Lake Winnipeg Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative: Nutrient Reduction funding

Funding

The Lake Winnipeg Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (FEI) provides financial support for eligible partner-led projects that improve the water quality and ecological health of Lake Winnipeg and its basin.

The Lake Winnipeg FEI has two funding priorities: Nutrient Reduction and Cultivating Collaboration and Indigenous-driven Action (previously Indigenous engagement). For projects beginning in 2026/27, there will be two separate application processes.

• Nutrient Reduction Stream: efforts that reduce nutrient loading to Lake Winnipeg and increase engagement on water quality protection.
• Cultivating Collaboration and Indigenous-driven Action Stream: enhancing opportunities, capacity and the participation of Indigenous governments, organizations and communities on freshwater quality issues in the Lake Winnipeg Basin 

Funding is available through the Lake Winnipeg FEI’s Nutrient Reduction stream between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2029 to support outcome-focused actions that address program priorities.

Projects that support on-the-ground action and implementation of practices that reduce or mitigate phosphorus loading are only eligible for two years of funding.

The deadline to submit an application is December 22, 2025 (14:00 CST).

More information on the Cultivating collaboration and Indigenous-driven action Stream will be available on the Lake Winnipeg FEI web page. Please contact us if additional clarification on either funding stream is required.

Eligibility

Eligible projects

The Lake Winnipeg FEI’s Nutrient Reduction stream will fund projects within the Canadian portion of the Lake Winnipeg Basin that support efforts in the basin to reduce phosphorus loading to the lake and increase engagement on water quality protection.

The Lake Winnipeg FEI may fund the following types of nutrient reduction projects:

1. On-the-ground Action
2. Science and Innovation
3. Knowledge and Mobilization

1. On-the-ground Action Projects:

• Implementation of nutrient management practices/beneficial management practices (BMPs), known to reduce phosphorus loading in key high contributing geographic areas

Priority will be given to projects:

• That implement the following BMPs:
  • Water retention structures (e.g., ponds, reservoirs, edge of field installations)
  • Wetland restoration and/or conservation
  • Implementation and management of vegetated buffers
  • Wastewater and feedlot runoff capture and management
  • Relocating livestock confinement areas away from surface water bodies
• Located in priority sub-watersheds as described below.

Priority Watershed Areas

To accelerate actions in higher phosphorous contributing areas, priority sub-watersheds (Figure 1 and Table 1) have been identified for the 2026/27 call for applications, using available science and expertise. Priority areas have been ranked from 1 to 5, with 1 being the highest priority for on-the-ground projects. While all eligible on-the-ground applications focused on reducing phosphorous will be considered for funding, projects will receive additional points in the evaluation process based on their location. Projects in Priority 1 areas will receive more points for location than those in Priority 2 areas, and so on. However, it should be noted that applications for on-the-ground projects will not be evaluated on location alone. All other components of the application, such as clarity of workplan, BMPs to be implemented, and budget, will be considered.

Figure 1: Lake Winnipeg Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative Priority Areas for Phosphorus Reduction

Table 1: Lake Winnipeg Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative’s Priority Areas for Phosphorus Reduction 

2. Science and Innovation Projects:

• Advance understanding of the effectiveness of nutrient management practices and BMPs, or suites of BMPs in cold climate prairie region, including their effectiveness/longevity over time, and the influence of varying climatic and hydrological conditions within the Lake Winnipeg Basin
• Advance understanding of the cost-effectiveness, scalability, and other factors influencing the adoption of phosphorous-reducing practices
• Support development, testing, and demonstration of innovative tools, technologies, and nutrient management practices (including emerging practices) that reduce phosphorus loading in the Lake Winnipeg Basin, including systems-based and landscape-scale approaches

3. Knowledge Mobilization Projects:

• Training, outreach and/or education to support the implementation of nutrient reducing actions
• Community-based monitoring programs which supplement existing water quality monitoring data
• Enabling processes that support science-based decision making to guide efforts at various scales to protect Lake Winnipeg
• Inclusion of traditional knowledge to address water quality and nutrient loading issues within the Lake Winnipeg Basin

Projects not eligible for funding

• Projects that are focused solely on water quantity issues
• Projects designed only to beautify an area
• The purchase or construction of municipal infrastructure such as buildings, roads, and bridges
• The purchase of land
• Projects required by law and/or mandated by a level of government
• Capital or operating costs of municipal infrastructure projects (e.g. sewers, sewage treatment plants, storm water ponds)
• Projects implemented and completed before a contribution agreement was signed
• Projects implemented outside of Canada

Please note this is not a complete list. If you are unsure about the eligibility of your project, please contact LakeWinnipegInfo-LacWinnipeginfo@cwa-aec.gc.ca for clarification.

