Funding for restoring and protecting coastal areas

Nearshore

Great Lakes nearshore waters are the critical ecological link between watersheds and the open waters of the Great Lakes. They are where most recreation takes place, and they serve as a source of drinking water for millions of Canadians. However, degraded conditions resulting from the cumulative impact of multiple stressors exist at numerous locations along the Great Lakes nearshore.  To establish priorities for nearshore protection and restoration, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) undertook an assessment of Canadian Great Lakes nearshore waters and identified areas under greatest cumulative stress as well as areas of high ecological value. These effects are exacerbated by current and predicted climate change impacts.  

Coastal Wetlands

Coastal wetlands are among the most ecologically diverse and productive ecosystems in the Great Lakes Basin and provide significant benefits to the freshwater ecosystem, people, and the economy. As the Great Lakes conservation community plans for climate change, it is crucial that coastal wetlands are resilient and continue to provide valued ecosystem services that benefit people and freshwater ecosystem outcomes. ECCC recently completed an assessment of coastal wetland resilience to climate change in the Great Lakes Basin. The study identified wetlands at risk of becoming degraded or lost and produced a suite of key adaptation strategies that if implemented, can enhance wetland resilience against a changing climate.

Nearshore

An objective of the Great Lakes FEI is to support and promote local level action to enhance water quality and ecosystem health of Canadian Great Lakes nearshore areas experiencing high cumulative stress and/or areas with high ecological value under threat from impaired coastal processes.

The expected results are:

• Action to restore and protect Canadian Great Lakes nearshore areas by improving water quality and ecosystem health.
• Engagement with local communities through strategic collaboration and partnerships so Canadians are actively involved in projects that implement nature-based solutions to restore and protect nearshore water quality and ecosystem health. 
• Science to advance innovative approaches or technologies that improve understanding of nearshore water quality and ecosystem health.

Coastal Wetlands

Another objective of the Great Lakes FEI is to increase the resilience of Great Lakes coastal wetlands to climate-related risks and impacts and other stressors by engaging Canadians in projects that will result in tangible and measurable conservation benefits.

The expected results are:

• Action to improve the ability of coastal wetlands to adjust and recover from existing climate change impacts, and to cope and persist under future climate change impacts.
• Engagement with local communities through strategic collaboration and partnerships, so Canadians will become active participants in projects that produce measurable wetland resilience, conservation benefits, and positive ecosystem service outcomes.
• Science to advance innovative, transferable, and sustainable climate change adaptation and restoration approaches.

Applicants may include:

• Conservation Authorities
• Indigenous organizations, governments, individuals, boards, commissions, communities, associations, and authorities
• Municipalities
• Not-for-profit organizations, such as charitable and volunteer organizations, professional associations, and non-governmental organizations
• Research, academic and educational institutions
• Local organizations

Provincial government agencies are not eligible for funding.

Nearshore

• Eligible nearshore-related projects include:
• Restoration, remediation, and protection projects that improve the health of nearshore areas under stress, including projects that implement nature-based solutions to reduce stress from impaired coastal processes and protect areas of high ecological value. For example, this could include projects that restore alongshore sediment transport processes, or remediate and protect altered shoreline and nearshore areas, etc.
• Projects that develop, implement and evaluate innovative technologies or approaches to improve coastal resilience and advance our understanding of nearshore water quality and ecosystem health. For example, this could include projects that improve understanding of nearshore sediment dynamics, etc.
• Projects that undertake strategic engagement with local communities for work planning, implementation and decision making towards restoring critically important nearshore areas. 

Coastal Wetlands

Eligible coastal wetland-related projects should incorporate one or more of the priority adaptation strategies and measures to build coastal wetland resilience, as described in “Adapting to Climate Change: Solutions to Enhance Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Resilience”.

