Funding for preventing toxic and nuisance algae – Lake Erie Innovation Sub-Stream

Nutrient pollution remains a challenge in the Great Lakes, with excess nutrients resulting in toxic and nuisance algae. The issue is most severe in Lake Erie. In February 2016, Canada and the United States adopted binational phosphorus load reduction targets for Lake Erie to combat this issue. Together with the United States, Canada committed to reduce phosphorus loadings to the western and central basins by 40% compared to 2008 baseline levels (212 tonnes) and to develop and implement a domestic action plan. The Lake Erie Action Plan to reduce phosphorus to Lake Erie (LEAP) was approved in 2018. Implementation is ongoing.

There are two sub-streams under the Toxic and Nuisance Algae funding opportunity.

The Lake Erie Innovation sub-stream is an application-based call for proposals that would demonstrate innovative approaches and technologies to reduce phosphorus loads to Lake Erie, and/or fill knowledge gaps through strategic science and monitoring.

The Lake Erie Precision Conservation sub-stream is a Letter of Intent (LOI) process focused on the implementation of projects/programs to reduce phosphorus losses from the landscape to Lake Erie by targeting (i.e., precision conservation) high priority watersheds and implementing the most effective measure(s) in areas of highest risk. Please refer to the separate application guidance details for this sub-stream for more information.

An objective of  the Great Lakes FEI is to decrease loadings of phosphorus to Lake Erie from Canadian sources. To assist in achieving this objective, ECCC is making funding available to support projects which demonstrate innovative approaches and best management practices, or fill priority knowledge gaps through science (research, monitoring, and modelling).

Funding will support projects within the Lake Erie Canadian watershed. While project submissions situated anywhere within the Lake Erie watershed will be considered for funding, priority will be given to projects located within regions that have been identified as high contributing areas for phosphorus loads to Lake Erie, which are the Thames River and Sydenham River watersheds and Leamington tributaries watersheds. Priority will be given to projects focused on improving the effectiveness of actions taken to reduce phosphorus losses through the demonstration of new technologies and approaches or filling priority knowledge gaps and pertain to agricultural and urban non-point sources.

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 (such as industry associations), and non-governmental organizations
• Research, academic and educational institutions

Provincial government agencies are not eligible for funding.

Project proposals focused on one or a combination of the following project types will be eligible for funding.  All project proposals must include a knowledge mobilization plan to be implemented if the proposal is selected for funding. The knowledge mobilization plan must detail how the project will promote broader uptake and application of phosphorus reduction measures to a wider community, and how research findings are communicated out.

Types of projects

1. Projects to demonstrate innovative and new approaches or technologies to reduce phosphorus loads to Lake Erie. 

Examples:

• Projects/studies that demonstrate improvements in the effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs) (e.g., studies that quantify the effectiveness stacking BMPs in reducing phosphorus losses)
• Studies to investigate new practices or technologies aimed at reducing phosphorus losses from agricultural and/or urban non-point sources
• Projects that support phosphorus recovery and reuse

2. Projects to undertake studies (research, modelling and monitoring) to fill priority knowledge gaps (see Appendix 2 for priorities).

Example:

• Studies that fill priority knowledge gaps (e.g., research to better understand the legacy phosphorus in soils and in tributaries and its significance to achieving phosphorus reduction goals)

The following project types are not eligible for funding:

• projects that are focused on water quantity issues
• projects which are located outside of the defined geographical area
• projects which are focused on increasing production
• projects which are not in compliance with applicable legislation, including environmental legislation (for example: requirements under the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act, Fisheries Act)
• activities that are intended to directly influence and/or lobby any level of government
• activities that are deemed to be part of normal operations of an organization/business or for commercial expansion purposes
• wastewater infrastructure projects

• the maximum amount available for any one project is $300,000/year
• projects may be multi-year in nature (up to 4 years years)
• applicants are strongly encouraged to seek other sources of funding and/or in-kind project support

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

• human resource 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 costs
• printing, production and distribution costs
• equipment and capital assets purchase or rental
• 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)

Costs, other than those herein allowed, are ineligible unless specifically approved in writing by the Minister of the Environment 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:

