Deadline: 8-May-25
The Government of Canada is seeking applications to restore and protect freshwater ecosystems of national significance through Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives (FEIs) that support partner-led actions addressing regional freshwater challenges and priorities.
Funding Information
- Projects are eligible for funding up to a maximum of $200,000 per project. Projects can be single or multi-year in nature but must be completed by March 31, 2027.
Eligible Projects
- In the Mackenzie River Basin, whole basin scale concerns include downstream impacts to ecosystem health from development such as resource extraction, hydroelectric development and other activities; changing climate impacts such as melting permafrost impacting flow regimes and sediment loads; threats to food security; changes to biota and invasive species that may impact aquatic life; and other emerging issues.
- Advancing Science and Knowledge: Projects that address knowledge gaps by collecting, analyzing, sharing and/or using information to increase knowledge and/or understanding of stressors threatening freshwater quality and ecosystem health. Projects are encouraged to bridge Indigenous Knowledge (also referred to as Traditional Knowledge) and science to address gaps and employ respectful knowledge co-development.
- Indigenous Knowledge, Capacity Building and Engagement: Projects will support Indigenous-led efforts to advance knowledge of freshwater quality issues, and/or build capacity of Indigenous governments, communities and organizations and to address freshwater quality issues and concerns. This includes projects that enable participation of Indigenous youth and build a future knowledge bank to support intergenerational transfer of knowledge.
- Enabling Resiliency and Adaption: Projects that encourage and strengthen collaborative efforts to improve freshwater quality and/or enable increased resiliency and adaptation through freshwater stewardship.
Ineligible Projects
- The following types of projects are not eligible for funding under the Mackenzie River FEI:
- Monitoring and data collection as stand-alone projects. These projects must be part of an overall trend analysis, or integrated planning process
- Projects that have a single-issue ‘action’ focus such as stream clean-ups, attending conferences, training, workshops and meetings
- Projects that are focused solely on water quantity, groundwater, or marine/estuary environments
- Projects designed only to beautify an area
- The purchase of land
- Projects required by law and/or mandated by a level of government; and
- Capital or operating costs of infrastructure projects (e.g. dikes, sewers, sewage treatment plants, storm water ponds)
Eligibility Criteria
- Canadian-based organizations are eligible to apply and include:
- Domestic Indigenous governments, communities, organizations, boards, and associations.
- Domestic not-for-profit organizations such as charitable and volunteer organizations, professional associations, and non-governmental organizations.
- Domestic research, academic and educational institutions.
- Domestic regional, municipal and local governments, and
- Local organizations such as community associations and groups, seniors’ and youth groups, and service clubs.
- Domestic for-profit organizations such as small businesses with less than 100 employees, companies, corporations, industry associations; and agricultural organizations.
For more information, visit Government of Canada.