Eligible projects include:

• Projects that integrate climate and lake-level projections in the design and implementation of measures to protect coastal wetlands from extreme and prolonged lake-level changes, storm events, and thermal changes. For example, this could include projects that improve, restore, transform or re-engineer natural protective barrier features crucial for wetland formation and defence, etc.
• Projects that reduce wetland sensitivity to climate-related impacts by improving various aspects of wetland function (processes), integrity (size, structural complexity, and composition), and diversity of the wetland plant communities and species. For example, this could include projects that increase wetland size, improve microtopography to promote vegetation diversity and climate refugia, etc.
• Projects that increase the adaptive capacity of a wetland’s ability to adjust, cope, and persist under changing climatic conditions. For example, this could include projects that improve water quality (temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and sediment deposition, and nutrients), or increase wetland accommodation space so that functional plant communities can shift dynamically and migrate inland or waterward, etc.

These projects can and should include studies that support site assessment, modelling, and the design and implementation of projects, such as:

• Pre- and post-implementation assessment, monitoring, and reporting.
• Numerical and physical modelling and associated bio-physical data collection.
• Feasibility assessments to lay the groundwork for successful implementation.
• Final designs and engineering plans.

Projects that conduct science and predictive modelling that enhance understanding of what constitutes coastal wetland resilience as experienced across different geographies and land uses of the Great Lakes Basin, including innovative, applied, and transferable science that informs wetland resilience, adaptation, and management decision making. Note: Larger, more comprehensive projects designed for greater adaptation impact are likely to be more competitive. Projects that combine multiple approaches to reduce wetland exposure to climate change impacts, decrease wetland sensitivity, and increase wetland adaptive capacity will be more competitive than projects that solely focus on a single approach. Projects in which the main objective is to remove invasive plant species will not be funded.

Nearshore

Projects must be implemented in Canadian Great Lakes nearshore areas that have been identified as being under high cumulative stress or having high ecological value under threat from impaired coastal processes. The highest priority will be given to actions that restore and protect nearshore areas of high ecological value under threat from impaired coastal processes within or in adjacent regional units, as identified in the Great Lakes Nearshore Assessment, and indicated in the map below.

Figure 1. Priority Nearshore Areas.

Coastal Wetlands

Projects must benefit a Canadian Great Lakes coastal wetland within 2 km of the Great Lakes Coastal margin, defined as “wetlands directly influenced by, and with a current (or historical) hydrological connection to the Great Lakes” (See Figure 2). Three main hydrogeomorphic systems are eligible for funding: lacustrine (open and protected systems), riverine (drowned river-mouth, connecting channels, and delta), and barrier-protected (barrier beach and swale complexes) wetlands. The wetland should be considered vulnerable, at risk, or under threat, and have high ecological significance and conservation value.

Funds cannot be used for projects on federal lands (e.g., National Parks, National Wildlife Areas) and Provincial Parks.

Figure 2. Geographic Scope for Coastal Wetlands Projects.

• The suggested minimum funding request is $100,000 while the maximum funding request is $6,000,000.  
• Projects may be multi-year in nature (up to four years).
• Project proponents are strongly encouraged to seek other sources of funding and/or in-kind project support.

Only costs directly attributed to carrying out the project will be eligible for funding, including:

• Human resources costs, including salaries and benefits
• management and professional service costs, such as accounting, monitoring, communications, official languages translation, audit and legal charges
• travel
• material and supplies
• printing, production and distribution costs
• rental of equipment and Capital Assets
• vehicle rental and operation costs
• contractors required to perform activities related to the project
• a reasonable share of overhead and/or administrative costs
• any GST/HST that is not reimbursable by Canada Revenue Agency and any PST not reimbursable by the provinces
• other incremental expenditures directly related to the project (as pre-approved by ECCC)

• Land acquisitions.
• Purchases of any vehicles or capital assets.
• Any expenses for a project required by law, regulation, or policy (e.g., offsetting requirement of a development/project approval).
• Projects that take place in a Provincial Park or conservation reserve.

Costs, other than those herein allowed, are ineligible unless specifically approved in writing by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change or his/her representatives at the time of project approval. For all costs, only those deemed to be a reasonable share for completing the project shall be considered eligible.

