial Action Plans

Proponent: Lakehead University

Government of Canada Funding: $45,000 for 1 year

Project description: This project will facilitate inter-agency collaboration as well as stakeholder and Indigenous involvement in the clean up of the Thunder Bay Area of Concern and monitoring the Jackfish Bay Area of Concern in Recovery.

Project: Reducing the Impact of Combined Sewer Overflows in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern

Proponent: AquaSignum Inc

Government of Canada Funding: $45,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will test the effectiveness of an innovative  real-time bacterial sensor to better control combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and their associated pollutants by directing CSOs to a treatment plant rather than allowing them to discharge directly to the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern.

Project: Lake Ontario and Lake Erie Community Fish Consumption Survey

Proponent: Métis Nation of Ontario

Government of Canada Funding: $45,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will support the Métis Nation of Ontario to conduct a community fish consumption survey amongst Métis citizens to determine fish consumption realities and fish of interest to Métis in the St. Clair River, Detroit River, Niagara River, Hamilton Harbour and Toronto Region Areas of Concern.

Project: Jackfish Bay Sediment Study 

Proponent: Pays Plat First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $5,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will support Pays Plat First Nation’s review of contaminated sediment reports for the Jackfish Bay Area of Concern in Recovery and facilitate community outreach and engagement on the findings.

Project: Community Engagement of Caldwell First Nation in the Restoration of the Detroit River Area of Concern

Proponent: Caldwell First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $30,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will support participation of the Caldwell First Nation on the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup committees and the coordination of community engagement activities to advance the delisting of the Detroit River Area of Concern.

Project: Assessment of Fish Consumption Restrictions and Community Engagement in Bay of Quinte

Proponent: Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte

Government of Canada Funding: $15,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will support the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte in the review of fish consumption restrictions in the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern and promote effective communication and engagement regarding fish consumption advisories.

Project: Wildlife Habitat Restoration along the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway Corridor

Proponent: Lakehead Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $66,750 over 2 years

Project description: This project will restore riparian habitat and increase biodiversity along the Neebing-McIntyre floodway in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern by eradicating invasive species and re-vegetating the banks. 

Project: Rat's Spit Restoration Planning

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $73,210 over 1 year

Project description: This project will restore and enhance fish and wildlife habitat that has been damaged by flooding, high winds, and waves, causing erosion and the breaching of the spit in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern. 

Project: St. Marys River Area of Concern Engagement and Whitefish Island Fish Habitat Improvement - Restoration Plan

Proponent: Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways

Government of Canada Funding: $75,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will finalize logistics for constructing the identified fish habitat improvement project at Whitefish Island in the St. Marys River Area of Concern. It will also engage with the Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways in the development of a sediment management strategy.

Project: The Natural Edge Program - Shoreline Restoration in the St. Lawrence River (Cornwall) Area of Concern

Proponent: Watersheds Canada

Government of Canada Funding: $228,850 over 3 years

Project description: This project will engage with waterfront property owners and local partners in Akwesasne and around Lake St. Francis to plant native species and restore riparian habitat along the degraded shoreline within the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern. 

Project: Bainsville Bay Marsh - Restoring a Coastal Wetland in the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern

Proponent: Raisin Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $240,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will restore Bainsville Bay Marsh coastal wetland within the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern, which has been impacted by encroachment. It will also engage with locals in management planning and restoration actions.

Project: A Modelling Framework to Guide the Implementation of the Phosphorus Management Strategy in the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern

Proponent: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Government of Canada Funding: $130,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will develop a watershed framework to estimate the transport of nutrients and suspended solids from the edge of agricultural fields into nearby streams. It will predict their effects on the occurrence of harmful algal blooms in the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern and guide the completion of the Phosphorus Management Plan.

Project: Implementation of the Bay of Quinte Phosphorus Management Strategy

Proponent: Lower Trent Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $124,000 over 2 years

Project description: This remediation project will work with rural landowners to reduce soil erosion and phosphorus loading to the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern. It supports the implementation of the Bay of Quinte Phosphorus Management Strategy. 

Project: Evaluating Fisheries in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern using Acoustic Telemetry

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $106,700 over 2 years

Project description: This project will track and assess fish habitat use, creation, rehabilitation, and movement patterns on an acoustic telemetry array across the Toronto and Region Area of Concern. It will ensure that habitat restoration projects and waterfront development contribute to the improvement of aquatic habitat supply along the waterfront.

Project: Royal Botanical Gardens' Wetlands Rehabilitation Program 2021-2023

Proponent: Royal Botanical Gardens

Government of Canada Funding: $425,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will restore part of the Royal Botanical Gardens Nature Sanctuary wetlands in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern. It will support the expansion of native species and the management of invasive species' stressors to restore fish and wildlife wetland habitat. 

Project: Grindstone Creek Erosion Control Planning

Proponent: City of Burlington

Government of Canada Funding: $154,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will produce detailed designs of priority erosion control protection projects in Grindstone Creek, an important tributary for fish habitat in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern. Current erosion causes degraded fish and wildlife habitat, and undesirable algae in the creek. 

Project: Wildlife Habitat Restoration in the Central Toronto Waterfront

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $202,998 over 2 years

Project description: This project will restore fish and wildlife habitat in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern. This will be done by maintaining fish passage through water control structures, improving coastal wetland ecosystem function, increasing fisheries monitoring datasets, and fostering sustainable stewardship.

Project: Communications, Engagement, and Leadership Towards Implementation of the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan

Proponent: Bay Area Restoration Council of Hamilton and Halton Inc.

Government of Canada Funding: $170,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will support decision-making in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern by developing and maintaining online information resources, and engaging with stakeholders on the implementation of the Remedial Action Plan. 

Fiscal year 2020 to 2021

Project: Detroit River Fish Habitat Creation and Wetland Restoration

Proponent: Essex Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $326,500 over 2 years

Project description: This project will create a calm water embayment to provide critical spawning and nursery habitat for fish and advance progress on the clean up of a degraded wetland in the Detroit River Area of Concern.

Project: Enhancing Aquatic Habitat at Tommy Thompson Park

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $145,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will restore 4.26 hectares of nearshore aquatic habitat at Tommy Thompson Park in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern.

Project: Niagara River Remedial Action Plan Coordinator

Proponent: Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $140,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will facilitate inter-agency collaboration, and stakeholder and Indigenous involvement to support the clean up of the Niagara River Area of Concern.

