The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) has received nearly $230,000 in federal funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
Cambridge MP Bryan May made the announcement on Nov. 15 on behalf of Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna.
The GRCA has received Habitat Stewardship Program – Species at Risk Stream project funding of $189,000. The grant is a three-year project that supports private landowners with the goal of improving water quality and habitat conditions for several aquatic species at risk in southern Ontario.
The project will take place in the Grand River watershed, which is identified as a regional priority watershed for the Habitat Stewardship Program Species at Risk Stream.
GRCA is also receiving Lake Erie Lakewide Action and Management Plan (LAMP) funding in the amount of $40,000. The LAMP implementation grant allows the GRCA to implement and coordinate activities of the Grand River watershed Water Management Plan, including ensuring the plans for the Grand River Watershed, the Lake Erie LAMP and the Great Lakes are all in alignment. This project also fulfills ECCC’s commitment under the Lake Erie LAMP to support Grand River rehabilitation efforts.
The LAMP project will include in-field stream bank evaluations to validate digital elevation models and planned Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) remote sensing imagery in the Fairchilds Creek sub-watershed, an economic evaluation of an enhanced walleye fishery in the lower Grand River, and evaluating water quality parameters in the river.
May made the announcements to staff and GRCA supporters at the authority’s headquarters in Cambridge.
“We’re very pleased to be receiving these grants from Environment and Climate Change Canada,” stated GRCA chair Helen Jowett.
“Each day, GRCA staff work to support a healthy and sustainable natural environment in the Grand River watershed. This funding will provide financial assistance for two GRCA programs aimed at improving water quality and habitat conditions for species at risk in the watershed, as well as furthering the implementation of the Grand River Water Management Plan.
May said, “I am always pleased to see funding going to support our local environment.
“The GRCA does a great job at protecting our environmental infrastructure and being a champion for species diversity. They have a strong track record in projects like this and supporting a heathy local environment.”
