By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—Before and after photos show a patch of restored wetland, one of many projects funded with help from the NPCA’s Restoration Grant Program. Typically, the first stage in the construction of a wetland is excavation. The second stage is to seed with a forage grass mix to reduce erosion and provide cover, as well as enhance the wetland with native trees, shrubs, and wetland plants. —Photos courtesy of Erika Navarro, Communications Specialist with NPCA.
HALDIMAND—The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) is making great progress toward protecting the watershed through the implementation of two programs aimed at addressing pressing environmental issues.
The first is a thriving Restoration Grant Program, started in 2019. It looks at a variety of issues plaguing the Niagara Peninsula and Lake Erie shoreline. It has launched several projects based on feedback from those who live and work along the watershed, allowing them to submit a grant application for projects on their land that will help restore and improve water quality, wildlife habitat space, and forest cover.
“The Niagara Peninsula watershed is highly degraded in contrast to what conservation literature suggests is required for a healthy and sustainable watershed. NPCA water quality monitoring results reflect this indicating that most of the surface waters in the Niagara Peninsula watershed are either poor or impaired,” said Erika Navarro, Communications Specialist with NPCA. “The program was created with the vision of fostering collaboration among partners in the watershed to protect and restore water quality and diverse habitats by completing projects that meet the long-term mandate of the NPCA.”
A few examples of work being done through this program include wetland habitat restoration, livestock restrictions and crossings, conservation farm practices, tree plantings, and woodland restoration.
Navarro listed some of the environmental benefits of the work being done: “Livestock restriction and crossings are projects designed to improve water quality by rescripting livestock access to watercourses. On-farm soil stabilization projects can help reduce erosion, compaction, and sedimentation, and improve habitat connection through wildlife corridors. Nutrient management is another project category under the restoration grant program which focuses on on-farm projects that improve local water quality through the reduction and elimination of excess nutrients from animal waste contamination or irrigation practices.”
The second program is focused on the decommissioning and closure of abandoned water wells: “Abandoned or unused water wells represent a direct threat to groundwater supplies as contaminants applied to the surface may easily flow through these open conduits and reach the water table,” explained Navarro.
She continued, “While the exact number is currently not known, abandoned water wells in the NPCA watershed number in the thousands. It is recognized that the decommissioning or ‘plugging and sealing’ of abandoned water wells is a legal requirement of the property owner according to provincial regulation; however, decommissioning costs can be prohibitive.”
To help persuade landowners to participate, NPCA is offering a grant. The NPCA Water Well Decommissioning Program provides an 80% grant rate to a maximum amount of $1,000 per well, with a maximum of two wells per property.
“While the restoration grant program focuses mainly on improving surface water quality, the decommissioning of a well prevents contaminants from getting into the groundwater and the aquifers. When a well is decommissioned, we are plugging a pollution pathway,” said Navarro.
Those interested can learn more at npca.ca/restoration and npca.ca/well-decommissioning, where you can find out if you are eligible for funding, review program guidelines, and learn what is required from landowners who participate.
“Those interested in the restoration grant program should apply by November 15 to be considered for the 2022 season,” summed up Navarro. “We accept applications for the water well decommissioning program year-round.”
