Great Lakes Local Action Fund
Learn how we’re supporting projects that protect and restore the Great Lakes through the Great Lakes Local Action Fund.
Overview
The Ontario government’s Great Lakes Local Action Fund is supporting community projects that:
- benefit local communities
- help protect and improve the health of the Great Lakes
Since 2021, we committed $3.7 million through the Great Lakes Local Action Fund to support 80 projects in communities across Ontario.
Projects funded by the Great Lakes Local Action Fund are led by:
- community-based organizations
- municipalities
- conservation authorities
- Indigenous communities
Funding supports local scale projects that engage community members in protecting and/or restoring the Great Lakes and/or their connecting rivers, and address at least one of the following priorities:
- improving climate change resiliency through ecosystem protection and restoration
- protecting and improving water quality through prevention, mitigation and public awareness
2024 call for applications
We are investing another $1.8 million in the third round of funding for the Great Lakes Local Action Fund.
Applications are now open to projects:
- of up to $100,000
- occurring between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025
The deadline to apply is 2 p.m. on September 26, 2024.
Apply online with Transfer Payment Ontario.
Round 2 projects (2022-2023)
In 2022 and 2023, the following 36 projects received a total $1.8 million in funding from the Great Lakes Local Action Fund:
| Organization | Project name | Project summary | Funding amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8Trees Inc. | Enhancing the ecological function of regenerating farmlands in Lake Erie's watershed | Turn farmland dominated by invasive species and shrub thickets into a forest with wetlands through by planting vegetation and adding habitat features. | $48,640 |
| Association for Canadian Educational Resources | Planting and Caring for Trees with Communities and Supporters in the Ganaraska Watershed | Stabilize stream banks with tree plantings to reduce erosion and effects of flooding upstream along the Ganaraska River from Lake Ontario. | $85,850 |
| Biigtigong Nishnaabeg | Biigtigong Nishnaabeg Monitoring Hub | Establish a community-based water monitoring initiative and engage Indigenous community members, Elders, academia and partners in collecting, sharing and refining water quality information to inform and help mobilize future action throughout Biigtigong Nishnaabeg. | $77,365 |
| Birds Canada | The Great Long Point Clean-up | This project will conduct a Great Long Point Clean-up to help protect and preserve the unique, fragile shoreline ecosystems of this area. | $30,700 |
| Conservation Halton Foundation | Root's Ridge Nature Reserve Wetland and Forest | Engage community volunteers in the restoration of wetlands and forests in the headwaters of Bronte Creek watershed along the edge of the Niagara Escarpment. | $48,400 |
| Credit Valley Conservation Foundation | Reconnecting Brook Trout Habitat in the Headwaters of Coldwater Streams | This project will address the decline and fragmentation of the brook trout populations in the Credit River Watershed, which relies on coldwater habitats. | $100,000 |
| EcoSource | Peel Creek Activator Program | Connect 350 residents in highly urbanized areas in Peel with their local natural spaces to collect 500 pounds of litter throughout the year. | $29,946 |
| Essex Region Conservation Authority | Clean Water~Green Spaces Restoration Program | Restore 70 acres of land through the planting of 50,000 seedlings to improve water quality, capture and store carbon, reduce soil erosion, create habitat for wildlife and provide more green space for our community. | $50,000 |
| Friends of Second Marsh | Let's De-Phrag the Marsh! in Zone 1 | Manage 2.5 acres of invasive Phragmites, in Zone 1 of the Let's De-Phrag the Marsh! project through volunteer community action and the use of professional services. | $34,816 |
| Friends of the Rouge Watershed | Youth and Community Action to Improve the Health of the Rouge Valley / Lake Ontario | Plant and maintain 14,000 native trees, shrubs and wildflowers to reforest 35,000 m2 of public park lands. | $40,000 |
| Georgian Bay Forever | Divert and Capture 2.0 | Hire students and involve volunteers in litter cleanups to collect 1,000 pounds of plastic litter. Also install litter traps. | $50,000 |
| Haldimand Stewardship Council Inc. | Increasing forest cover on marginal and abandoned lands in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario watersheds | Restore and protect 69 acres in Haldimand County and the Niagara Region by planting 69,300 trees to improve ecosystem health. | $75,765.30 |
| Ignatius Jesuit Centre | Trials and Tributaries: Invasive Species Management and Info Sharing at the Ignatius Old Growth Forest | Remove 5 acres of invasive Buckthorn, 700 m2 of Phragmites and plant trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Also hold 20 restoration and training events targeting 200 community members. | $39,656.54 |