Project: Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan Governance

Proponent: Lower Trent Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $190,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will support activities to address water quality issues in the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern and advance work under the Bay of Quinte Phosphorus Management Plan.

Project: Detroit River Remedial Action Plan Governance

Proponent: Essex Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $165,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will support inter-agency collaboration, and stakeholder and Indigenous involvement to support the clean up of the Detroit River Area of Concern.

Project: Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan Governance

Proponent: Halton Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $205,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will facilitate inter-agency collaboration, and stakeholder and Indigenous involvement to support the clean up of the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern. It will coordinate actions to address issues such as the decline of wildlife populations, fish, bird and animal deformities, as well as beach closings.

Project: Toronto and Region Remedial Action Plan Governance

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $290,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will facilitate inter-agency collaboration, and stakeholder and Indigenous involvement to support the clean up of the Toronto and Region Area of Concern.

Project: Bay of Quinte Remedial Stormwater Management Implementation

Proponent: Quinte Conservation Association

Government of Canada Funding: $170,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will help clean up the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern by promoting best practices for managing stormwater with local governments.

Project: Community Engagement of Aamjiwnaang First Nation in the Restoration of Beneficial Uses and Decision Making for the St. Clair and Detroit River Areas of Concern

Proponent: Aamjiwnaang First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $45,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will support community engagement in decision making  on the status of phyto- and zooplankton populations, drinking water as well as fish and wildlife populations, habitat and restrictions on their consumption, in the St. Clair and Detroit River Areas of Concern.

Project: Community Engagement of Caldwell First Nation in the Restoration of Beneficial Uses and Decision Making for the Detroit River Area of Concern

Proponent: Caldwell First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $15,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will support community engagement in decision making on the status of phyto- and zooplankton populations and restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption in the Detroit River Area of Concern.

Project: St. Marys River Whitefish Island Fish Habitat Improvement and Restoration Plan

Proponent: Batchewana First Nation Natural Resources Department

Government of Canada Funding: $50,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will advance a project to improve fish habitat in the St. Marys River Area of Concern.

Project: Jackfish Bay Environmental Recovery Review

Proponent: Pays Plat First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $20,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will support Pays Plat First Nation’s review of monitoring data for the Jackfish Bay Area of Concern in Recovery, and facilitate community outreach and engagement on the findings.

Project: Monitoring Nutrient (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) and Bacterial Contamination in the Chedoke and Red Hill Creek Watersheds

Proponent: Redeemer University

Government of Canada Funding: $25,655 over 2 years

Project description: This project will monitor sewage contamination and track sources of pollution in the Chedoke Creek and Red Hill Creek watersheds in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern.

Project: Assessing the Status of the Degradation of Aesthetics Beneficial Use Impairment in Hamilton Harbour

Proponent: Bay Area Restoration Council of Hamilton and Halton Inc.

Government of Canada Funding: $25,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will assess the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern for noticeable signs of degraded water quality.

Project: Phase 2: Current River Delta Rehabilitation Project

Proponent: Thunder Bay District Environmental Stewardship Council

Government of Canada Funding: $38,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will advance efforts to clean up degraded riparian shoreline habitat at two sites around the mouth of the Current River in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern.

Project: Stream Restoration and Wetland Rehabilitation at Fine Papers Site

Proponent: Lakehead University

Government of Canada Funding: $38,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will develop design options for creating new riparian and wetland habitat and restoring stream and coastal habitat along the shores of the Thunder Bay Area of Concern.

Project: McVicar Creek Naturalization

Proponent: City of Thunder Bay

Government of Canada Funding: $12,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will improve riparian habitat along McVicar Creek in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern by removing invasive Himalayan balsam and planting native vegetation.

Project: St. Marys River Remedial Action Plan Coordinator

Proponent: Algoma University

Government of Canada Funding: $45,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will facilitate inter-agency collaboration, and stakeholder and Indigenous involvement in the clean up of the St. Marys River Area of Concern.

Project: Current River Fish Passage Assessment

Proponent: North Shore Steelhead Association

Government of Canada Funding: $14,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will review and develop design options for improving the fish-passage connection between Thunder Bay and cold-water fish spawning habitat in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern.

Project: Thunder Bay and Jackfish Bay Remedial Action Plan Coordinator

Proponent: Lakehead University

Government of Canada Funding: $45,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will facilitate inter-agency collaboration as well as stakeholder and Indigenous involvement in the clean up of the Thunder Bay Area of Concern and monitoring the Jackfish Bay Area of Concern in Recovery.

Project: Assessment of Fish Consumption Restrictions and Community Engagement

Proponent: Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte

Government of Canada Funding: $15,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will advance efforts to assess restrictions on fish consumption in the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern and will ensure Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte are involved in the assessment and decision making processes.

Project: Community Engagement of Walpole Island First Nation in the Restoration of Beneficial Uses and Decision Making for the St. Clair and Detroit River Areas of Concern.

Proponent: Walpole Island First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $55,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will develop community engagement plans as well as support  decision making on the status of fish and wildlife populations and habitat as well as drinking water in the St. Clair River and Detroit River Areas of Concern.

Project: Bay of Quinte Long-Term Monitoring Project

Proponent: Quinte Conservation Association

Government of Canada Funding: $59,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will monitor water quality in the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern and will track progress toward meeting the long-term targets of the Bay of Quinte Phosphorus Management Plan.

Project: Removal of Phosphorus Runoff from Agricultural Lands in the Napanee and Wilton Creek Watersheds

Proponent: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Government of Canada Funding: $85,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will use information from past modelling and monitoring efforts to implement phosphorus reduction technology in hot spots in the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern, and will aim to meet the long-term targets of the Bay of Quinte Phosphorus Management Plan.

Project: Invasive Species Management and Water Quality Planning in the Hamilton Harbour Great lakes Areas of Concern

Proponent: Royal Botanical Gardens

Government of Canada Funding: $53,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will help restore fish habitat and address algae issues in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern and will examine ways to better protect the coastal wetland habitat.

Project: Hamilton Harbour Watershed Stewardship Project

Proponent: Hamilton Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $82,516 over 2 years

Project description: This project will help improve water quality and habitat in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern by implementing projects that reduce phosphorus and stormwater from entering Hamilton Harbour and Cootes Paradise Marsh.

