Millions Flow into Great Lakes: Canada funds $9.3 million in freshwater solutions 

July 14, 2025 – Burlington, Ontario 

The Government of Canada announced 26 projects receiving funding under the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative.

The goal of the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative is to target the most significant environmental challenges affecting Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health by delivering on Canada’s commitments under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

Recipients:

Hamilton Region Conservation Authority 
Project: Hamilton Harbour Watershed Stewardship Project
Funding amount: $228,000 over 3 years
Project description: This project will work with landowners to complete local water quality and habitat projects that reduce nutrients, sediment and stormwater runoff into the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern. Activities will help restore wetland, forest and shoreline habitats and improve conditions in Cootes Paradise Marsh.

Royal Botanical Gardens 
Project: Ongoing Habitat Recovery and Status Monitoring of the Coastal Marshes within Royal Botanical Gardens
Funding amount: $150,000 over 1 year
Project Description: This project will protect habitat in Cootes Paradise marsh in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern. It includes supporting regeneration of vegetation, eliminating invasive grasses, and restoring 100 metres of shoreline to reduce erosion.

Lakehead Region Conservation Authority 
Project: Neebing-McIntyre Floodway Habitat Corridor - Completion of Riparian Restoration
Funding amount: $135,000 over 3 years
Project description: This project will complete shoreline habitat restoration at four sites along the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway within the Thunder Bay Area of Concern by planting native vegetation and installing wildlife structures along 2.2 kilometres of shoreline. It will support the recovery of fish and wildlife habitat and advance restoration goals under the Remedial Action Plan.

Lakehead University 
Project: Coordinate Lake Superior Remedial Action Plans and Complete Implementation of Thunder Bay Area of Concern Wildlife Habitat Strategy
Funding amount: $130,000 over 2 years
Project description: This project will support the restoration of four Lake Superior Areas of Concern: Nipigon Bay, Peninsula Harbour, Thunder Bay and Jackfish Bay. Activities include coordinating remedial actions, community engagement, and monitoring to support the assessment and redesignation of several beneficial use impairments.

Quinte Conservation Association
Project: Bay of Quinte Long Term Monitoring Project
Funding amount: $33,718 over 1 year
Project description: This project will collect water quality data from the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern to assess algae levels and progress on reducing phosphorus. This data will support the Bay of Quinte Phosphorus Management Plan and help determine whether water quality goals and restoration targets under the Remedial Action Plan have been met.

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 
Project: Moss Avenue Shoreline Restoration Project
Funding amount: $157,500 over 3 years
Project description: This project will improve fish habitat in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern by restoring 300 feet (90 metres) of degraded shoreline and enhancing a small coastal wetland on the north shore of Centre Island.

Algoma University 
Project: Remedial Action Plan Coordination for the St. Marys River Area of Concern
Funding amount: $90,000 over 2 years
Project description: This project will support the ongoing restoration of the St. Marys River Area of Concern. Activities include coordinating remedial actions, community engagement, and monitoring to support the assessment and redesignation of beneficial use impairments.

Lower Trent Conservation Authority 
Project: Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan Governance
Funding amount: $225,000 over 3 years
Project description: This project will coordinate efforts to complete the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan. It includes engaging the public and Indigenous partners, supporting the assessment and redesignation of remaining beneficial use impairments, and finalizing the Phosphorus Management Plan for the Bay of Quinte, which is a final action for the Remedial Action Plan.

Halton Region Conservation Authority
Project: Grindstone Creek Watershed Nutrient Management Plan
Funding amount: $242,000 over 2 years
Project description: This project will develop a nutrient management plan for the Grindstone Creek watershed, that flows into Hamilton Harbour. The plan will identify nutrient sources and recommend actions to reduce nuisance algal blooms and improve water quality.

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 
Project: Bioavailability of Particulate Phosphorus Entering Lake Ontario from Urbanized and Mixed Land Use Watersheds
Funding amount: $173,690 over 2 years
Project description: This project will study phosphorus loads from urban watersheds and the impact on nearshore algal growth in Lake Ontario. Sampling and analysis of eight tributaries across Toronto and Ajax will help better understand phosphorus sources and seasonal patterns, and inform watershed management planning.

Toronto Metropolitan University 
Project: Leveraging Automated Imaging Technologies to Quantify Nuisance Algae Growth and Impacts in the Nearshore and Shoreline of Lake Ontario
Funding amount: $300,000 over 2 years
Project description: This project will improve the understanding of nuisance algae growth in Lake Ontario. Results will improve understanding of nuisance algae events and management potential in chronic problem areas.

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation
Project: Community Protection and Enhancement of the Ausable River Estuary and Wetland
Funding amount: $793,126 over 4 years
Project description: This project will restore the Ausable River estuary and wetland system in southeastern Lake Huron to improve resilience to flooding, erosion and extreme water levels. Work includes habitat restoration and enhancement, invasive species removal, and climate and water modeling to guide decisions.

Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority 
Project: Improving the Climate Resilience of Oshawa Second Marsh
Funding amount: $1,614,500 over 4 years
Project description: This project will improve the climate resilience of Oshawa Second Marsh, one of the last remaining large urban coastal wetlands on Lake Ontario. It will restore wetland structure, water flow and aquatic habitat connectivity between the marsh, Lake Ontario and Farewell Creek, while keeping out invasive carp. The project will also enhance habitat for fish and wildlife, strengthen natural barriers against erosion and improve water quality.

St. Clair Region Conservation Authority 
Project: McLean Wetland Rehabilitation
Funding amount: $460,000 over 4 years
Project description: This project will enhance the resilience of the McLean coastal wetland complex in eastern Rondeau Bay by restoring water flow and aquatic habitat connections to Lake Erie, reshaping the wetland, and planting vegetation to improve habitat structure and water quality.

Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority 
Project: Restoring Wetlands to the Lower Thames River and Lake St. Clair Floodplains
Funding amount: $276,500 over 4 years
Project description: This project will restore wetlands along the Lower Thames River and the Lake St. Clair floodplain. It includes identifying and prioritizing restoration areas, engaging landowners, and implementing nature-based restoration to improve climate resilience and ecosystem health.

Regional Municipality of Halton 
Project: Building Resilience at Burlington Beach – Shoreline Protection and Ecological Restoration
Funding amount: $995,000 over 4 years
Project description: This project will restore 2 kilometres of shoreline and dune ecosystems at Beachway in Burlington, Ontario. Nature-based restoration will help protect the Lake Ontario nearshore from water level changes and storm impacts while improving local habitat.

Long Point Region Conservation Authority
Project: Vittoria Dam Decommissioning
Funding amount: $635,000 over 4 years
Project description: This project will remove the Vittoria Dam on Young’s Creek to restore 30 kilometres of stream connectivity to Lake Erie. Work includes sediment management, naturalizing the stream channel, restoring aquatic habitat, and improving water quality.

Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation
Project: Green Ribbon Champion Shoreline Restoration Program
Funding amount: $122,500 over 3 years
Project description: This project will restore coastal dunes along Lake Huron by installing sand fencing, planting native vegetation and removing invasive species. Outreach to shoreline landowners and creation of native plant nurseries will support ongoing restoration efforts.

Municipality of Port Hope 
Project: Restoring Balance: Port Hope Nearshore Revitalization Project
Funding amount: $62,500 over 2 years
Project description: This project will study coastal processes along the Port Hope shoreline on Lake Ontario to inform nature-based options to restore shoreline conditions, reduce erosion and improve the health of local beaches and nearshore habitats.

Ducks Unlimited Canada 
Project: Improving Climate Resilience of St. Luke’s Marsh
Funding amount: $855,000 over 4 years
Project description: This project will restore wetland habitat at St. Luke’s Marsh near Lake St. Clair to improve resilience to flooding, erosion and climate impacts. Activities include dike improvements, invasive species control, and community outreach to support biodiversity and water quality.

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 
Project: Bridging the Gap: A Regional Approach to Coastal Resilience in Western Lake Ontario
Funding amount: $183,500 over 3 years
Project description: This project will support engagement with local communities and partners in the western Lake Ontario watershed to identify coastal restoration solutions from Mississauga to Cobourg. The work will help enhance water quality, ecosystem health and coastal resilience in areas experiencing environmental stress.

Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association 
Project: Engaging Citizens in Community-Based Science Data Collection and Stewardship on the Bruce Peninsula
Funding amount: $230,000 over 4 years
Project description: This project will engage local citizens in community-based science to help fill data gaps related to algal blooms, nutrients, shoreline hardening, and erosion on the North Bruce Peninsula.

Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network 
Project: Engaging Community Scientists to Enhance Understanding of Water Quality in the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Region of the Upper St. Lawrence River
Funding amount: $170,000 over 4 years
Project description: This project will train local citizens to monitor water quality in Frontenac Arch Biosphere along the upper St. Lawrence River. Data collected will support science-based decision-making and strengthen community awareness and stewardship.

Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority
Project: Community-Based Monitoring in the Upper Great Lakes
Funding amount: $309,000 over 4 years
Project description: This project will engage community members to collect water quality data related to chemicals, nutrients and algae in the lower Lake Superior and northern Lake Huron watersheds. The information will be used to identify pollution sources and support community-driven efforts to improve freshwater health and safety.

Severn Sound Environmental Association 
Project: Water Quality Monitoring Using Citizen Science and Advanced Data Collection Methods in Severn Sound
Funding amount: $295,000 over 4 years
Project description: This project will combine water quality monitoring with remote sensing and community-based science in the Severn Sound watershed. This will improve data accuracy, foster public stewardship and inform future decision making.

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative
Project: Using Community-Based Science and Remote Sensing Data in Lake Ontario
Funding amount: $430,000 over 4 years
Project description: This project will engage community members in the Niagara Region (St. Catharines) to identify sources of contaminants like sediment, nutrients and road salt. The project will use remote sensing and local data to support science-based decision-making, raise public awareness and improve nearshore water quality.