Two dozen Great Lakes fish health and habitat projects will benefit from some $2.8 million in funding announced by the province.
The investment, announced on Friday, Dec. 3, is part of the government’s commitment to the renewed Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health signed in the spring.
The projects focus on improving fish and wildlife health and rehabilitating historically degraded areas by studying and restoring streams, wetlands, and aquatic habitats before completing environmental clean-up efforts.
“Our government is proud to be delivering on our commitment to protect, conserve and restore the Great Lakes,” Environment, Conservation, and Parks Minister David Piccini stated in a media release. “These 24 initiatives will not only have a positive impact on the water quality and ecosystem of the Great Lakes, but also on the well-being of the communities that rely on them now and for generations to come.”
Some projects include:
- $400,000 for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to continue ongoing collaborative work to improve water quality, the health of aquatic organisms that live in the river and lakebed sediment, fish and aquatic habitats and groundwater to restore the Toronto and Region Area of Concern.
- $111,250 for the University of Guelph to see if rapid fish tests can be used to predict the effects of municipal effluent on fish reproduction as part of protecting fish health.
- $45,572 for the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne to gather data on fish contaminants and help Akwesasronon in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities to fish.
- $75,000 to Niagara Parks Commission to conduct coastal wetland restoration projects to help restore fish habitat in a historically degraded area of the Niagara River.
“Nothing is more important than the health of our Great Lakes, and I am thankful that I have incredibly talented and committed partners who work alongside my ministry to protect them,” Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources, and Forestry Minister Greg Rickford stated.
The funding follows $2.5 million announced in October to support farming and landowning efforts that impact the great lakes.