Landowners across the Saugeen, Grey Sauble, Northern Bruce Peninsula Source Protection Region completed significant stewardship projects, and received grants worth more than $1 million, between 2007 and 2013. They did this with support of financial incentives from the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program (ODWSP). These positive actions by property owners to protect municipal drinking water sources, namely municipal wellheads and municipal surface water intakes were voluntary.
We thank all the property owners, business people, residents, and others who have completed projects and changed management practices to reduce risk to local municipal drinking water sources.
There are no ODWSP grants available in this region at this time. However, there may be grants and incentive funds through other federal, provincial, county, and other programs.
Here are programs that we are currently aware of (click a heading to expand):
Stewardship Grey Bruce Project Information can be found on their website:
For more information visit: https://www.stewardshipgreybruce.org/projects-programs
OSCIA-delivered programs for producers in Ontario can be found as available on their website
The Species At Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL) Program will offer a second intake in fall 2020 for projects to be completed by February 2021.
The intake will open September 8 and close on September 22, 2020 or as soon as funds are fully allocated. Applications will be available on September 8, 2020 and they will be reviewed in the order in which they are received.
2020 important dates:
o Intake opens and applications are made available on September 8, 2020
o Eligible invoice dates September 8, 2020 to February 1, 2021
o Claim deadline February 1, 2021
Program highlights:
· No delayed haying projects
· 50% cost-share level, to a maximum of $20,000 per farm business
· First come, first served (the program will close as soon as funds are fully allocated)
· Up to $50/tree for tree planting projects
· Up to $11.50/m of permanent fence and $2.45/m for temporary fence
· Up to a maximum of $2,000 in in-kind
· Tree Service Agreements for spring 2021 tree planting
· Conservation Agreements must be signed between the producer and Environment and Climate Change Canada. These agreements will ensure habitat protection for SAR.
If you have questions about the SARPAL program, please contact us at sarpal@ontariosoilcrop.org or 519-826-3035.
For more information visit: https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/oscia-programs/sarpal//
Grey Sauble Conservation Authority Stewardship Project Information is available by contacting staff:
- Riparian and Windbreak Tree Planting – maximum $2,000;
- Livestock Exclusion Fencing – maximum $6,000;
- Clean Water Diversion – maximum $2,000;
- Cover Crops – maximum $1,000.
For more information contact Rebecca Ferguson 519-376-3076: r.ferguson@greysauble.on.ca
Application Intake Dates are January 8-January 29, 2020 at 5pm (EST):
For more information https://ontarioprogramguides.net/en/ or email: Agricultural Information Contact Centre
Water Well Improvement Program
SVCA and the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) are now partnering to offer a Water Well Improvement Program that will financially support landowners in their efforts to protect groundwater within the Saugeen Valley jurisdiction. Managed and delivered by SVCA, the Water Well Improvement Program will provide funding to properly decommission and upgrade water wells, which can be a direct conduit of contaminants to groundwater.
For more information and to access the forms visit: Water Well Improvement Program
For information on the above programs please visit the above links.
Recent Stewardship Activities in Source Protection Region:
Learn to do by doing: Conservation Authority teams up with 4-H’ers to plant trees in Tara