Maitland Conservation staff provide assistance to landowners undertaking projects to improve water quality. Grants are available in Huron and Wellington counties for selected best management practices. These programs are financially supported by local municipalities and delivered by Conservation Authority staff.
Stream Buffer Planting
Funding is available from multiple sources for streamside planting projects in our watershed This is an excellent opportunity to start a stream buffer project at a reduced cost.
Buffers offer lots of benefits for you and the environment. They help to stabilize streambanks by holding soil in place and reducing soil erosion. Our modelling in the Garvey-Glenn watershed has shown that bank erosion can contribute up to 50% of the sediment found in watercourses. Vegetation also helps to filter runoff and trap sediment before it enters the stream. This all helps keep soil in fields and out of waterways. Stream buffers also help to reduce downstream flooding by slowing down runoff. As they grow, buffers provide important habitat and travel corridors for wildlife and pollinators like birds and butterflies.
Species selection should be based on existing soil conditions and the goals you would like to achieve. Maitland Conservation staff will help guide you through this selection process and develop a site plan to encourage success. Strip buffers with widths of at least 3 meters are generally required to have any impact. We encourage landowners to expand these widths where possible to reduce flooding and erosion, and improve wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration and nutrient filtration. The bigger the buffer, the bigger the impact! Species diversity of trees, shrubs, and forbs is also encouraged to increase resilience to climate change and new invasive species.
Every property is different, so staff are here to help design your project for best results.
Eligible Projects
Funding is available to establish new stream buffers that:
- Use native species
- Improve wildlife habitat
- Increase carbon sequestration
Note: Landowners must sign a 15-year agreement to protect and care for the planting.
To get started please contact:
Shannon Millar
[email protected]
519-335-3557 ext. 233
Huron Clean Water Project
The Huron Clean Water Project (HCWP) provides financial and technical assistance to county residents to improve and protect water quality. The project is funded by the County of Huron and delivered by the Maitland and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authorities. Over 3,000 projects have been completed through the program. Funding assistance covers up to 50% of the costs of eligible projects and can be combined with other cost-share programs, where available. Funding is limited so call today! For further information contact Ben Van Dieten, Stewardship Projects Lead, at [email protected] or 519-335-3557 ext. 245. The current HCWP brochure is available at: Huron Clean Water Project brochure
More information and grant application forms are available on the County of Huron website at: HCWP Information
Application forms are located in the HCWP Fund FAQ section; click on How do I apply for funding?
Eligible programs include:
- Rural Stormwater Management and Wetland Management Plans – Enhancing or creating wetland features to improve surface and groundwater quality. Control of non-native invasive Phagmites. Maximum grant is $3,000.
- Wetland Restoration Incentive Program – Renumeration for farmland taken out of production to create wide corridors between wetlands and woodlands, establish riparian areas. Maximum grant is $300 per acre for five years.
- Wellhead Protection Area Reforestation Project – Planting trees and shrubs in the 100-metre zone around municipal wells. Maximum grant is $2,000 plus annual payment of $500 per acre for 3 years.
- Living Snow Fences – Grant available to establish living snow fences of coniferous trees along County of Huron and provincial highways in priority areas. Maximum grant is $20 per tree plus annual payment of $500 per acre for five years.
- Clean Water Diversion – Berms and eavestroughs to divert clean water from manure and exercise yards. Maximum grant is $3,000
- Cover Crop Incentive – Establish cover crops with three or more species reduce erosion and protect local water quality. Grant is $15 per acre to a maximum of 150 acres. Maximum grant is $2,250
- Erosion Control – Grassed waterways, catch basins, terraces and berms to reduce erosion of agricultural land. Maximum grant is $6,000
- Fragile Land Retirement (Area greater than one hectare) Planting trees and shrubs on erosion-prone land. Buffer strips along watercourses; windbreaks;plantations. Maximum grant is $4,000
- Fragile Land Retirement (Area less than one hectare) Planting trees and shrubs on erosion-prone land. Buffer strips along watercourses; windbreaks;plantations. Maximum grant is $3,000
- Wellhead Protection – Pitless adapter caps, grading, sealing and upgrading well casings to prevent contamination. Maximum grant is $1,250
- Well Decommissioning – Properly decommissioning abandoned wells to eliminate the link between surface and groundwater. Maximum grant $1,250
- Manure Storage Decommissioning – Properly decommissioning manure storage facilities to prevent water contamination. Maximum grant is $3,000
- Livestock Access Restriction – Fences, crossings and watering devices to eliminate cattle access to watercourses. Maximum grant is $3,000
- Community Projects – Community groups can apply for matching dollars for stewardship and education projects. Maximum grant is $2,000
- Special Projects – Innovative projects that demonstrate improved water quality. Maximum grant is $3,000
- Stewardship Guide Implementation – Water quality improvement projects to implement action plans identified in the Lake Huron Coastline or Rural Landowner Stewardship Guides. Maximum grant $500
- Forest Management Plans and Woodlot Enhancement – Forest management plans, harvest advice, invasive species management and other improvements under the direction of a professional forester to enhance forest cover. Maximum grant is $1,000