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Lake Winnipeg Clean-Up Project Criteria

The Lake Winnipeg Basin Stewardship Fund
Administration of the Fund
Matching requirement and Fund limitations
Appendix 1: LWBSF - Template for Letter of Intent
Appendix 2: Examples of projects which might be funded through the LWBSF
Appendix 3: Examples of Environmental Indicators for LWBSF

The Lake Winnipeg Basin Stewardship Fund

The water quality of Lake Winnipeg has been negatively impacted by excessive amounts of nutrients from both urban and rural sources. Lake Winnipeg is fed by a vast basin covering approximately one million square kilometres extending over four provinces and four states. More than half of the nutrients reaching Lake Winnipeg originate outside Manitoba's borders. Recent estimates indicate that 53% of the total phosphorus and 51 % of the total nitrogen to Lake Winnipeg is coming from upstream jurisdictions. The Government of Canada, through its Action Plan on Clean Water, has committed $3.6 million in funding over four years to establish a Lake Winnipeg Basin Stewardship Fund (LWBSF) (herein called the Fund) to provide financial and technical support to implement high-impact solution-oriented projects aimed at reducing nutrient loads, and improving the ecological sustainability of the lake and watershed. Environment Canada will administer the Fund with support from a Technical Review committee

Projects involving 'tried and proven' activities will be supported as well as projects demonstrating innovative techniques, technologies and measures to reduce nutrient inputs into Lake Winnipeg. The Fund will also support activities that contribute to a better understanding of current conditions and track improvements in environmental quality.

Administration of the Fund

Environment Canada will administer the Fund with support from a Technical Review committee, and a Public Advisory Committee.

Matching requirement and Fund limitations

The fund targets a federal contribution of one-third, and a one-third provincial contribution, but may provide up to two-thirds of total project costs. Emphasis will be placed on leveraging other funding sources and collaborative partnerships such as the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration's green cover technical assistance program. In cases where other federal programs are supporting partners in the project, the total federal contribution must not exceed two thirds of the total cost of the project.

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

Appendix 1: LWBSF - Template for Letter of Intent (Strict Maximum 2 pages)

Section Name	Required Information
Project Title	Name of project.
Project Team	Name of the project lead/project manager for the project, organization, mailing address, telephone, email, and fax number. If the primary contact is different from the project lead, enter it here. (See Note below.) Note: The project contact organization and name must be the recipient and manager of funds allocated through an Environment Canada Contribution Agreement throughout the duration of the project. Once the project has been approved, no changes to the initial recipient are possible.
Project Description	Please include a description of the project’s overall objective (what, where, when, why, size and scope); methods utilized; expected benefits and measures of success (reduction in P loading, innovative programs/technologies, etc.)
Additional Contributions (cash, in-kind)	Enter the name(s) of tentative or confirmed contributors and their involvement in the project.
Project Budget	Enter estimated total project budget per funding year (April 1-March 31) including maximum indirect costs (overhead). For matching funding, indicate whether the funds are cash or in-kind, and whether the funding is requested or confirmed. Clearly identify total funding requested from the LWBSF and the matching funds provided by other contributors.
Timeframe/Project Duration	Enter expected start date and completion date. Clearly identify if the project has phases over more than one fiscal year (April 1st to March 31st).
Project Location	Enter location of the project by watershed, county, nearest municipality, etc.
Relationship of Project to LWBSF funding priorities	Identify which LWBSF funding priority (or priorities) the proposed project supports and why. LWBSF funding priorities are available at http://www.ec.gc.ca/paae-apcw/default.asp?lang=En&n=2EBE3205-1#32

Appendix 2: Examples of projects which might be funded through the LWBSF

LAKE WINNIPEG STEWARDSHIP FUND PRIORITIES	POTENTIAL PROJECTS
Improving information and monitoring for decision – making.	Support the development of nutrient loading reduction models for the Lake and each sub-watershed. Assist in development of a Lake Winnipeg community monitoring program. Support the development and implementation of economic models to assess the implications various nutrient management scenarios within the Lake Winnipeg Basin. Improved monitoring of the health of the fisheries.
Reduction of rural and urban non-point source (NPS) pollution	Projects that improve local surface water and groundwater quality and reduce soil erosion. Contribute to and accelerate the implementation of priority Beneficial Management Practices to address nutrient inputs in priority areas. Targeting remedial work and measure progress for reducing nutrient contributions to Lake Winnipeg.
Rehabilitating priority aquatic ecosystem that support nutrient reduction and sequestration	Habitat enhancement projects (e.g., wetland restoration, riparian plantings, livestock restrictions to streams and wetlands, etc.) that improve waer quality and in particular reduce inputs of nutrients to streams and lakes.
Controlling point sources of pollution	Design studies for infrastructure upgrades (engineering and technical studies including technology demonstrations, pollution control plans and environmental study reports to position the municipality for infrastructure funding to upgrade sewage treatment plans, combined water sewer overflow, sanitary sewer overflows). Support the development and implementation of technologies for improving the efficiency and effluent quality of sewage treatment plants. Development and implementation of phosphorus management strategies to sustain gains in load reductions. Implementing Stormwater Management and Control Plans and techniques where appropriate.

Appendix 3: Examples of Environmental Indicators for LWBSF (measurable achievements)

Phosphorus diverted from use or reduced ________ # of Kilograms per year
Number of livestock restricted from surface waters _____ # of cows
Fencing installed to restrict livestock access to surface waters _______ # of metres
Reduction in Sediment release _______ Tonnes per year
Reduction in fecal coliform _______ CFU/100ml water
Stream/lake bank protected or stabilized _______ # of kilometres or ______ area m²
Erosion Control Structures constructed ________ # of kilometres or _______ area m²
Environmental Management plans implemented/signed ________ # of plans
Environmental Farm Plans implemented/signed __________ # of plans
Water saving devices installed ___________ # of devices
Improved septic system maintenance (e.g. reduction of phosphorus in ______ # of septic systems)
Number of downspouts disconnected ________ # of downspouts
Native plants, trees and shrubs planted ________ # of plants/trees/shrubs _______ area m²
In-stream structures installed ________ # of structures
Aquatic habitat created or restored _______ # of Hectares
Wetlands/aquatic ecosystem created, restored, or rehabilitated _______ # of Hectares
Shoreline habitat created/restored __________ # of Hectares
Shoreline habitat preserved/protected ________ # of Hectares
Habitat permanently protected _____ # of Hectares (acquisition, easement, covenant agreement)
Habitat protected by land stewardship agreement ________ # of Hectares
Others _________ # of units