Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (FEI)

Deadline: 15-Feb-24

The Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is accepting applications for the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (FEI).

The goal of the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (FEI) is to target the most significant environmental challenges affecting Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health by delivering on Canada’s commitments under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA).

Funding Streams

Restoring Areas of Concern
- Program goal: To restore water quality and ecosystem health in Canadian Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs)
- Strategic objective for application-based funding: Support action at the local level to restore water quality and aquatic ecosystem health by implementing projects identified in AOC Remedial Action Plans
- Funding Details
  - Projects as low as $7,000 and as high as $1 million are eligible.
  - Multi-year projects eligible.
  - While not a requirement, applications demonstrating other sources of financial and/or in-kind support will be scored favorably when evaluated on value for money.
  - Higher-valued projects could be considered for targeted large-scale habitat restoration projects in the Detroit River Area of Concern.
- Eligible Project Types
  - Projects that contribute to directly eliminating identified “beneficial use impairments” through Action, Engagement and/or Science:
    - Action: Implement remedial actions that restore beneficial uses in AOCs, including habitat rehabilitation, point and non-point source pollution control, contaminated sediment remediation, urban storm water/combined sewer overflow control.
    - Engagement: Support essential elements of engagement in Remedial Action Plan decision making to restore beneficial uses. Engagement will inform decisions related to projects, work plans, criteria, monitoring, and assessment.
    - Science: Conduct science and monitoring to assess the status of beneficial use impairments against delisting targets and inform remedial action planning and implementation.
- Geographic Scope
  - 14 Canadian Great Lakes AOCs.
Preventing toxic and nuisance algae
- Program goal: To meet Canada’s Lake Erie phosphorus load reduction targets by 2039
- Strategic objective for application-based funding: Support on-the-ground actions following the Precision Conservation approach through targeted implementation of phosphorus load reduction measures in critical sources areas for nutrient loss
  - Increase participation in the application of phosphorus load reduction measures by demonstrating innovative approaches and best management practices, and filling knowledge gaps through research and science
- Funding Details
  - For Precision Conservation projects: projects seeking up to $5 million/year are eligible.
  - For all other project types: projects up to $300,000/year are eligible.
  - Multi-year projects eligible, up to 4 years.
  - While not a requirement, applications demonstrating other sources of financial and/or in-kind support will be scored favorably when evaluated on value for money
- Eligible Project Types
  - Projects that implement targeted on-the-ground actions using a Precision Conservation approach, and include detailed outreach plans describing how project activities will promote broad uptake and application of the phosphorus reduction measures demonstrated.
  - Projects that develop, implement, and/or evaluate innovative approaches or technologies to reduce phosphorus loads.
  - Projects that support monitoring and modeling as it pertains to effectiveness of practices, tracking phosphorus load reductions, and improving their understanding of changing environmental and socio-economic conditions.
- Geographic Scope
  - Lake Erie drainage basin with a priority on sources draining to the Western and Central basins.
Restoring and protecting critically important coastal areas, including wetlands
- Program goal: To restore and protect critically important coastal areas, including wetlands, under greatest threat from climate change and high cumulative stress
- Strategic objective for application-based funding: Support and promote local-level action to enhance water quality, ecosystem health, and the resilience of coastal areas experiencing stress due to climate risks and impacts
- Funding Details
  - Projects as low as $100,000 and as high as $6 million are eligible.
  - Multi-year projects eligible, up to 4 years.
  - While not a requirement, applications demonstrating other sources of financial and/or in-kind support will be scored favorably when evaluated on value for money
- Eligible Project Types
  - Projects that improve the health of nearshore areas under stress or of high ecological value through restoration, remediation, and protection, including projects that enhance coastal resilience to the impacts of climate change through nature-based solutions.
  - Projects developing, implementing, and evaluating innovative approaches or technologies to improve coastal resilience.
  - Projects undertake strategic engagement with local communities for work planning, implementation, and decision-making towards restoring critically important coastal areas.
- Geographic Scope
  - Canadian nearshore waters in areas experiencing high cumulative stress, and in areas of high ecological value where they are also under threat from impaired coastal processes, as well as coastal wetlands within the two kilometre coastal margin with a hydrological connection to the waters of the Great Lakes that have been identified as vulnerable, at risk, and under threat from climate change impacts.
Reducing releases of harmful chemicals
- Program goal: To reduce releases of Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMCs) to the Great Lakes from Canadian sources
- Strategic objective for application-based funding: Increase participation in the application of beyond-compliance measures to reduce releases of CMCs by developing, implementing, assessing and promoting use of innovative approaches
  - Enhance understanding of emerging contaminants that could become CMCs and their potential impacts to the Great Lakes ecosystem.
- Funding Details
  - Projects up to $100,000 are eligible.
  - Multi-year projects eligible, up to 2 years.
  - While not a requirement, applications demonstrating other sources of financial and/or in-kind support will be scored favourably when evaluated on value for money
- Eligible Project Types
  - Projects that demonstrate and assess approaches that reduce releases of Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMCs) in the Great Lakes basin from Canadian sources, such as enhanced life-cycle / end of life management, source management, and treatment technologies.
  - Projects that facilitate a better understanding of the presence and distribution of emerging contaminants that could become CMCs, potential routes of exposure, and potential impacts to fish and wildlife.
- Geographic Scope
  - Great Lakes drainage basin.
Supporting community-based science
- Program goal: To increase Canadians’ knowledge of and engagement in addressing priority Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health issues
- Strategic objective for application-based funding: Promote community and public engagement in Great Lakes protection through community-based science, including advancing stakeholder and public knowledge, improving the sharing and quality of data produced, and advancing broader application of new technologies in community-based monitoring.
- Funding Details
  - Projects as low as $40,000 and as high as $1.5 million are possible.
  - Multi-year projects eligible, up to 4 years.
  - While not a requirement, applications demonstrating other sources of financial and/or in-kind support will be scored favourably when evaluated on value for money
- Eligible Project Types
  - Projects that support community-based science to address identified Great Lakes science priorities, including projects that support the development and use of innovative Digital Technologies and the use of Open Data to enhance the understanding of Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health.
- Geographic Scope
  - Great Lakes shorelines, near-shore and/or offshore areas.

Eligibility Criteria

Conservation Authorities
Indigenous organizations, governments, individuals, boards, commissions, communities, associations, and authorities
Municipalities
Non-governmental organizations
Research, academic and educational institutions
Restoring Areas of Concern, Restoring and protecting critically important coastal areas, including wetlands and Supporting community-based science
- Local organizations
Restoring Areas of Concern
- For profit organizations

For more information, visit ECCC .