Eligible applicants

Canadian organizations are eligible to apply and include:

• Not-for-profit organizations, such as charitable and volunteer organizations, professional associations, and non-governmental organizations
• Indigenous organizations, governments, boards, commissions, communities, associations and authorities
• Research, academic, and educational institutions
• For-profit organizations such as small businesses with less than 500 employees, companies, corporations, industry associations, and agricultural organizations
• Local organizations such as community associations and groups, seniors’ and youth groups, and service clubs
• Municipal governments and local governments (including Conservation Authorities and Watershed Districts)

Eligible project costs

• Human resource costs, including salaries and benefits
• Management and professional service costs such as accounting, monitoring, communications, official language translation, audit and legal charges
• Hospitality, travel and venues/conference expenses (in accordance with the Treasury Board Secretariat’s Directives on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures)
  • hospitality expenditures can include costs related to Indigenous ceremonial offerings to be utilized or consumed during meetings or ceremonies such as traditional medicines, cultural foods, tea and sacred plants
• Costs associated with an Indigenous participation or ceremony
• Monetary Honoraria offered to Indigenous Elders and/or Knowledge Keepers related to specific participation activities which may include but not be limited to translation and interpretative costs, leading a traditional opening/closing ceremony and/or prayer, the sharing of traditional knowledge and protocols, (including spiritual advice to individuals), and demonstrating traditional art and other practices
• Materials and supplies costs
• Printing, production and distribution costs
• Equipment and capital assets purchase (less than $10,000) or rental
• Vehicle rental and operation costs
• Contractors required to perform activities related to the project
• Costs associated with land securement (e.g. leases, conservation easements, covenants or servitudes)
• A reasonable share (15% or less) of overhead and/or administrative costs which are directly attributable to the carrying out of the project; and
• Any GST/HST that is not reimbursable by Canada Revenue Agency and any PST not reimbursable by the provinces

The following costs are ineligible:

• Expenditures related to lobbyist fees
• Equipment and capital assets purchase or rental for for-profit recipients
• Costs associated with land securement for for-profit recipients

Please note these are not complete lists. If you are unsure about eligible costs, please contact LakeWinnipegInfo-LacWinnipeginfo@cwa-aec.gc.ca for clarification.

Funding Details

• For Action type projects: Funding is available between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2028 (up to 2 years)
• For all other types of projects: Funding is available between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2029 (up to 3 years)
• Projects can be single or multi-year in nature
• Lake Winnipeg FEI funding cannot be carried between fiscal years
• The Lake Winnipeg FEI typically does not fund 100% of project expenses (see the matching requirements below) and
• Projects that are not funded can be re-submitted in a future call

Matching Requirements

Typically, a minimum of 33% of the total project funding must be obtained from sources other than the Government of Canada. Priority may be given to projects with multiple funding sources and collaborative partnerships. Other sources of funding may be in the form of cash or in-kind contributions, or a combination of both.

Potential sources of matching funds (cash and in-kind) and how collaborations are to be undertaken (e.g. contributions by the applicant, landowners or others involved in the project, use of equipment, expertise etc.) must be clearly outlined and described in the Project Budget.

An “in-kind” expenditure or contribution is a donated or volunteered product or service that help cover project costs or completion of the project activities. Examples of in-kind contributions may include: volunteer time for project activities, coordination, or professional services; expertise from consultants, Elders, or academics; and donated equipment, materials, and/or office supplies.

