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
  • small businesses
  • Indigenous communities

The projects focus on protecting and/or restoring the Great Lakes and/or their connecting rivers, and addressing at least one of the following priorities:

  • naturalization and restoration
  • protecting habitats
  • shoreline cleanup

Projects receiving funding

On October 13, 2022, we announced that the second round of the Great Lakes Local Action Fund will support 38 projects with up to $1.9 million in funding.

Some of the 2022 recipients and their projects include:

  • Friends of Second Marsh, who will remove invasive Phragmites from the Second Marsh Wildlife Area and the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve in the Lake Ontario watershed with the help of community volunteers and professionals
  • Georgian Bay Forever, who will work with students and volunteers to collect 1,000 pounds of plastic litter through at least 10 shoreline cleanups around Georgian Bay
  • Watersheds Canada, who will work with local communities, including Mohawks of Akwesasne and landowners, to plant 2,000 native trees, shrubs and wildflowers to reduce shoreline erosion and safeguard wildlife habitat along the St. Lawrence River shoreline
  • Oakvillegreen, who will provide local youth with hands-on training in building several rain gardens that will help soak up heavy rains and provide native plants for pollinators in the Lake Ontario watershed

More information about round two projects will be posted on this page when it becomes available.

Round one projects

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 nameProject nameProject descriptionFunding amount
A Greener FutureLove Your LakeEngage communities to conduct 100 litter clean ups along the shores of Lake Ontario between Niagara-on-the-Lake and Kingston. $30,000
ALUS NorfolkReducing Agricultural Runoff Across Farms in Norfolk CountyReduce 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 AllianceZiibiins Revitalization - Little Port Creek in NeyaashiinigmiingShoreline 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 AuthorityCatfish Creek Stream Bank Restoration at Archie Coulter Conservation AreaEnhance ecological and shoreline remediation along nine creeks and rivers in the Lake Ontario watershed through scalable classroom engagement.$47,577.15
Credit Valley Conservation FoundationRogers Creek Online Pond Mitigation ProjectRestore a portion of Rogers Creek within the Town of Erin to improve the cold-water fish community and habitat.$50,000
Environment NetworkSunset Point Eco-Shoreline ProjectApplying 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 WatershedYouth and Community Action to Improve the Health of the Rouge River Watershed and Lake OntarioEducation and engagement of youth and community volunteers to reforest municipal park land in the Rouge Valley watershed$35,000
Garden River First NationRevitalizing and Protecting First Nation Ecotourism and First Nation LandsCreating an elevated boardwalk within Ojibway Park to stimulate eco-tourism solutions while protecting the Great Lakes wetlands.$46,047.31
Georgian Bay ForeverGeorgian Bay Plastics FreeRemoving 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-operativeTri-Region Community-Based Benthos Biomonitoring ProjectCreating 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 CentreReducing Invasive Species from Shield Lake Shorelines in the Great LakesIncrease community awareness of and engagement in active invasive species reduction and monitoring in multiple watersheds.$49,744
I-ThinkYouth agency creates waves on the Great LakesEnhance ecological and shoreline remediation along nine creeks and rivers in the Lake Ontario watershed through scalable classroom engagement.$49,996.80
Kawartha ConservationEnhancing nearshore water quality and aquatic plant management in the Kawartha Lakes, Lake Ontario Drainage BasinImprove 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 AuthorityKettle Creek Wetland Restoration ProjectEngage 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 ConservancyFrancis Hilb Preserve Wetland Boardwalk and Woodland TrailProtecting 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 AuthorityFisherman's Climate Change Awareness ParkTurning 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 UniversityLakehead University’s First Climate Change Park: Restoring the McIntyre River Through Awareness and ActionImplement 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 GroupLambton Shores Coastal Wetland Restoration and Enhancement – Wood DriveInvasive phragmites removal in the Wood Drive Coastal Wetland in Lake Huron.$50,000
Manitoulin Streams Improvement AssociationSmith Bay Creek Stream Restoration Wiikwemkoong Unceded TerritoryRestoring in-stream habitat, planting, removing invasive species and shoreline cleanup in the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory$50,000
Matawa First Nations ManagementBuilding capacity in water quality monitoring in Long Lake/Lake Superior for Matawa Member First NationsBuild 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 AkwesasneAdvancing Shoreline Restoration in Akwesasne: Re-situating Data and Planning for the FutureUsing scientific data to prioritize shoreline restorations in Akwesasne through shoreline characterization and community engagement$50,000
Muskrat Watershed CouncilMuskrat Watershed Agricultural Best Management Practices Assistance ProjectAssist and educate farmers residing within the Muskrat Watershed in implementing agricultural best management practices.$50,000
Nature Conservancy of CanadaPelee Promenade: a boardwalk and restoration on Pelee IslandProtecting 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 CanadaBring Back the BrookiesEngage 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 AuthorityNiagara'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 InstituteCommunity-based monitoring pilot for Garden River and St. Marys Area of ConcernLed 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 CountyPhosphorus Loadings Impact on the Receiving WatersMonitor 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 AssociationBirch Beach Migration Corridor Improvement ProjectCreek restoration to improve cold-water fish populations along the north shore of Lake Superior.$44,397.50
Ontario Federation of Anglers and HuntersWorking with Communities to Prevent and Respond to Aquatic Invasive SpeciesSupport and build community capacity to remove invasive species in the Lake Ontario watershed.$27,090
Ontario StreamsLake Ontario Headwater Tributaries Rehabilitation Plan 2021Improving 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 CentreRestoring the Ecological Health of the Great Lakes Through Turtle Conservation ActionConserve Ontario's at-risk turtle species through conservation and monitoring actions, community engagement and stewardship in multiple watersheds.$50,000
Ottawa RiverkeeperReducing road salt run-off in the Ottawa River watershedMobilize 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 AuthorityRestoring Riparian Habitat and Enhancing Forest Cover in the St. Lawrence River WatershedRestoring 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 WatershedA 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 AssociationHealth Soils = Healthy Watersheds in Severn SoundConnect 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 AuthorityBuilding boardwalks and engaging landowners in habitat restoration in the St. Clair RegionRestore 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 SciencesThe Great River Rapport - Community Action InitiativeMobilize 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 PickeringThe Litter and Plastics Challenge: Every Piece CountsLitter clean ups of Pickering shorelines through community and youth engagement and education.$14,679.14
The Halton Region Conservation AuthorityFlamborough Centre Park WetlandTransforming 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 AdditionalEnvironmental and Recreational Restoration of Women’s Institute Park, Tarbutt TownshipImprove 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 ConservancyFour-Directions Shoreline Cleanup: Engaging Indigenous Communities through ActionHost shoreline clean ups that integrate Indigenous community members and teachings in four culturally significant locations.$15,662.40
Water RangersLake Erie GuardiansEngage 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 WatchersTake Two Watershed Clean-UpThe 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

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