Applications are now being accepted for clean water projects in Huron County.
Huron Clean Water supports a number of water quality projects in the county and the Ausable Bayfield and Maitland Valley Conservation Authorities deliver the program.
Huron County Warden Glen McNeil says the total value of past projects is $13.1 million.
McNeil explains the county provides matching funding for projects and this year county council will increase funding.
“So we increased the funding by an additional fifty-thousand dollars to bring it to $450,000 available in grants for Huron County residents, landowners or groups for a variety of projects,” stated McNeil.
The Huron Clean Water Project is in its 17th year of providing financial and technical support to improve and protect water quality on Huron County farms and rural properties. Since 2005, Huron County residents have completed more than 3,100 stewardship projects with funding from the Project, and McNeil points out those projects cover a number of things.
“We have approved more than 800 tree-planting projects, 600 well decommissions, 400 well upgrades, 24,000 acres of cover crops, 200 km of wind break, and over 270 erosion control projects,” summarized McNeil.
County of Huron funding can be combined with other sources such as the Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan cost-share program, Canada Nature Fund and Forests Ontario tree planting subsidy programs.
Application forms and more information about the Huron Clean Water Project can be found on the Ausable Bayfield or Maitland Valley Conversation Authority websites.