Funding for Great Lakes protection

The application submission period for funding under the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative is now open. The deadline for applications is 23:59 EST on February 15, 2024, except for Letters of intent related to Lake Erie Precision Conservation (under toxic and nuisance algae priority), which are due by 23:59 EST on January 29, 2024. Please find more information below regarding this funding opportunity.

The Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative

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). The Initiative focuses on the following priority areas for action:

  • restoring water quality and ecosystem health in Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs)
  • preventing toxic and nuisance algae
  • restoring and protecting critically important coastal areas, including wetlands
  • reducing releases of harmful chemicals
  • supporting community-based science
  • increasing participation of Indigenous Peoples in governance, stewardship, and monitoring
  • advancing Great Lakes governance, accountability, and reporting mechanisms

To assist in achieving this goal, the Great Lakes FEI supports action by others to:

  • restore AOCs: Supporting action at the local level to restore water quality and aquatic ecosystem health by implementing projects identified in AOC Remedial Action Plans (RAPs).
  • prevent toxic and nuisance algae: Supporting on-the-ground actions following the Precision Conservation approach, targeting implementation of phosphorus load reduction measures in critical sources areas for nutrient loss, as well as increasing 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.
  • restore and protect critically important coastal areas, including wetlands: Supporting and promoting local-level action to enhance water quality, ecosystem health, and the resilience of coastal areas experiencing stress due to climate risks and impacts.
  • reduce releases of harmful chemicals: Increasing participation in the application of beyond-compliance measures to reduce releases of chemicals of mutual concern (CMCs) by developing, implementing, assessing, and promoting use of innovative approaches, as well as enhancing understanding of emerging contaminants that could become CMCs and their potential impacts to the Great Lakes ecosystem.
  • support community-based science: Promoting public engagement in Great Lakes protection through community-based science projects, including advancing stakeholder and public knowledge, improving the sharing and quality of data produced, and advancing broader application of new technologies.

Note: The Great Lakes FEI includes dedicated funding to enhance First Nations and Métis capacity to implement on-the-ground actions that restore and protect Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health, conduct science and monitoring that informs decision making, and participate in Great Lakes governance. Discussions are underway with First Nation and Métis partners regarding distinctions-based approaches to develop and deliver programming that supports Indigenous inclusion in Great Lakes protection. For more information, contact us by email at greatlakes-grandlacs@ec.gc.ca.

Application guides for funding streams

Overview of funding streams

 

Restoring Areas of Concern Preventing toxic and nuisance algae Restoring and protecting critically important coastal areas, including wetlands Reducing releases of harmful chemicals Supporting community-based science
Program goal To restore water quality and ecosystem health in Canadian Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) To meet Canada’s Lake Erie phosphorus load reduction targets by 2039 To restore and protect critically important coastal areas, including wetlands, under greatest threat from climate change and high cumulative stress To reduce releases of Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMCs) to the Great Lakes from Canadian sources To increase Canadians’ knowledge of and engagement in addressing priority Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health issues
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 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
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 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.
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.
Eligible recipients Conservation Authorities

Indigenous organizations, governments, individuals, boards, commissions, communities, associations, and authorities

Municipalities

Non-governmental organizations

Research, academic and educational institutions

Local organizations

For profit organizations
Conservation Authorities

Indigenous organizations, governments, individuals, boards, commissions, communities, associations, and authorities

Municipalities

Non-governmental organizations

Research, academic and educational institutions
Conservation Authorities

Indigenous organizations, governments, individuals, boards, commissions, communities, associations, and authorities

Municipalities

Non-governmental organizations

Research, academic and educational institutions

Local organizations
Conservation Authorities

Indigenous organizations, governments, individuals, boards, commissions, communities, associations, and authorities

Municipalities

Non-governmental organizations

Research, academic and educational institution
Conservation Authorities

Indigenous organizations, governments, individuals, boards, commissions, communities, associations, and authorities

Municipalities

Non-governmental organizations

Research, academic and educational institutions

Local organizations
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.
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 our understanding of changing environmental and socio-economic conditions.
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 undertaking strategic engagement with local communities for work planning, implementation, and decision-making towards restoring critically important coastal areas.
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.
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.
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 favourably 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.
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 favourably when evaluated on value for money
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 favourably when evaluated on value for money
Projects up to $150,000 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
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
Geographic scope 14 Canadian Great Lakes AOCs. Lake Erie drainage basin with a priority on sources draining to the Western and Central basins. 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. Great Lakes drainage basin. Great Lakes shorelines, near-shore and/or offshore areas.

Related links

Contact us

Please contact us by email at greatlakes-grandlacs@ec.gc.ca for more information.

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