Project: Building Buffers on the Niagara River Area of Concern

Proponent: Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $100,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will improve shoreline habitat, and fish and wildlife populations in the Niagara River Area of Concern by adding native plants to create a natural buffer along the Niagara River shoreline.

Project: A Long-term Outreach, Restoration, and Monitoring Strategy to Improve Watershed Health

Proponent: Raisin Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $80,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will select, design and implement watershed specific projects on private lands to improve water quality in the watersheds and nearshore areas of the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern.

Project: Confederation College Riparian Habitat Rehabilitation

Proponent: Confederation College

Government of Canada Funding: $75,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will help improve water quality and ecosystem health in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern by cleaning up existing and creating new habitat along the McIntyre River.

Project: St. Lawrence River (Cornwall) Remedial Action Plan Governance

Proponent: St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences

Government of Canada Funding: $86,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will facilitate interagency collaboration, and stakeholder and Indigenous engagement on the clean up of the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern, as well as advance work under the Cornwall Sediment Strategy.

Project: Community Engagement on the Assessment of Fish Consumption Restrictions

Proponent: Mohawk Council of Akwesasne

Government of Canada Funding: $60,167 over 2 years

Project description: This project will engage Mohawks of Akwesasne community members in assessing restrictions on fish consumption in the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern.

Fiscal year 2019 to 2020

Project: Current River Delta Rehabilitation Project

Proponent: Thunder Bay District Environmental Stewardship Council

Government of Canada Funding: $7,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will protect and restore coastal habitat at the mouth of the Current River, part of the Thunder Bay Area of Concern remediation effort.

Project: Waterfront Revive Project

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $40,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will engage community groups in the clean-up of plastics and other floating litter on the Toronto waterfront, increase awareness of the impacts of floating litter and plastic, and improve aesthetics and habitat conditions in the Toronto Area of Concern.

Project: Remedial Action Coordination for the St. Marys River Area of Concern

Proponent: Algoma University

Government of Canada Funding: $50,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will facilitate interagency collaboration as well as stakeholder and Indigenous participation in the restoration of the St. Marys Area of Concern.

Project: Restoring Coastal Wetlands Within the St. Lawrence River (Cornwall) Area of Concern

Proponent: Raisin Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $60,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will improve coastal habitat in the St. Lawrence River (Cornwall) Area of Concern, by protecting three provincially significant coastal wetlands.

Project: Reduction of Nonpoint Source Pollution at a Local Beach Through the Installation of a Bioswale

Proponent: Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake

Government of Canada Funding: $80,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will improve water quality in the Niagara River Area of Concern by installing a bioswale, a gently sloped drainage course, to slow stormwater runoff and filter out bacterial contaminants to Queen’s Royal Beach.

Project: Restoring Aquatic Habitat in the St. Clair River Area of Concern

Proponent: Walpole Island First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $170,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will improve habitat quality for fish and wildlife, by restoring a significant wetland in the St. Clair River Area of Concern.   

Project: Enhancing and Protecting Coastal Wetlands and Sheltered Embayments at Tommy Thompson Park

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $147,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will create and restore aquatic habitat in the Toronto Area of Concern including by installing underwater reefs and managing Phragmites australis, an invasive grass found in the embayments and coastal wetlands of Tommy Thompson Park.

Project: Remedial Action Plan and Shoreline Health Assessment

Proponent: Mohawk Council of Akwesasne

Government of Canada Funding: $120,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will engage the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne in the restoration of the St. Lawrence River (Cornwall) Area of Concern. 

Fiscal year 2018 to 2019

Project: Addressing Nonpoint Source Phosphorus Loading to the Bay of Quinte

Proponent: Lower Trent Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $186,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will engage local partners and landowners in reducing phosphorus runoff from their properties by using best management practices including livestock fencing, buffer planting shoreline rehabilitation, rain gardens and naturalizing areas with native plants, part of the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern remediation effort.

Project: Community Engagement in Delisting Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern

Proponent: Bay Area Restoration Council of Hamilton and Halton, Inc.

Government of Canada Funding: $90,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will engage students, scientists and other citizens in volunteer programs and special projects to rehabilitate habitat and monitor environmental quality, part of the Hamilton Harbour remediation effort.

Project: Coordination of the Thunder Bay and Peninsula Harbour Remedial Action Plans

Proponent: Lakehead University

Government of Canada Funding: $100,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will coordinate interagency planning and implementation of remedial actions and engage the public, Indigenous Peoples and stakeholders in the Thunder Bay and Peninsula Harbour Areas of Concern remediation processes.

Project: Cornwall Sediment Strategy Long Term Monitoring Program Establishing Baseline Concentrations for Nearshore Surface Sediments

Proponent: St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences

Government of Canada Funding: $19,850 over 1 year

Project description: This project will engage local partners in the sampling and analyses of nearshore sediments to determine mercury contamination levels in order to assess the effectiveness of the Monitored Natural Recovery Strategy, which is being employed in the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern.

Project: Deseronto Millpond Stormwater Implementation Project

Proponent: Quinte Conservation Association

Government of Canada Funding: $13,940 over 1 year

Project description: This project will engage the Town of Deseronto and Quinte Conservation in studies required to support the construction of a retrofit stormwater management facility that will reduce the impact of untreated stormwater on recreational water quality, part of the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern remediation effort.

Project: Detroit River Water Quality and Habitat Restoration Program

Proponent: Essex Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $419,861 over 2 years

Project description: This project will improve fish and wildlife habitat by re-establishing a historic inlet for fish spawning on Peche Island and restoring a 30 hectare diked wetland as well as upland terrestrial habitat, part of the Detroit River Area of Concern remediation effort.

Project: Enhancing Water Balance Criteria to Protect Wetlands from Urban Stormwater and Climate Change

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $40,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will engage local partners in monitoring wetland habitat to determine the effectiveness of management strategies used to protect wetland habitat from the impacts of urban development, part of the Toronto and Region Area of Concern remediation effort.

Project: Pattingale Creek Restoration Plan

Proponent: Raisin Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $86,260 over 2 years

Project description: This project will conduct a shoreline assessment to determine the status of fish habitat in Pattingale Creek, and will engage local landowners in the development and implementation of a plan to support further restoration of fish habitat, part of the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern remediation effort.

Project: Phase IV of Habitat Restoration at Cooper Marsh

Proponent: Cooper Marsh Conservators Inc.