| Invasive Species Centre | Protecting Great Lakes Habitat in the Welland River through Community Action and Removal of Invasive European Water Chestnut | Remove the invasive European Water Chestnut in the Niagara Region and the Welland River to prevent dispersal of seeds from the river into the Great Lakes. | $55,490 |
| Kettle Creek Conservation Authority | Lake Margaret Habitat Restoration Project | Engage community partners in the removal of 6 invasive species and planting of 500 native trees and shrubs, and 1,000 wildflowers to restore 40 acres of habitat around Lake Margaret in the City of St. Thomas. | $23,512.11 |
| Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation | Lake Huron Microplastic Awareness Project | Engage over 1,500 volunteers to pick up 2,645 pounds of litter along the shorelines of Lake Huron municipalities to protect wildlife, improve human health and enhance shoreline aesthetics. | $44,000 |
| Lakehead Region Conservation Authority | Floodway Habitat Corridor | Engage youth in the restoration and maintenance of 2.4 acres of shoreline and meadow habitat along the Neebing McIntyre Floodway in Thunder Bay. | $60,500 |
| Lower Trent Conservation | Restoring the Trenton Greenbelt Conservation Area | Partner with Alderville First Nation and the Trenton Rotary Club to restore soil health and rehabilitate 3 km of degraded shoreline. Engage 40 youth in planting trees, 300 shrubs and 22 pounds of seeds. | $50,000 |
| Makeway Charitable Society | Lake Erie Guardians | Empowering Lake Erie Guardians and local community members to learn about and improve water quality in the western basin of Lake Erie by restoring wetlands, monitoring water quality, increasing native plant cover and building restoration skills. | $50,000 |
| NORDIK Institute | Upper Great Lakes Community Ecosystem Monitoring | Develop and implement community-based ecosystem monitoring in the territory of Missanabie Cree First Nation and the City of Sault Ste. Marie. | $50,000 |
| Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority | Nottawasaga River Restoration Program | Stream restoration project will improve water quality and restore coldwater fish habitat in the Nottawasaga River watershed and Georgian Bay. | $50,000 |
| Oakvillegreen ( | Oakville Ready for Rain, Raingardens project | Professionals to train 25 youth to install rain gardens at the Heritage and Art Centre in Oakville. Youth will help build 10 additional rain gardens and plant more than 220 native perennials to benefit pollinators and wildlife. | $49,005 |
| Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters | The Mysterysnail Management and Removal Project | Provide volunteers and community groups with the training, tools and on-the-ground support needed to coordinate Chinese mysterysnail and banded mysterysnail removal events within their communities in the Lake Ontario watershed. | $22,876 |
| Ontario Streams | Lake Ontario Headwater Tributaries Rehabilitation Plan 2022 | Implement techniques to reduce sediment input into streams, connect fish habitat and engage community members in stewardship activities surrounding headwater habitat. | $50,000 |
| Raisin Region Conservation Authority | Backyard Conservation in the St. Lawrence River Watershed | Engage landowners by creating 50 or more individualized site plans that will result in planting 2,500 native trees and shrubs, sowing 11 pounds of native grass and wildflowers seeds, and installing 50 habitat structures. | $50,000 |
| River Institute | Restoration and naturalization of Rotary Creek and the St. Lawrence River shoreline at Cornwall, Ontario | Create and plant a Natural Edge demonstration site by bringing students and citizens together through 8 outdoor, interactive workshops to restore and naturalize 2 important sites on the St. Lawrence River at Cornwall. | $44,350 |
| Royal Botanical Gardens | Royal Botanical Gardens Sensitive Habitats Project | Remove several invasive plant species along a large area of the lower Grindstone Creek tributary, restore shoreline and engage communities in waterfront cleanups. | $49,175 |
| Severn Sound Environmental Association | Improving Habitat in the Severn Sound Watershed | Naturalize and restore 20,000 m2 of habitat through invasive species management and planting native species to create habitat for pollinators. | $50,000 |
| St. Clair Region Conservation Authority | Peers Wetland Habitat Enhancement and Trail Improvements | Improve wetland habitat at Peers Wetland and upgrade the trail system through invasive species removal, pump system restoration and a volunteer-led property clean-up. | $50,000 |
| The City of Belleville | Reduction of Plastic Pollution through Stormwater Management | Protect habitat areas by improving water conditions for Bay of Quinte species by installing litter traps in municipal stormwater catch basins. | $25,000 |
| The City of Brantford | Clean Brantford Community Cleanup | Cleanups of the Grand River shoreline on the Mohawk Landfill property and 3 community cleanups on the trail network connected to the Grand River. | $30,000 |
