Deadline: 15-Feb-24
The Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is offering grants to support action by others to prevent toxic and nuisance algae by increasing participation in the application of phosphorus load reduction measures and promoting broad uptake and application, demonstrating new and innovative approaches, developing collaborative plans to support targeted action, and filling knowledge and data gaps.
Through the Freshwater Action Plan, they are working with partners to take action to address harmful algal blooms in the Lake of the Woods through continued monitoring and reduction of nutrient pollution to protect aquatic ecosystem health.
The Lake of the Woods Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (Lake of the Woods FEI) is focused on the most pressing challenge affecting water quality and aquatic ecosystem health in this basin: preventing toxic and nuisance algae.
Objectives
- An objective of the Lake of the Woods FEI is to decrease loadings of phosphorus to Lake of the Woods from Canadian sources. To assist in achieving this objective, ECCC is making funding available to support projects aimed at:
- increasing participation in implementing phosphorus load reduction approaches and best management practices and promoting their uptake and application by others
- demonstrating innovative approaches, technologies, and/or best management practices
- developing collaborative watershed planning to support phosphorus reduction
- filling priority knowledge or data gaps
Funding Information
- the maximum amount available for any one project is $150,000/year
- projects may be multiyear in nature (up to three years)
- funding is available between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2027
- while not required, project proponents are strongly encouraged to seek other sources of funding and/or in-kind project support
Eligible Projects
- Implementing and evaluating the effectiveness of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and other approaches to reduce phosphorus loads to Lake of the Woods
- Examples
- Projects that implement BMPs to mitigate phosphorus and soil losses in targeted locations
- Projects that increase the extent of natural heritage features (e.g., natural cover), such as wetlands and riparian habitats, and enhance their effectiveness (e.g., wetland restoration, riparian buffers/filter strips, etc) to reduce phosphorus inputs to Lake of the Woods
- Examples
- Implementing and evaluating innovative and new approaches or technologies to reduce phosphorus loads to Lake of the Woods
- Examples
- Projects or studies that demonstrate improvements in the effectiveness of best management practices (e.g., studies that quantify the effectiveness of stacking BMPs in reducing phosphorus losses)
- Projects that implement and evaluate approaches for phosphorus recovery and reuse
- Projects that investigate new practices or technologies aimed at reducing phosphorus losses from agricultural, urban and other (e.g., forested) non-point sources.
- Examples
- Developing new or enhanced watershed planning that supports taking action on phosphorus.
- Examples
- Projects that focus on collaborative planning to identify activities to reduce phosphorus loads and that include key partners, identify critical sources areas, and potential actions
- Examples
- Undertaking studies to fill priority knowledge or data gaps
- Examples
- Studies that fill priority knowledge or data gaps (e.g., research, modelling, or monitoring to better understand legacy phosphorus or contributions from understudied sources such as forests)
- Examples
Geographic Scope
- Funding will support projects within the Canadian portion of the Lake of the Woods watershed. While project submissions situated anywhere within the Canadian portion of the Lake of the Woods watershed will be considered for funding, priority will be given to projects located within regions that have been identified as high contributing areas for phosphorus loads to Lake of the Woods, including the lower Rainy River sub-watershed.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants may include (Canadian organizations only):
- Indigenous organizations, governments, individuals, boards, commissions, communities, associations, and authorities
- Not-for-profit organizations, such as charitable and volunteer organizations, professional associations (including industry associations), and non-governmental organizations
- Municipalities
- Research, academic and educational institutions
- Provincial government agencies are not eligible for funding.
Ineligible
- The following project types are not eligible for funding:
- projects that are focused on water quantity issues
- projects which are located outside of the defined geographical area
- projects which are focused on increasing production (e.g., agricultural) or replacing worn out equipment
- projects which are not in compliance with applicable legislation, including environmental legislation (for example: requirements under the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act, Fisheries Act)
- activities that are intended to directly influence and/or lobby any level of government
- activities that are deemed to be part of normal operations of an organization/business or for commercial expansion purposes
- wastewater infrastructure projects
For more information, visit ECCC.