Government of Canada Funding: $30,240 over 1 year

Project description: This project will engage the local community in the Cooper Marsh Conservation Area construction of four new large ponds to create and restore fish and wetland bird breeding habitat, part of the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern Remediation effort.

Project: Phosphorus Loading from Napanee River, Wilton Creek and Their Catchments

Proponent: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Government of Canada Funding: $134,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will determine the sources of phosphorus that are affecting water quality and ecosystem health in the Bay of Quinte. Local conservation authorities will use the results of the project engage landowners in applying best management practices to reduce phosphorus runoff, part of the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern remediation effort.

Project: Public Engagement for Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern

Proponent: Bay Area Restoration Council of Hamilton and Halton

Government of Canada Funding: $180,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will engage a local partner to enhance public awareness and understanding of the environmental status of Hamilton Harbour and work with all levels of government, the private sector and the public to promote and assess the implementation of remedial actions, part of the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern remediation effort.

Project: Remedial Action Plan Transition Coordination for the St. Lawrence River

Proponent: St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences

Government of Canada Funding: $75,750 over 2 years

Project description: This project will coordinate interagency planning and implementation of remedial actions and engage the public, Indigenous Peoples and stakeholders in the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern remediation process.

Project: Remedial Action Plan Coordination for the St. Mary’s River Area of Concern

Proponent: Algoma University

Government of Canada Funding: $50,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will coordinate interagency planning and implementation of remedial actions and engage the public, Indigenous Peoples and stakeholders in the St. Mary’s River Area of Concern remediation process.

Project: Restoring Riparian Zones of the Niagara River Area of Concern

Proponent: Niagara Parks Commission

Government of Canada Funding: $130,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will create, restore and expand riparian and nearshore habitat for fish and wildlife by planting native species and constructing habitat structures, part of the Niagara River Area of Concern.

Project: Royal Botanical Gardens Wetlands Rehabilitation Program

Proponent: Royal Botanical Gardens

Government of Canada Funding: $525,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will engage local partners in restoring 4.5 hectares of wetland habitat and increasing vegetated shoreline by 2 kilometres in Cootes Paradise and Grindstone Marsh to improve fish and wildlife habitat and water quality, part of the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern remediation effort.

Project: Soil Water Assessment Tool to Determine Best Management Practices in Wilton Creek and Hay Bay Watersheds

Proponent: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Government of Canada Funding: $108,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will develop a model to assess best management practices and determine which will be most effective in reducing phosphorus runoff, part of the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern remediation effort.

Project: St. Clair River Contaminated Sediment Management Develop Engineering Design

Proponent: St. Clair Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $250,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will engage local partners in the development of the detailed engineering design for addressing mercury contaminated sediment in three areas of the St. Clair River, part of the St. Clair River Area of Concern remediation effort.

Project: St. Clair River Mapping and Coastal Wetland Initiative

Proponent: Rural Lambton Stewardship Network

Government of Canada Funding: $60,185 over 1 year

Project description: This project will create a new 2 hectare coastal wetland and enhance a further 70 hectares of coastal wetlands by removing invasive plants, planting native plants, and constructing aquatic habitat structures to provide nesting, basking and feeding opportunities for fish and wildlife, part of the St. Clair River Area of Concern remediation effort.

Project: Toronto Harbour Fish Telemetry Project

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $250,000 over 3 years

Project description: Working with partners, this project will use fish tracking data to assess the effectiveness of fish habitat restoration in the Toronto waterfront and determine what further action might be required as part of the Toronto Area of Concern remediation effort.

Project: Toronto Waterfront Aquatic Habitat Restoration Strategy Fish Habitat Assessment Report

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $160,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will engage local partners to assess the progress and effectiveness of the Toronto Waterfront Aquatic Habitat Restoration Strategy which has guided the Toronto Area of Concern Remedial Action Plan's restoration of fish habitat since 2003.

Project: Water Quality and Coastal Wetland Monitoring for Beneficial Use Impairment Assessment

Proponent: Quinte Conservation Association

Government of Canada Funding: $151,500 over 2 years

Project description: This project will support environmental monitoring to determine whether degradation of fish and wildlife populations, loss of fish and wildlife habitat, beach closings, restrictions on drinking water and undesirable algae have been reduced through the implementation of remedial actions in the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern.

Preventing toxic and nuisance algae

Fiscal year 2023 to 2024

Project: Evaluation of the 2018-2022 Lake Erie Action Plan using a Coordinated Modelling Approach

Proponent: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Government of Canada Funding: $98,158 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will use a complex computer simulation to evaluate progress towards achieving phosphorus load reduction targets in Lake Erie as part of an adaptive management approach. This project will evaluate the effectiveness of actions implemented under the 2018-2022 Lake Erie Action Plan, which is key to understanding how the on-the-ground actions identified in the Plan are affecting phosphorus loadings and advancing progress towards targets.

Fiscal year 2022 to 2023

Project: Identifying Critical Source Areas for Nutrient Loss from Agricultural Fields in the Upper Thames River Watershed, Ontario

Proponent: University of Guelph

Government of Canada Funding: $150,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will identify and map the critical source areas for phosphorus in the Upper Thames River watershed, in support of Canada’s strategy to reduce nutrient loads to Lake Erie. The study will identify these areas and create maps indicating the risk of nutrient loss from agricultural fields across the Upper Thames River watershed. The analysis and maps will provide information for precise targeting and future placement of best management practices. 

Fiscal year 2021 to 2022

Project: Mapping Phosphorus Flows through Ontario's Economy and Environment

Proponent: Pollution Probe

Government of Canada Funding: $100,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will build upon previous analysis and expertise to generate a quantitative phosphorus flow map for Ontario to allow for improved management of phosphorus losses to the environment.

Fiscal year 2020 to 2021

Project: Wetlands for Reduction of Lake Erie Nutrients

Proponent: Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Government of Canada Funding: $229,915 over 2 years.

Project description: This project will reduce nutrient loadings to Lake Erie, which cause toxic and nuisance algae, by constructing 23 wetlands in priority areas. The wetlands will capture and store nutrient runoff from upstream agricultural land, reducing the amount entering the lake.

Project: Advancing Nonpoint Source Phosphorus Reduction in the Nith River Watershed

Proponent: Grand River Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $157,103 over 2 years.

