To The Haldimand Press
The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) is seeking applications for its Restoration and Water Well Decommissioning grant programs for projects in 2023. Selected projects will help improve water quality and wildlife habitat as part of ongoing efforts to restore and preserve the watershed’s natural heritage and water resources.
“The Restoration Grant Program is one of several ways the NPCA works to improve the health of the Niagara Peninsula watershed’s natural features, as research has shown it is highly degraded,” says Geoff Verkade, Senior Manager of Integrated Watershed Strategies at NPCA. “With eight categories and a variety of project options ranging from the creation of wetlands and tree plantings to riparian and upland habitat restoration, we welcome private and public landowners, NGOs, nature clubs, and ‘Friends of’ groups to join us in these efforts.”
In 2021, the program saw much success with 63,393 trees and 7,926 shrubs planted, 29.23 hectares of land reforested, 1.12 hectares of wetland restored, and 5.56 hectares of riparian habitat enhanced.
“We continue to build on this momentum and the shared interest in a healthy and resilient watershed,” adds Verkade.
While the Restoration Grant Program seeks to restore and enhance wildlife habitat and forest cover, improving water quality lies at the core of all its projects. NPCA’s water quality monitoring program’s results indicate most of the surface waters in the watershed are poor or impaired. Restricting livestock access to watercourses and reducing animal waste contamination are two examples of eligible projects that improve water quality.
The NPCA also offers the Water Well Decommissioning Grant Program, designed to protect groundwater by plugging and sealing abandoned or unused water wells.
“These water wells can be a physical danger to kids and pets, and they represent a direct threat to groundwater supplies and, ultimately, our drinking water,” says Joshua Diamond, Water Quality Specialist at NPCA. “Since contaminants applied to the surface may easily flow through these open conduits and reach the water table, decommissioning an unused or abandoned water well plugs the pollution pathway.”
Residents of the Niagara Peninsula watershed are encouraged to take advantage of these two grant programs and join NPCA to protect and restore local water quality and diverse habitats.
Applications for Water Well Decommissioning grants are accepted year-round on a first come, first serve basis. This program provides an 80% grant rate to a maximum amount of $1,000 per well and a maximum of two wells per property. Funding for the program is limited; once funds are exhausted, the program will conclude for the calendar year.
The application intake date for Restoration Grant Program projects to take place in 2023 is fast approaching on November 21. Feasible projects will be eligible for grants of up to $15,000.
Both grants are available to qualifying landowners with lands located within the NPCA jurisdiction. To learn more about the Restoration and Water Well Decommissioning grant programs or to download the application form, visit npca/restoration or npca.ca/well-decommissioning.
For more information about the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, visit npca.ca. Follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.