Performance Indicators

Applicants will be asked to identify the performance indicators that apply to their project and provide the expected goal for each. At least one performance indicator must be identified to be eligible for funding. The list of performance indicators for the Lake Winnipeg FEI Nutrient Reduction stream are:

• Amount of phosphorus reduced/diverted (kg/year)
• Wetlands / aquatic habitat created, conserved or restored (# of hectares)
• Stream/lake bank protected or stabilized (# of metres)
• Erosion control structures installed (# of structures)
• Surface water run-off retained on land e.g. retention ponds, small dams, edge-of-field retention (# of cubic metres of water retained/stored)      
• Wastewater treatment pilot technology / processes implemented / improved (# of treatment facilities)
• Livestock restricted from surface waters (# of livestock)
• Community/Landscape-based monitoring and Citizen Science Activities (# of participants/# of evaluation or monitoring sites)
• Knowledge Transfer and Sharing (# of presentations, meetings, or knowledge sharing opportunities)
• Outreach/Communications/Training (# of activities/# of people engaged/types of materials produced, # of materials produced per type)
• Collaborative Opportunities (# of partnerships established)
• Reports/papers compiled and published (# of reports/papers)

Permits and Federal Lands

Applicants are responsible for conducting the necessary research to determine if laws or mandates apply to any of the activities listed in the application. It is recommended that applicants verify relevant federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal legislation and regulations relating to the project’s activities and/or location(s).

Permits

If permits or authorizations are required for the project, these must be identified in the application. If not yet obtained, ensure the timeline for obtaining these approvals is included in the project’s work plan.

Federal Lands

Applicants must review the project locations and activities and determine if any activities will occur on federal lands. Projects occurring on federal lands may be required to complete an Impact Assessment.

According to the Impact Assessment Act, federal lands are defined as:

a) lands that belong to His Majesty in right of Canada, or that His Majesty in right of Canada has the power to dispose of, and all waters on and airspace above those lands, other than lands under the administration and control of the Commissioner of Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut;

b) the following lands and areas:

i. the internal waters of Canada, in any area of the sea not within a province

ii. the territorial sea of Canada, in any area of the sea not within a province

iii. the exclusive economic zone of Canada

iv. the continental shelf of Canada and

c) reserves, surrendered lands and any other lands that are set apart for the use and benefit of a band and that are subject to the Indian Act, and all waters on and airspace above those reserves or lands.

Application Process

Applicants must submit their Nutrient Reduction Stream project application using the Grants and Contributions Enterprise Management System (GCEMS), Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) online application system. 

Note: The online application system (GCEMS) is shared between CWA and ECCC.  References to ECCC in the system apply to both organizations.

It is strongly recommended that applicants complete the budget in GCEMS 24 hours prior to the deadline to allow sufficient time to resolve any errors. If an application is not submitted by the deadline, it will not be considered.

GCEMS Applicant User Guide: The GCEMS Applicant User Guide contains step-by-step instructions on how to apply for funding, including information on how to create, edit and submit project applications.

Please contact sgesc-gcems@ec.gc.ca for technical assistance when using GCEMS.

Project Work Plan: In GCEMS, applicants will be asked to provide information related to project work plan including activity title, descriptions, main tasks, project output (products, results, services), expected results (outcomes and how they would be measured as successful), timeframe, and budget. Please see the brief example below, which is for reference only. Applications can include more details, as needed.

Selection Process

Each project proposal will go through a three-stage review process: 1) administrative screening by program staff to confirm eligibility; 2) technical review by subject-matter experts to confirm project feasibility; and 3) final review of project outcomes against program priorities.

Eligible projects will be evaluated on the quality and completeness of the application, and assessed against, but not limited to, the following criteria: results, uptake and engagement, achievability/likelihood of success and contributions from other sources.

Notification

All applicants (both successful and unsuccessful) will be notified in writing. If your application is approved, you will be contacted to negotiate a Contribution Agreement, which outlines the terms and conditions of funding. Federal MPs and/or their team may be advised about the approval of a project and be provided with information provided in the project application including applicant’s name, project title, project description, project location, funding amounts and contact information.

Related links

• Projects funded by the Lake Winnipeg Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative

Contact us

Lake Winnipeg Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative
Canada Water Agency
510 -234 Donald Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba   R3C 1M8
Email: LakeWinnipegInfo-LacWinnipeginfo@cwa-aec.gc.ca