Project description: This project will reduce nutrient loadings to Lake Erie, which cause toxic and nuisance algae, by implementing agricultural best practices in the Grand River watershed for reducing nutrient pollution.

Project: Thames River Watershed Demonstration Farm and Cover Crops Initiative for Phosphorus Reduction

Proponent: Upper Thames River Conservation Authority.

Government of Canada Funding: $145,800 over 2 years.

Project description: This project will reduce nutrient loadings to Lake Erie, which cause toxic and nuisance algae, by creating a demonstration farm in the Thames River Watershed to display innovative best practices to reduce nutrient loads, and communicate results with farmers. The project will also reduce nutrient loads to Lake Erie by establishing a program to promote the uptake of cover crops with local farmers.  

Project: Lower Thames Valley Cover Crop Program

Proponent: Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority.

Government of Canada Funding: $272,771 over 2 years.

Project description: This project will reduce nutrient loadings to Lake Erie, which cause toxic and nuisance algae, by providing farmers in the Lower Thames Valley watershed with technical support and incentives to increase their use of best practices, including cover crops.

Project: Testing and Demonstration of MagPi to Recover Phosphorus From Animal Manures

Proponent: Muddy River Technologies, Inc.

Government of Canada Funding: $200,000 over 2 years.

Project description: This project will use an innovative nutrient recovery technology  on test farms in the Lake Erie basin, to extract nutrients from animal manure and turn it into a slow-release fertilizer that can be applied to agricultural lands.

Fiscal year 2019 to 2020

Project: Sydenham River Phosphorus Management Plan

Proponent: St. Clair Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $220,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will reduce nutrient loads to Lake Erie that cause toxic and nuisance algae by implementing a plan to manage nutrients in the Sydenham River watershed and supporting activities that engage the community in adopting best practices. 

Project: Development of a Phosphorus Management Plan for Essex Region

Proponent: Essex Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $220,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will reduce nutrient loads to Lake Erie that cause toxic and nuisance algae by implementing a plan to manage nutrients in the Essex Region and supporting activities that engage the community in adopting best practices. 

Fiscal year 2018 to 2019

Project: Development of a Sydenham River Watershed Phosphorus Management Plan

Proponent: St. Clair Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $100,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will reduce nutrient loads to Lake Erie that cause toxic and nuisance algae by identifying best practices for the Sydenham River watershed. The project will support activities that engage landowners and stakeholders in adopting best practices.

Project: Essex Region Lake Erie Watersheds Phosphorus Reduction Program

Proponent: Essex Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $600,000 over 4 years

Project description: This project will reduce phosphorus runoff to Lake Erie from farms in Essex Region by implementing best management practices such as cover crops, nutrient management plans and vegetated buffers. Water quality monitoring will track changes following the implementation of the best management practices. Results will be shared to promote broader uptake by farmers.

Project: Improving Lake Erie Water Quality through Restoration of Natural Features on Agricultural Lands

Proponent: ALUS Canada

Government of Canada Funding: $600,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will install wetland and other natural features on agricultural land to reduce nutrient runoff into streams. Monitoring at project sites and a simulation model will assess the effectiveness of similar projects in other locations. Monitoring and modelling will be used to assess the effectiveness of these features in reducing phosphorus pollution and in promoting uptake at a wider scale.

Project: McGregor and Jeannette’s Creek Phosphorus Reduction Program

Proponent: Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $600,000 over 4 years

Project description: This project will engage farmers in the Lower Thames Valley, one of the highest contributing areas of phosphorus pollution to Lake Erie in Canada, in implementing best management practices to reduce phosphorus in farm runoff. The project will also measure the effectiveness of phosphorus reduction actions and promote broad uptake within the agricultural sector.

Project: Medway Creek Watershed Phosphorus Reduction Initiative

Proponent: Upper Thames River Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $600,000 over 4 years

Project description: This project will engage local farmers in the Upper Thames River watershed in implementing suites of innovative best management practices on their farms, and monitoring the resulting reduction in phosphorus in farm runoff in order to determine which suites of best management practices perform most effectively under which conditions. Findings will be shared with local farmers to promote uptake of best management practices at a wider scale.

Project: Phosphorus Recovery from Municipal Wastewater and Reuse of Recovered Slow Release Fertilizer in the Lake Erie Watershed

Proponent: Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc.

Government of Canada Funding: $321,930 over 4 years

Project description: This project will support implementation and testing of an innovative technology to recover phosphorus from the wastewater treatment plant and convert it to a slow-release fertilizer that will reduce fertilizer application and phosphorus pollution to Lake Erie. Municipalities and farmers in the Lake Erie basin will be engaged to promote broad uptake.

Project: Removing Phosphorus from Agricultural Water Runoff

Proponent: Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Government of Canada Funding: $600,000 over 4 years

Project description: This project will implement and monitor the effectiveness of technologies to reduce the amount of phosphorous from agricultural tile drainage systems and municipal drains. Existing networks will be used to share results with local farmers and farm groups, municipalities and the public to inform and promote future use of these technologies within the broader community.

Project: Timing Matters: Peer-to-Peer Network

Proponent: Farm and Food Care

Government of Canada Funding: $73,200 over 2 years

Project description: This project will reduce the amount of phosphorus entering Lake Erie through an innovative peer-to-peer networking approach in which experienced landowners will engage other landowners in identifying and applying practical alternatives to the winter spreading of manure on agricultural lands, thereby reducing a major source of phosphorus pollution and contributing towards achieving phosphorus reduction targets established to clean up and protect Lake Erie.

Fiscal year 2017 to 2018

Project: Conservation of Natural Heritage to Improve Water Quality in the Lake Erie Watershed

Project proponent: Six Nations of the Grand River

Government of Canada Funding: 22,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will engage Six Nations of the Grand River in restoring and protecting natural areas, such as wetlands, to reduce nutrient loads entering the Grand River and Lake Erie.

Project: Targeting Phosphorus Reductions in the Grand River Watershed

Project proponent: Grand River Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $70,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will map the areas that contribute the highest nutrient loads to Lake Erie from the Grand River, and identify best practices to reduce nutrient loads for the Grand River watershed.

Project: Targeting Phosphorus Reductions in Essex Region

Project proponent: Essex Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $65,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will map the areas that contribute the highest nutrient loads to Lake Erie from Essex Region and identify best practices to reduce nutrient loads for the Essex Region.

