The Ontario government will invest $7.47 million into projects to improve the health of the Great Lakes.
Some of the funding will help monitor water quality to see if greenhouse methods in Leamington and Kingsville are working.
They've implemented new protocols to reduce excess nutrients into Lake Erie, which cause the toxic algal blooms we have seen in past summers.
"The Great Lakes are an important part of our province's economic prosperity and well-being of our communities," said the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks Jeff Yurek. "Our government is committed to working with our partners and investing in on-the-ground projects that will help protect and restore our water resources."
In all, $5.8 million will go to 65 projects run by communities, organizations, universities, and Indigenous communities.
Other projects include implementing practices to reduce contaminants flowing into critical watersheds in Lambton Shores, Main Bayfield, and Garvey-Glen, and a pilot project in Toronto to cut the wait time for water sample results at two beaches to just four hours.
Another $1.67 million will go to the Great Lakes Local Action Fund, which supports projects led by community-based organizations, small businesses, municipalities, and conservation authorities.
Applications for the Great Lakes Local Action Fund open this month through Transfer Payment Ontario.
Last summer, the Ontario and Canadian governments released a draft of a new agreement to coordinate actions to protect the lakes.