• administrative review by ECCC to ensure applications are complete and meet program eligibility requirements.
• 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:

• all application sections are complete
• proposal falls under eligible funding categories (refer to Types of projects eligible for funding)
• actions described in the proposal result in demonstration of innovative approaches or technologies to reduce phosphorus loading to Lake Erie, or fill priority knowledge gaps
• proposal falls within the Lake Erie Canadian watershed

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

Results:

• the project demonstrates an innovative technology or approach or best management practice to reduce phosphorus loads to Lake Erie
• the project fills a knowledge gap regarding phosphorus loading to Lake Erie through research or science
• the project results will be relevant to a meaningful number of potential users in the Lake Erie Basin. The project proposal includes a knowledge mobilization plan to improve understanding in the wider community using established metrics and networks, including the following components:
  • identification of targeted audience(s) that are best positioned to achieve results
  • the most effective education and outreach tools for the project type and targeted audience

Project feasibility/likelihood of success:

• the project is relevant to achieving the goal of reducing phosphorus loads to Lake Erie
• the project proposal’s work plan clearly identifies when and how the project activities will be undertaken to ensure the project is completed effectively and on time, including the techniques involved, performance measures and the goals and timelines for each activity
• the project work plan clearly demonstrates relevant, clear and appropriate methods of achieving project results
• the proposed recipient has project experience in this field

Geographic scope/priority area:

• the project is in a priority area for achievement of phosphorus reduction: the Thames River, Sydenham River watersheds or watersheds of Leamington tributaries.

Value for money:

• the project represents good value for dollars invested
• the project includes cash and/or in-kind contributions from other sources

Environment and Climate Change Canada requires that applications to the Great Lakes FEI 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: preventing toxic and nuisance algae funding stream includes nine sections:

• Section 1: Tombstone Data
• Section 2: Project Summary
• Section 3: Great Lakes FEI – preventing toxic and nuisance algae (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

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.

In Section 3: Great Lakes FEI – Toxic and nuisance algae (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 results, uptake and engagement, the project work plan, the geographic scope and the project budget.

Please ensure that the knowledge mobilization plan includes details on how the results of the project will be communicated to the wider community in order to improve the understanding of the project’s relevance to the broader issue of reducing phosphorus loads to Lake Erie, including partner organizations that will be involved. Plans must also outline communities and/or networks that will be targeted and how they will be reached. Descriptions of activities, products and timelines must be included.

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 (up to a maximum of 4 years) and indicate how the total amount of support requested (up to $300,000/year) will be allocated on an annual basis.

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.

The Project Work Plan must:

• describe how the project is relevant to achieving the goal of reducing phosphorus loads to Lake Erie
• clearly demonstrate relevant, clear and appropriate methods of achieving project results
• explain how the project will be completed effectively and on time, including:
  • project goals and activities
  • project partners
  • techniques involved
  • milestones and timelines for each activity

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

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.

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 Great Lakes FEI: preventing toxic and nuisance algae funding stream (innovation sub-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 in to 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.

In order 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 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: Preventing Toxic and Nuisance Algae 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.

1. Projects, to improve our understanding of current practices in reducing phosphorus losses in agricultural and urban settings such as implementation of Best Management Practices, municipal drain management, tile drainage or low impact development in urban areas, and provide recommendations to improve their efficacy at reducing these losses.
2. Projects, which improve our understanding of legacy phosphorus (in soils and tributaries) in the Lake Erie Watershed and how it affects our ability to achieve phosphorus loading targets.
3. Studies to improve understanding of how greenhouse development and operations affect surface and subsurface total Phosphorus (TP) and dissolved reactive Phosphorus (DRP) concentrations and loads.
4. Studies that quantify the ability of natural features such as vegetated buffers to mitigate, attenuate, intercept or take up TP and DRP before it enters watercourses, thus reducing nutrient loads. Is there an optimal size or location of such features?
5. Studies that improve our understanding of how predicted future changes (such as demand for increases in agricultural production, climate change, changes to cropping practices, and economic stresses) may affect nutrient conditions in Lake Erie watershed and our ability to reduce toxic and nuisance algae.
6. Projects that promote phosphorus recovery and reuse from nutrient sources.