Project: Targeting Phosphorus Reductions in the Lower Thames Valley Watershed

Project proponent: Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $75,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will map the areas that contribute the highest nutrient loads to Lake Erie from the Thames River and identify best practice to reduce nutrient loads for the Thames River watershed. The project will also engage the community and agricultural sector on actions to reduce nutrient loads from their lands.

Project: Targeting Phosphorus Reductions in the Upper Thames River Watershed

Project proponent: Upper Thames River Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $85,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will identify and promote best practices to reduce nutrient loads from the Thames River to Lake Erie.

Reducing releases of harmful chemicals

Fiscal year 2020 to 2021

Project: Removing Sources of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Chemicals of Mutual Concern from the Great Lakes

Proponent: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Government of Canada Funding: $99,918 over 2 years

Project description: This project aims to reduce Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and Long-chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (LC-PFCAs), designated as Chemicals of Mutual Concern under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, from entering the Great Lakes through consumer products. This project will identify consumer products containing these chemicals, estimate the amount of these chemicals that could enter the lakes through these products, and engage stakeholders on impacts.

Project: Feasibility Study of Granular Activated Carbon to Reduce Perfluorooctanoic Acid and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid Emissions from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants

Proponent: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Government of Canada Funding: $97,440 over 2 years

Project description: This project will assess the use of activated carbon in municipal wastewater treatment plants to prevent Perfluorooctanesulfonic and Perfluorooctanoic acids from entering the Great Lakes.

Project: Mitigating the Release of Long-chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids in Leachates: Analysis, Removal, Fate and Transport

Proponent: York University

Government of Canada Funding: $91,450 over 2 years

Project description: This project will advance efforts to reduce the release of Long-chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids in landfills.

Fiscal year 2018 to 2019

Project: The Laundry: Project: Removing Chemicals of Mutual Concern from the Great Lakes

Proponent: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Government of Canada Funding: $99,848 over 2 years

Project description: This project will measure the effectiveness of filters installed on household washing machines and clothes dryers in collecting certain toxic substances. This is one of the innovative approaches being piloted to reduce releases of a small group of chemicals designated as Great Lakes Chemicals of Mutual Concern, which continue to enter the Great Lakes despite being heavily regulated in Canada.

Project: Reducing Releases of Harmful Chemicals into the Great Lakes by Ozonation of Municipal Wastewater

Proponent: Trent University

Government of Canada Funding: $100,000 over 2 years

Project description: The project will evaluate the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of ozonation in the removal of perfluorinated compounds and brominated flame retardants from municipal wastewater. This is one of the innovative approaches being piloted to reduce releases of a small group of chemicals designated as Great Lakes Chemicals of Mutual Concern, which continue to enter the Great Lakes despite being heavily regulated in Canada.

Project: Source Track Down and Mitigating Releases of Short Chain Chlorinated Paraffins

Proponent: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Government of Canada Funding: $96,317 over 2 years

Project description: This project will identify indoor and outdoor sources of short chain chlorinated paraffins. Innovative analytical fingerprinting will be used to determine the contribution of these sources to surface water and wastewater treatment effluent in the Great Lakes Basin. Information will inform government risk assessments and risk management activities. This is one of the innovative approaches being piloted to reduce releases of a small group of chemicals designated as Great Lakes Chemicals of Mutual Concern, which continue to enter the Great Lakes despite being heavily regulated in Canada.

Engaging Indigenous Peoples in addressing Great Lakes issues

Fiscal year 2023 to 2024

Project: Capacity funding to facilitate more effective engagement by Métis in Great Lakes governance processes

Proponent: Métis Nation of Ontario

Government of Canada Funding: $43,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will support Métis Nation of Ontario internal capacity to engage Métis on Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health issues of concern to Indigenous Peoples. Métis Nation of Ontario will engage its constituent Metis communities on Great Lakes issues, as well as in the development of approaches to strengthen Métis participation in Great Lakes governance, stewardship and monitoring to protect the Great Lakes.

Project: Capacity funding to facilitate more effective engagement by First Nations in Great Lakes governance processes

Proponent: Chiefs of Ontario

Government of Canada Funding: $70,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will support Chiefs of Ontario internal capacity to engage First Nations on Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health issues of concern to Indigenous Peoples. Chiefs of Ontario will engage its constituent First Nations communities on Great Lakes issues, as well as in the development of approaches to strengthen First Nations participation in Great Lakes  governance, stewardship and monitoring to protect the Great Lakes. 

Fiscal year 2022 to 2023

Project: Shawanaga Aquatic Monitoring Program

Proponent: Shawanaga First Nation Band Number 17

Government of Canada Funding: $50,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will support Shawanaga First Nation in conducting aquatic monitoring, including the sampling of water, sediment, and invertebrates to assess the impacts of pollution, nutrient enrichment and climate change in its Great Lakes environment. The project will incorporate western science and Indigenous knowledge and will build community capacity.

Project: Pays Plat First Nation

Proponent: Pays Plat First Nation water monitoring program

Government of Canada Funding: $50,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will support community-based monitoring of water, soil and sediment and document flora and fauna in the Pays Plat First Nation’s Traditional Territory on Lake Superior. This project will involve the application of Indigenous Knowledge to Great Lakes stewardship, and will build community capacity.

Project: Henvey Inlet First Nation water monitoring program

Proponent: Henvey Inlet First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $50,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will engage Henvey Inlet First Nation community members in coastal wetland monitoring, including fish habitat in coastal marshes, and tracking  movements and habitat use of Blanding’s turtles. This project will involve the application of Indigenous knowledge in Great Lakes stewardship and will build community capacity to implement environmental monitoring techniques.

Project: Capacity Funding to Facilitate More Effective Engagement by Métis in Great Lakes Governance Processes

Proponent: Métis Nation of Ontario

Government of Canada Funding: $125,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will support increased capacity for the Métis Nation of Ontario to engage Métis in Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health issues, including those of cultural and traditional importance. This project will also support Métis engagement in Great Lakes governance processes.

Fiscal year 2021 to 2022

Project: Métis Nation of Ontario Great Lakes Awareness Project

Proponent: Métis Nation of Ontario

Government of Canada Funding: $75,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will raise awareness of Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health issues amongst Métis citizens and communities, utilizing a variety of engagement approaches. It will also provide opportunities for Métis communities to identify their local priorities for science and action. 