Project proposals will undergo a two-stage review process:

1. administrative review by ECCC to ensure applications are complete and meet program eligibility requirements.
2. project evaluation by ECCC against evaluation criteria. ECCC may seek advice on proposal submissions from external advisors with knowledge and expertise relevant to the proposal; however, approval decisions will be made by ECCC.

To be considered eligible for funding, project proposals must meet the following requirements:

• the project applicant is eligible to receive funding.
• funding will not be used for capital or operating costs of municipal infrastructure or land acquisition.
• all application sections are complete.
• For nearshore projects: project improves or protects nearshore water quality and ecosystem health, including improving the scientific understanding of nearshore water quality and ecosystem health.
• For coastal wetland projects: project increases coastal wetland resilience or improves knowledge on Great Lakes coastal wetland resilience and their adaptation to future plausible climate change trends and impacts.

Eligible project proposals will be assessed on the extent to which proposals meet the following evaluation criteria (as applicable):

Results

• The proposed project takes place in a priority nearshore area.
• The proposed project clearly identifies how it will address nearshore stress related to impaired coastal processes.
• The proposed project has identified the scale of impact of the proposed action.
• The proposed project uses a nature-based solution.
• The proposed project identifies whether the proposed action will protect and/or restore a nearshore area with high ecological value.
• The proposed project demonstrates how it could be scaled for broader application.
• The proposed project has a plan to communicate/share project results, including geospatial data with the local and broader Great Lakes community.        
• The proposed project will fill a knowledge gap in nearshore science.
• The proposed project will increase the total amount of wetland area protected, restored, enhanced, or created.
• The proposed project will remove or mitigate risks, threats, and vulnerabilities to wetland native species and ecosystem services.
• The proposed project has an outreach and engagement plan to promote broad cooperation and collaboration.
• The proposed project, if a science project, will result in new and applied science, enhance existing science, and transfer the results to the Great Lakes conservation community.

Project Feasibility / Likelihood of Success

• Measurable goals and objectives are clearly stated and there is a well-developed plan to track project success.
• The project work plan and timeline are realistic and achievable and will lead to the stated outcomes.
• The project proponent has demonstrated the capacity and experience to plan and manage the project.
• The project has engaged the appropriate entities for project / partner support and endorsement.
• The necessary permits have been identified and/or received.
• The project applicant has experience planning and managing this type of project.

Additional benefits

• The project provides benefits to other Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative priorities.
• The project involves innovative approaches that would accelerate the restoration and protection of critically important coastal areas, including wetlands.
• The project supports outreach and engagement that would drive others (e.g., the public, Indigenous communities, and key stakeholders) to take action that advances the restoration and protection of critically important coastal areas, including wetlands.
• The project evaluation plan and performance monitoring support evidence-based decision making (e.g., extent to which science projects collect data that support nearshore management and/or support an updated nearshore assessment).
• The project design is informed by scale and the interactions with the surrounding watershed and lake.
• The project plans to assess, evaluate and adjust according to an adaptive management plan.
• The selected coastal wetland project is a wetland that is visible, accessible, and has social, cultural, and economic value.

Value for Money

• The proposed project represents good value for dollars invested.
• The proposed project includes cash and/or in-kind contributions from other sources.
• The proposed project has a plan for sustainability of the activities beyond the agreement.

Environment and Climate Change Canada requires that applications to the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative be submitted online via the Grants and Contributions Enterprise Management System (GCEMS). The GCEMS is accessed through the department’s Single Window system.  For additional information on accessing the GCEMS through ECCC’s Single Window system, please see Appendix A.

The online Application Form for the Great Lakes FEI: restoring and protecting coastal areas funding stream includes nine sections:

• Section 1: Tombstone Data
• Section 2: Project Summary
• Section 3: Great Lakes FEI – restoring and protecting coastal areas (program-specific section)
• Section 4: Project Budget
• Section 5: Project Work Plan
• Section 6: Evaluation Plan and Performance Measures
• Section 7: Other Supporting Information
• Section 8: Official Languages
• Section 9: Certification

This document provides applicants with the information required to write a proposal and to submit to the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative – restoring and protecting coastal areas funding stream. The information that will need to be provided in the application will differ depending on whether it is a Nearshore project or a Coastal Wetland project and whether the project is an Action, Engagement or Science Project. Inquiries related to the Application Form should be submitted to the greatlakes-grandlacs@ec.gc.ca.