| The Municipality of Bluewater | Bluewater Huronview Park Shoreline Restoration | Remove concrete blocks that were previously used as erosion control along the Lake Huron shoreline to support the natural restoration of 55 m of shoreline. Native species will be planted to help mitigate shoreline erosion. | $75,000 |
| Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy | Janitors of the Wetlands: Engaging Communities through Action | Litter clean-up with 5 First Nation partner communities, including cultural teachings and a release of 55 endangered Blanding Turtles with supportive signage installed. | $49,973.18 |
| Trees for Life | Planting native trees at Lynde Shores Conservation Area to maximize biodiversity, increase flood management, improve water quality and reduce runoff to benefit nearby Lake Ontario | Planting native trees in Lynde Shores Conservation Area to improve wildlife habitat and water quality and provide flood and run-off management for shoreline adjacent areas. | $50,000 |
| Trout Unlimited Canada | Reconnecting Dickies Creek | Remove an obsolete dam located on Dickies Creek in Lucknow, Ontario, and plant trees and shrubs to enhance Brook Trout habitat. | $50,000 |
| Watersheds Canada | Watersheds Canada's Natural Edge Project: Shoreline Naturalizations in the St. Lawrence River Watershed | Restore degraded shorelines and engage community members in shoreline naturalization activities in the St. Lawrence River Watershed. | $49,056 |
Round 1 projects (2020-2022)
In the first round of the Great Lakes Local Action Fund (2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022), the following 44 projects received a total $1.9 million in funding:
| Organization name | Project name | Project description | Funding amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Greener Future | Love Your Lake | Engage communities to conduct 100 litter clean ups along the shores of Lake Ontario between Niagara-on-the-Lake and Kingston. | $30,000 |
| ALUS Norfolk | Reducing Agricultural Runoff Across Farms in Norfolk County | Reduce agricultural runoff flowing into Lake Eric by working with farmers to create natural restoration throughout the Long Point Watershed in Norfolk County. | $50,000 |
| Bagida'waad Alliance | Ziibiins Revitalization - Little Port Creek in Neyaashiinigmiing | Shoreline clean up, restoration and water quality improvements through engaging the local Indigenous community in Little Port Creek in Neyaashiinigmiing. Community members will also engage in water monitoring activities and learning about the native plants along the shoreline. | $50,000 |
| Catfish Creek Conservation Authority | Catfish Creek Stream Bank Restoration at Archie Coulter Conservation Area | Enhance ecological and shoreline remediation along nine creeks and rivers in the Lake Ontario watershed through scalable classroom engagement. | $47,577.15 |
| Credit Valley Conservation Foundation | Rogers Creek Online Pond Mitigation Project | Restore a portion of Rogers Creek within the Town of Erin to improve the cold-water fish community and habitat. | $50,000 |
| Environment Network | Sunset Point Eco-Shoreline Project | Applying and studying the technique of anchoring large woody debris (LWD) used in coastal protection to stabilize the Georgian Bay shoreline from the impacts of high water levels and bigger waves. | $49,520 |
| Friends of the Rouge Watershed | Youth and Community Action to Improve the Health of the Rouge River Watershed and Lake Ontario | Education and engagement of youth and community volunteers to reforest municipal park land in the Rouge Valley watershed. | $35,000 |
| Garden River First Nation | Revitalizing and Protecting First Nation Ecotourism and First Nation Lands | Creating an elevated boardwalk within Ojibway Park to stimulate eco-tourism solutions while protecting the Great Lakes wetlands. | $46,047.31 |
| Georgian Bay Forever | Georgian Bay Plastics Free | Removing plastics from Georgian Bay shorelines and using analysis of collected plastics to educate the public and businesses on the challenges of plastic in the environment. | $49,715 |
| Haldimand Stewardship Council Inc. | Engaging community members to enhance and protect ecosystems and species through afforestation of marginal and abandoned lands in the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario watersheds. | Protect habitats and species and enhance biodiversity through reforestation of privately owned and marginally operable or abandoned agricultural lands within the Lake Erie and Ontario watersheds. | $47,971 |
| Haliburton County Community Co-operative | Tri-Region Community-Based Benthos Biomonitoring Project | Creating a sustainable, citizen-based model of benthos biomonitoring in the Haliburton, Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes areas to identify early indicators of lake issues. | $50,000 |
| Invasive Species Centre | Reducing Invasive Species from Shield Lake Shorelines in the Great Lakes | Increase community awareness of and engagement in active invasive species reduction and monitoring in multiple watersheds. | $49,744 |