Project: Developing and Communicating Indigenous (First Nations) Community-specific Fish Consumption Advisories

Proponent: Wasauksing First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $150,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will engage one or more First Nations communities that rely on Lake Huron or Lake Superior fish in their diet. It will collect and analyze information on the species caught, meal preparation, size and frequency of meals, and contaminant levels of specific species. 

Project: Community-Based Monitoring of the Thames River

Proponent: Chippewas of the Thames First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $40,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will engage members of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation in Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health monitoring and restoration activities.

Fiscal year 2020 to 2021

Project: Deshkan Ziibiing Agricultural Management Plan

Proponent: Chippewas of the Thames First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $36,575 over 2 years

Project description: This project will support Chippewas of the Thames First Nation efforts to manage agricultural activities on their land, collect data, and promote best practices to reduce phosphorus loadings to the Thames River.

Project: Expanded Anishinabek Coastal Wetland Monitoring Project

Proponent: Henvey Inlet First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $99,431 over 2 years

Project description: This project will expand on the First Nation’s existing coastal wetland monitoring program, delivered in partnership with McMaster University. It will focus on monitoring fish habitat in coastal marshes, as well as the movements and habitat use of Blanding’s turtles.

Project: Development of the Shawanaga First Nation Aquatic Monitoring Program

Proponent: Shawanaga First Nation Band Number 17

Government of Canada Funding: $94,749 over 2 years

Project description: This project will develop an aquatic monitoring program to assess the impacts of pollution, excess nutrient loads, and climate change on the Great Lakes environment. It will also develop community capacity to protect the local watershed as well as support delivery of the First Nation’s walleye fishery and hatchery programs.

Project: Protecting Gitchigumi

Proponent: Pays Plat First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $99,431 over 2 years

Project description: This project will conduct sampling of water, soil and sediment as well as monitoring on the Pays Plat First Nation's Traditional Territory on Lake Superior. The goal is to establish baseline data to help signal future risks facing native species.

Project: Chiefs of Ontario Building Capacity for Work on the Great Lakes

Proponent: Chiefs of Ontario

Government of Canada Funding: $400,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will support the engagement of First Nations on Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health issues, including issues of cultural and traditional importance.

Project: Métis Nation of Ontario Capacity Building for Work on the Great Lakes

Proponent: Métis Nation of Ontario

Government of Canada Funding: $250,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will support Métis engagement on Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health issues, including issues of cultural and traditional importance.

Fiscal year 2018 to 2019

Project: Anishinabek Coastal Wetland Monitoring Project

Proponent: Henvey Inlet First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $100,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will engage Henvey Inlet First Nation community members in the development and implementation of a coastal wetland monitoring program that incorporates traditional knowledge. The monitoring program will include surveying of fish and plant populations as well as monitoring of nutrient concentration and water chemistry in 40 wetlands. Community participants, including youth, will take part in data collection and report back to the community on results.

Project: Neyaashiinigmiing Water Protection Program

Proponent: Chippewas of Nawash First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $100,000 over 4 years

Project description: This project will engage community members of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation in the development and implementation of a community focused water protection plan. The plan will focus on the waters of Lake Huron/Georgian Bay around the First Nation’s traditional territory. Through the project, community members will gain a greater understanding of water protection and will have opportunities to participate in water cleanup activities.

Project: Pays Plat First Nation Protecting Gitchigumi

Proponent: Pays Plat First Nation 

Government of Canada Funding: $99,803 over 2 years

Project description: This project will engage Pays Plat First Nation community members in the development of a database focused on Lake Superior’s nearshore waters, shorelines and wetlands in the First Nation’s traditional territory. Capturing western scientific information and traditional knowledge, the database will be a tool to help the community to identify and prepare for local environmental change over time.

Project: Walpole Island First Nation Great Lakes Protection Initiative: Phragmites Control Project

Proponent: Island Breeze Tree Service

Government of Canada Funding: $100,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will engage Walpole Island First Nation community members protecting wetlands and shoreline habitats. The project will control and reduce phragmites, an invasive plant, at five locations on the First Nation’s traditional territory. Project participants will monitor the locations and assess regrowth and changes in water quality and soil conditions. Results will be shared at community events and school visits to raise awareness of the impact of phragmites on local wetlands and the importance of protecting and restoring native plants for fish and wildlife habitat.

Fiscal year 2017 to 2018

Project: Implementation of the Canadian Lake St. Clair Management Plan

Project proponent: Walpole Island First Nation

Government of Canada Funding: $40,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will support the engagement of Walpole Island First Nation on water quality monitoring and activities to clean up Lake St. Clair.

Project: Canada – Chiefs of Ontario Capacity Building for work on the Great Lakes

Project proponent: Chiefs of Ontario

Government of Canada Funding: $575,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will support the engagement of First Nations on Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health issues, including issues of cultural and traditional importance.

Project: Canada – Métis Nation of Ontario Capacity Building for work on the Great Lakes

Project proponent: Métis Nation of Ontario

Government of Canada Funding: $360,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will support Métis engagement on Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health issues, including issues of cultural and traditional importance.

Increasing public engagement through community-based science

Fiscal year 2022 to 2023

Project: Lake Superior Water Quality Monitoring and Jackfish Bay Area of Concern in Recovery Assessment

Proponent: Biigtigong Nishnaabeg

Government of Canada Funding: $135,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will support Biigtigong Nishnaabeg participation in monitoring recreational water quality in Lake Superior and building community awareness of Great Lakes water quality issues. In addition, this project supports development and implementation of a community engagement plan for participation in decision-making related to the Jackfish Bay Area of Concern in Recovery. 

Fiscal year 2020 to 2021

Project: Engaging Citizens and Citizen Science in Western Lake Ontario: Plastic Trash on the Waterfront

Proponent: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Government of Canada Funding: $100,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will engage stakeholders, the public and citizen scientists on the clean up of plastics and trash along the western Lake Ontario waterfront.

Fiscal year 2018 to 2019

Project: The Great Lakes Communities Recreational Waters Monitoring Initiative

Proponent: Swim Drink Fish Canada

Government of Canada Funding: $1,800,000 over 4 years

Project description: This project will engage members of the public in “citizen science”. Participants will contribute to the monitoring of Great Lakes water quality by collecting and analyzing samples from previously unmonitored local beaches to determine whether they are safe for swimming and other recreational use. The project will develop web-based tools to share water quality sampling results and other information with the public through the Swim Drink Fish Swim Guide app.