In Section 1: Tombstone Data, provide basic information about your group as well as contact information for the individual leading the application.

In Section 2: Project Summary, provide basic information about the proposed project, including the name and location of the project, the project start and end date, the project goals/objectives, a brief general description of the proposed project, the experience of project team members and the financial and management capacity of the organization submitting the project proposal. If your project is approved for funding, the summary description you provide in your application may be made available to the public.

Notes:

End dates: For multi-year projects, the project must be completed by March 31, 2028.

Under Project goals /objectives: Please clearly explain state the goals, objectives, and expected results of the project. Explain why the area was selected, what the major environmental issues are, and how these issues will be addressed by the project. 

Under Project description: Please provide a description of your project that shows the link between the project, the stated goals and the program objectives by providing the following information:

• the social-ecological importance of the project area;
• the existing condition of the habitat and the key environmental issues;
• a description of all planned activities and how they will address the environmental issues and achieve the project objectives;
• timing of the activities and description of the methods used; and,
• a description of impacts your proposal might have on other wildlife and their habitat and what measures are proposed to mitigate that impact.

Nearshore Science Projects

For Science projects, provide any applicable information for the above and explain how the project will address limitations to nearshore science assessments and identified data gaps and will advance understanding of nearshore water quality and ecosystem health, including: basin-wide extent of nuisance algae (e.g., Cladophora), cyanobacteria, submerged aquatic vegetation, bottom substrates, etc.; in-situ ground truth data that improve the accuracy of existing datasets; machine-learning algorithms that enable broader scale and standardized nearshore mapping; shoreline and sediment dynamics (e.g., alongshore sediment transport, erosion rates, sediment budgets, spatial and temporal trends); and, use of modelling and other analyses to improve understanding of nearshore processes and the ability of the coast to adapt to current and future climate variability.

Coastal Wetlands Science Projects

For Science projects, provide any applicable information for the above and explain how the project will improve the understanding of coastal wetland function (processes), integrity (composition and structure), sustainability (resistance to disturbance), and resilience to inform management decision making and the implementation of wetland adaptation and restoration projects.

Provide sufficient detail to ensure reviewers (who may be unfamiliar with the targeted habitat, area, or methodology) can fully understand the project and rationale for the approach. Where a project takes place in more than one location and that differs in terms of ecological conditions and threats, particularly if specific planned activities differ from one site to another, details should be provide for each sub-project.

Under Project management capacity: Please describe your organization's experience in managing and delivering projects. Provide a description of the applicant’s experience in delivering this type of proposed project and include the experience of any partners that may be involved in its delivery. If projects similar to the one proposed have been previously completed, final project reports or web links can be submitted with the Application Form as supporting documentation. If the projects were supported through ECCC contribution funding, you only need to provide the project name, contribution agreement number, and year. This information should also be provided for any project partners named in the proposal.

In Section 3: Great Lakes FEI – coastal areas (program-specific section), provide information about various aspects of the proposed project, including confirmation that it meets the eligibility requirements as well as details related to the priority focus*; the project site; project innovation; communication and engagement; permits; and, the project budget.

*Projects must address one or more of the following priority focuses:

Nearshore

Implement actions, such as nature-based solutions, to improve or protect water quality and ecosystem health in a priority Canadian Great Lakes nearshore area experiencing high cumulative stress and/or in areas of high ecological value under threat from impaired coastal processes.

Coastal Wetlands

Implement actions to increase Great Lakes coastal wetland resilience; and / or, improve knowledge on Great Lakes coastal wetland resilience and their ability to adapt to plausible future climate change trends and impacts.

Note:

If funding is sought for both Nearshore and Coastal Wetlands work, apply individually to both categories.