| I-Think | Youth agency creates waves on the Great Lakes | Enhance ecological and shoreline remediation along nine creeks and rivers in the Lake Ontario watershed through scalable classroom engagement. | $49,996.80 |
| Kawartha Conservation | Enhancing nearshore water quality and aquatic plant management in the Kawartha Lakes, Lake Ontario Drainage Basin | Improve water quality and aquatic plant management through citizen science and implementing cost-effective recommendations to improve nearshore conditions along waterfronts. | $44,500 |
| Kettle Creek Conservation Authority | Kettle Creek Wetland Restoration Project | Engage community and youth leaders from the Lake Erie watershed to become Guardians by conducting water quality tests, planting trees and shrubs, and collecting litter along shorelines. | $36,280.93 |
| Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy | Francis Hilb Preserve Wetland Boardwalk and Woodland Trail | Protecting while providing public access to a rare wetland in Goulais Bay, Lake Superior, with a new boardwalk, trail and educational opportunities. | $49,987.90 |
| Lakehead Region Conservation Authority | Fisherman's Climate Change Awareness Park | Turning an existing undeveloped municipal parkland into a Climate Change Awareness Park that incorporates wetland enhancements, shoreline remediation, revegetation and pollinator gardens, while providing a space to educate and address environmental and climate impacts on Lake Superior | $47,400 |
| Lakehead University | Lakehead University’s First Climate Change Park: Restoring the McIntyre River Through Awareness and Action | Implement low impact developments (LIDs) to improve water quality and riparian habitat on the shoreline of McIntyre River at Lakehead University. This project also creates a recreational and educational opportunity as a demonstration Climate Change Park. | $47,483.50 |
| Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group | Lambton Shores Coastal Wetland Restoration and Enhancement – Wood Drive | Invasive phragmites removal in the Wood Drive Coastal Wetland in Lake Huron. | $50,000 |
| Manitoulin Streams Improvement Association | Smith Bay Creek Stream Restoration Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory | Restoring in-stream habitat, planting, removing invasive species and shoreline cleanup in the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory | $50,000 |
| Matawa First Nations Management | Building capacity in water quality monitoring in Long Lake/Lake Superior for Matawa Member First Nations | Build capacity of four Matawa member First Nations in the Lake Superior watershed to conduct water quality monitoring and integrate traditional knowledge with scientific data to support restoration actions. | $44,700 |
| Mohawk Council of Akwesasne | Advancing Shoreline Restoration in Akwesasne: Re-situating Data and Planning for the Future | Using scientific data to prioritize shoreline restorations in Akwesasne through shoreline characterization and community engagement | $50,000 |
| Muskrat Watershed Council | Muskrat Watershed Agricultural Best Management Practices Assistance Project | Assist and educate farmers residing within the Muskrat Watershed in implementing agricultural best management practices. | $50,000 |
| Nature Conservancy of Canada | Pelee Promenade: a boardwalk and restoration on Pelee Island | Protecting species at risk while providing public access to and education about Peele Island by installing a boardwalk, new trail, bird viewing spaces and educational signage. | $50,000 |
| Niagara Chapter Trout Unlimited Canada | Bring Back the Brookies | Engage local community groups and residents in a restoration and learning discovery program (Bring Back the Brookies) to preserve and protect aquatic habitat in Upper Twelve Mile Creek, a tributary of Lake Ontario. Participants will engage in planting vegetation and cleaning up shorelines to support improvements to water quality, reduce erosion and sedimentation, expand habitat connectivity, and mitigate climate change. | $47,875 |
| Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority | Niagara's Visual Assessment Survey Tool (VAST) | Launch a citizen science initiative to fill data gaps for nuisance algae and shoreline erosion rates and water level changes in the Niagara area. | $48,940 |
| NORDIK Institute | Community-based monitoring pilot for Garden River and St. Marys Area of Concern | Led collaboratively with the Garden River First Nation this project brings Indigenous and Western ways of knowing together by training Indigenous community members to monitor water quality that will inform local and regional water management in the St. Marys River Area of Concern. | $50,000 |
| Norfolk County | Phosphorus Loadings Impact on the Receiving Waters | Monitor phosphorous loadings from the Simcoe wastewater treatment plant which discharges into Lynn River and then into Lake Erie. A local school will be engaged in the monitoring program and learning about water quality protection. Monitoring results will be made available to Norfolk County residents and businesses and be used to assess impacts of point source loading contributions and support changes to the local sewer use bylaw. | $43,000 |