Working together

Fiscal year 2022 to 2023

Project: Celebration of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement 50^th Anniversary and Citizen Activism

Proponent: The Georgian Bay Association

Government of Canada Funding: $7,500 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will showcase the successes of citizen activism in the Great Lakes and increase public engagement on freshwater issues by delivering citizen led activities on the sidelines of the September 2022 triennial Great Lakes Public Forum.

Project: Tour of the Niagara River Area of Concern

Proponent: Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $8,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will plan and deliver a bus tour that will highlight key natural and engineered features as well as the results of successful remediation projects implemented in the Niagara River Area of Concern on the sidelines of the September 2022 triennial Great Lakes Public Forum.

Project: Public Celebration of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement 50^th Anniversary

Proponent: Swim Drink Fish Canada

Government of Canada Funding: $15,000 over 1 year

Project Description: This project will increase public engagement on Great Lakes issues, and raises awareness of how Indigenous Peoples have played an integral role in the restoration and protection of Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health through the planning and delivery of a public event on the sidelines of the September 2022 triennial Great Lakes Public Forum.

Project: Engaging Communities on Building and Sharing Knowledge Around Contaminant Levels Found in Fish in Thunder Bay

Proponent: Lakehead Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $30,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will engage citizens, First Nation communities, and local partners and stakeholders in the transfer of knowledge related to contaminant levels (Perfluorinated compounds) found in fish collected in Lake Superior in Thunder Bay.

Project: Strategic Scientific, Policy, and Management Advice Pertaining to the Ecosystem Approach in the 21st Century

Proponent: University of Windsor

Government of Canada Funding: $30,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will support stakeholder and public engagement on approaches for improving government and stakeholder ability to implement an ecosystem approach, achieve ecosystem-based management, and adhere to the core principles of the Canada–U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Engagement will help identify strategies for strengthening science-policy-management linkages, fostering a blue economy and ecosystem-based management, ensuring effective science translation and education, and dealing with uncertainty.

Project: Engaging Communities in Western Lake Ontario to Protect and Restore Water Quality and Ecosystem Health

Proponent: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $51,000 over 3 years

Project Description: This project will engage municipalities and resource management agencies in strategic planning for the western portion of Lake Ontario to identify priorities for on-the-ground actions that respond to current pressures and threats impacting water quality.

Project: Engage the Anishinabek Nation in Identifying Actions that will Contribute to the Protection and Restoration of the Water Quality and Ecosystem Health of Lake Huron

Proponent: Union of Ontario Indians

Government of Canada Funding: $55,000 over 3 years

Project Description: This project will engage the Anishinabek Nation to identify priorities for science and action that will contribute to the protection and restoration of water quality and ecosystem health of Lake Huron. The project will also build awareness in the community of available tools to help organizations or individuals delivery community-based science programs.

Project: Engaging Communities in Western Lake Erie to Enhance the Resilience of Coastal Wetland to the Impacts from a Changing Climate

Proponent: Essex Region Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $100,000 over 2 years

Project Description: This project will engage coastal wetland managers, conservation practitioners, agencies, municipalities, First Nations, and local partners and stakeholders in the transfer of knowledge and co-development of a climate adaptation strategies and actions that will build resiliency of priority coastal wetlands.

Project: Developing a Lake Erie Coastal Resilience Strategy

Proponent: Coastal Zone Canada Association

Government of Canada Funding: $155,000 over two years

Project Description: This project will engage communities, environmental nongovernmental organizations, First Nations, and municipalities to identify priorities and collaboratively develop a strategy for establishing Great Lakes Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans (or Regional Coastal Resilience Plans) with a focus on Lake Erie.  

Project: Enhancing Water Quality and Ecosystem Health by Engaging the Lake Huron Community in Place-based Planning and Action

Proponent: Maitland Valley Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $175,000 over 3 years

Project Description: This project will engage shoreline communities, environmental nongovernmental organizations, landowners, and municipalities to collaboratively develop local solutions and collectively implement restoration and protection activities that improve water quality and protect nearshore areas of greatest ecological value in Lake Huron. 

Fiscal year 2021 to 2022

Project: Community Engagement and Environmental Action on Lake Huron in Support of Lakewide Management

Proponent: Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $100,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will support stakeholders in collaboratively implementing water quality monitoring as well as restoration and protection activities that address degraded water quality, loss of habitat and species, invasive species, and climate change impacts within the Lake Huron and Georgian Bay watershed. 

Project: Lake Superior Communities and Youth for Freshwater Health and Climate Action

Proponent: EcoSuperior Environmental Programs

Government of Canada Funding: $50,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will raise awareness of Great Lakes issues in the Lake Superior watershed and create opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth and to participate in future actions to restore and protect  Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health.

Project: Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement 50th Anniversary Celebration

Proponent: Swim Drink Fish Canada

Government of Canada Funding: $100,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will increase stakeholder and Indigenous engagement on Great Lakes issues through building strategic partnerships to collaborate on the planning of a 50th anniversary celebration of the signing of the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

Project: Engagement on shoreline management planning to protect nearshore water quality and ecosystem health on Lake Erie

Proponent: Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority

Government of Canada Funding: $50,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will engage shoreline communities in knowledge sharing and co-development of community scale solutions to improve coastal resilience in the Lake Erie watershed.

Project: Community engagement and environmental action in support of Lakewide Management

Proponent: Niagara Coastal Community Collaborative

Government of Canada Funding: $20,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will virtually engage stakeholders and shoreline communities between Port Dover and Port Colborne along the Lake Erie coastline to enhance awareness of local threats and opportunities to improve Lake Erie nearshore water quality and ecosystem health.

Project: DataStream in the Great Lakes

Proponent: The Gordon Foundation

Government of Canada Funding: $70,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will advance Great Lakes DataStream, an open access hub for sharing water data in the Great Lakes by building networks among water monitoring and research organizations. It will include workshops, webinars and online communications. 

Fiscal year 2018 to 2019

Project: AquaHacking Evaluation Framework

Proponent: de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation

Government of Canada Funding: $25,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will support the review and development of technical and innovative solutions to tackle water quality issues and engage youth on water challenges in Canada.

Project: The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Collaborative Strategy

Proponent: Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Government of Canada Funding: $399,980 over 2 years

Project description: This project will engage a range of sectors to review four Great Lakes and St. Lawrence water issues (climate change, harmful pollutants, nutrients and pollution of beaches) and provide solutions for advancing progress on these issues.