Coastal Wetlands

The objective of the Coastal Wetland component is to support and promote the resilience of Great Lakes coastal wetlands to climate risks and impacts and other stressors. It is important to understand all the issues the coastal wetland is experiencing and what issues the project will correct. A good Coastal Wetland project will undertake scale-appropriate planning that considers natural patterns and processes occurring within and outside (landscape context and littoral cell) of the selected coastal wetland project sites. It will address existing threats and anticipates, integrates, mitigates, and accommodates a range of climate projections (e.g., temperature, precipitation, lake levels, storms, flooding, erosion, etc.) for project sustainability.  Projects with multiple adaptation strategies and measures that reduce the exposure to climate change impacts, decrease wetland sensitivity, and increase the capacity of wetlands to adapt to climate changes will receive higher scores than projects that focus only on a single approach, except in cases where one key strategy is the best approach. Project design and implementation must avoid undermining the integrity of the wetland and adjacent ecosystem and instead, proactively seek to enhance the functionality of the ecosystem.

If the project is addressing degradation in the wetland, it should address the cause(s) of the degradation not the symptoms. For example, the planting of native wetland plant species will be of little benefit if the reason for original die off of vegetation is due to turbidity and sedimentation.

In Section 4: Project Budget, provide the total amount of ECCC funding that is being requested for the proposed project, outline the project’s budget and give an estimation of its forecasted expenses organized according to a set of pre-defined cost categories (such as salaries and wages; management and professional services; travel; and, material and supplies costs). The estimated cost of all project expenditures should reflect fair market values at the standard rate for that product or service in your area.

In this section, you are also required to provide details regarding the project's fiscal year breakdown. Determine the number of years of support from ECCC that your project requires and indicate how the total amount of support requested will be allocated on an annual basis.

Disbursement of funds - Identify if your project involves the further disbursement of funds (such as landowner stewardship programs). 

Finally, in this section you are required to indicate other funding sources for the project if applicable. Provide letters of financial/in-kind support for the project in the Other Supporting Information section.

In Section 5: Project Work Plan, provide details on the activities that will be undertaken for the duration of the project.

Describe the tasks/activities and methods (e.g., modeling/computational analysis, field study, field implementation, or construction, etc.), as applicable, related to each phase of the project in detail (e.g., planning, site preparation, construction, operation, and monitoring) including who will do each task or activity and who will manage the work and how. Please identify the use of any heavy equipment for in-water or shoreline works, if applicable. If your project involves planting, please supply a planting plan outlining the native species you will be using and where they will be planted on the site.

Please complete the following template to present the activities that will be undertaken for the duration of the project. This section allows you to include all necessary information, as per the application guidelines. For example, if you are required to provide information linking the activity to a target species or ecosystem, you can explain it here. In addition to describing the activity, please provide the expected result of the activity (i.e., the reason you are conducting the activity, please ensure that you are providing a measurable result). For each activity, please show the general timeframe of the activity (start and end dates). Describe any project activities that may be subject to delay (i.e., the requirement for construction permits/approvals or construction work that is weather dependent) and consider potential delays into your project timeline. Note: for multi-year projects, the project must be completed within four years.

Note that the Government of Canada fiscal year runs from April 1st to March 31st, therefore the workplan and associated budgets must reflect this period. When providing the description of the activity, the site photos listed in Section 7 must be referenced.

In Section 6: Evaluation Plan and Performance Measures, provide details on how the expected results and successes of the project will be measured.

For the project evaluation plan, describe how the project's goals and objectives will be achieved through monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management. Please outline the methodology that will be used to measure the project's expected results.

For key performance indicators, present the target value for the key performance indicators that the project will be measured against.

Provide details on how the project will be monitored and its success measured and evaluated. A project that has an adaptive management plan which extends beyond the construction of the project will be given greater consideration. Please include a description of the information you will provide to ECCC to demonstrate that the activity was accomplished as described (e.g., copies of photographs, reports, invoices, etc.). Specifically identify how you will measure and report on results using quantifiable performance measures that show direct links between proposed activities and expected outcomes. Examples of performance indicators and measures for Nearshore projects and Coastal Wetland projects are provided in Table 1 and Table 2, respectively.

Table 1. Nearshore Performance Indicators.