| North Shore Steelhead Association | Birch Beach Migration Corridor Improvement Project | Creek restoration to improve cold-water fish populations along the north shore of Lake Superior. | $44,397.50 |
| Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters | Working with Communities to Prevent and Respond to Aquatic Invasive Species | Support and build community capacity to remove invasive species in the Lake Ontario watershed. | $27,090 |
| Ontario Streams | Lake Ontario Headwater Tributaries Rehabilitation Plan 2021 | Improving headwater tributaries in the Humber, Rouge, Credit, and Don River watersheds, by increasing fish habitats, improving fish passages and planting native trees and shrubs to increase riparian cover. | $50,000 |
| Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre | Restoring the Ecological Health of the Great Lakes Through Turtle Conservation Action | Conserve Ontario's at-risk turtle species through conservation and monitoring actions, community engagement and stewardship in multiple watersheds. | $50,000 |
| Ottawa Riverkeeper | Reducing road salt run-off in the Ottawa River watershed | Mobilize individuals and institutions in Ottawa to collectively reduce quantities of salt used over at least 150,000 m2 of impervious surfaces by engaging and educating citizens and volunteers on water quality monitoring and reductions of road salt consumption, and targeting facility managers on efficient road salt use through Smart About Salt training. | $36,000 |
| Raisin Region Conservation Authority | Restoring Riparian Habitat and Enhancing Forest Cover in the St. Lawrence River Watershed | Restoring riparian areas by working with farmers to plant native trees and shrubs which will also serve as riparian planting demonstration sites to the community. | $50,000 |
| Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) | Riparian Restoration of Lake Huron Watershed | A hands-on activity for the local youth and community where 400 shrubs will be planted along the Thessalon River to slow down erosion and 375 meters of fence installed to keep out 20 head of cattle from the river. | $15,660.52 |
| Severn Sound Environmental Association | Health Soils = Healthy Watersheds in Severn Sound | Connect the local farming community with soil health experts and champions to encourage adoption of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to improve soil conditions over the long term in the Severn Sound. | $50,000 |
| St. Clair Region Conservation Authority | Building boardwalks and engaging landowners in habitat restoration in the St. Clair Region | Restore a boardwalk in the Coldstream Conservation Area within a provincially significant wetland to provide safe public access while minimizing impacts on the natural feature. Local landowners in the Sydenham River watershed will be engaged in habitat restoration projects to help reduce impacts to water quality. | $50,000 |
| St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences | The Great River Rapport - Community Action Initiative | Mobilize people to help protect the St. Lawrence River through monitoring and citizen science activities and learn more about freshwater protection and restoration. The project is conducted in partnership with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. | $50,000 |
| The City of Pickering | The Litter and Plastics Challenge: Every Piece Counts | Litter clean ups of Pickering shorelines through community and youth engagement and education. | $14,679.14 |
| The Halton Region Conservation Authority | Flamborough Centre Park Wetland | Transforming an underutilized recreational park into a productive marsh and swamp ecosystems and restore the wetland along the Grindstone Creek watershed. | $49,875 |
| The Township of Tarbutt and Tarbutt Additional | Environmental and Recreational Restoration of Women’s Institute Park, Tarbutt Township | Improve public access to Lake Huron in Tarbutt Township and enhance public awareness through signage and web-based activities about the ecological importance of the Great Lakes. | $7,020 |
| Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy | Four-Directions Shoreline Cleanup: Engaging Indigenous Communities through Action | Host shoreline clean ups that integrate Indigenous community members and teachings in four culturally significant locations. | $15,662.40 |
| Water Rangers | Lake Erie Guardians | Engage community and youth leaders from the Lake Erie watershed to become Guardians by conducting water quality tests, planting trees and shrubs, and collecting litter along shorelines. | $49,955 |
| Wellington Water Watchers | Take Two Watershed Clean-Up | The Take Two Watershed Clean-Up project aims to engage approximately 500 individuals and youth around the Speed and Eramosa Rivers to clean up the watershed through independent trail and shoreline clean-ups. Participants will gain awareness of the impacts of litter on the environment and how they can be part of the solution. | $29,500 |
Related
Updated: June 05, 2024
Published: July 19, 2021