Project performance measures/metrics will vary depending on the project type. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Amount of other funding sources leveraged ($)
• Number of jobs directly created by the project (#)
• Other economic benefits beyond the current project ($)
• Number of people engaged and informed of the project outcomes and benefits (#)

Table 2. Coastal Wetland Adaptation and Restoration Performance Indicators.

In Section 7: Other Supporting Information, provide further information relevant to the project that was not captured elsewhere in the application if needed. Please ensure any letters of financial/in-kind support are provided here.

Supporting Documents: List the attachments (e.g., geospatial data, maps, conceptual and / or engineering drawings if applicable, copies of permits if already obtained, résumés, reports) that will be submitted along with your completed application form and photographs. Successful applicants will be required to submit geospatial data with metadata for the project area.

Project Photographs: The proposal must be accompanied by photographs of the project site(s). Digital photographs can be submitted as .jpeg files (or other suitable format with suitable resolution) by e-mail directly with your Application Form. Enter the file name of each photograph that will be submitted along with your application form (column a) and the photo credit (column b) that should be used if the photograph is used for media/promotion purposes (only photographs without faces or other identifiable features may be used). A brief description of the site in the photograph, as referenced in the work plan, must also be included (column c).

If the project is approved, photographs of the site(s) upon project completion must be submitted as part of reporting requirements.

In Section 8: Official Languages, provide information related to the need to accommodate official language minority communities with respect to the proposed project’s activities.

In Section 9: Certification, certify that information provided in the Application Form is accurate and that you, as the applicant, have authorization to sign on behalf of the group.

Applicants are encouraged to provide the details necessary to give a full response to each section of the Application Form but should be as concise as possible.

Please ensure that all sections of the Application Form are complete prior to submission. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Applicants may include additional information or documents with their application (such as examples of possible products, photographs, maps, etc.). If submitting additional material, it must be clearly marked and referenced accordingly in the relevant section of the application. All such material must be submitted in accordance with the instructions found online in the Other Supporting Information section.

Applicants are encouraged to identify any additional partner funding and/or in-kind project support that has been obtained and/or that is being sought. Please note that while this is not a requirement, applications demonstrating other sources of financial and/or in-kind support will be scored favourably when evaluated on value for money.

Note: if you are unable to complete and submit your application via the online application portal and wish to discuss options, please contact greatlakes-grandlacs@ec.gc.ca.

Closed for applications.

Environment and Climate Change Canada requires that applications to the Coastal Areas funding stream be submitted online via the Grants and Contributions Enterprise Management System (GCEMS). The GCEMS is accessed through the department’s Single Window system.

To sign into the department’s Single Window system select your language preference on the welcome page and when prompted to choose a sign-in method, select the GCKey sign-in option. If you already have a GCKey username and password enter them in the appropriate spaces.

If you do not have a GCKey username and password proceed through the sign-up process to obtain your username and password.

New users to the Single Window system will then be prompted to enter their email address and guided through a process to create a user profile.

To gain access to the link that will allow you to navigate to the GCEMS, you must add an organization to your profile. On the menu select “Organizations” and follow the instructions on the web page that opens. Note that when entering the organization’s business number you may use one of the following; business number; GST number; charitable number/non-profit organization registration number; or First Nations Band number. Once you have added your organization, select “Home” on the menu to navigate to the webpage that contains the link to the GCEMS.

Once you have accessed the GCEMS site, click on the link “View funding opportunities” on the left hand side of the GCEMS “My applications” webpage. On the “View funding opportunities” webpage, locate the Great Lakes FEI: Coastal Areas in the “List of opportunities” table and view the funding opportunity information by clicking on the associated link in the “Action(s)” column. On the “View funding opportunity information” webpage, click on “Apply” to open the online application process for the Great Lakes FEI: Coastal Areas funding stream.

Information on how to access and use ECCC’s Single Window system.

For technical assistance with ECCC’s Single Window system, please contact gigu-swim@ec.gc.ca.

Information on how to access the GCEMS.

For technical assistance with the GCEMS, please contact sgesc-gcems-sgesc-gcems@ec.gc.ca.