Three Ontario Projects Receive Funding From Sustain Our Great Lakes Program
Hamilton - Great Lakes restoration projects in Ontario will receive $940,000 in grant funding through the Sustain our Great Lakes program. Earlier today the program announced a total of 30 ecological restoration projects selected to receive a total of $8.5 million in grant funding through Sustain Our Great Lakes, a bi-national, public–private partnership coordinated by the US National Fish and Wildlife Federation and other environmental agencies and funded by ArcelorMittal.
Ontario projects include:
Long Point Wetland Complex Rehabilitation Project
The Long Point World Biosphere Reserve Foundation and partners will improve aquatic connectivity and fish passage between Big Creek Marsh and Long Point Bay by installing a large culvert/eco-passage under the Long Point Causeway.
Riparian/Wetland Restoration in the Grand River Watershed
The Grand River Conservation Authority and partners will convert 600 acres of erodible farmland to native riparian forest and grassland habitat and control invasive species on 134 acres of adjacent lands to prevent infestation of the restored areas.
Hamilton Harbour Coastal Wetland and Watershed Restoration
Bay Area Restoration Council and partners will restore wetlands and 4.6 miles of stream associated with Cootes Paradise Marsh and Hamilton Harbour through volunteer-based Adopt-a-Creek and Marsh Planting programs.
“Projects supported by Sustain Our Great Lakes become increasingly important as water availability and quality receive more global attention. The restoration and conservation of the Great Lakes is critical for both environmental and economic reasons as hundreds of communities rely on the water and natural areas within the basin. Through our support, ArcelorMittal aims to partner with the federal agencies and program grantees to address the issues facing the basin,” said Heather Loebner, Executive Director, USA Foundation, and Manager, Corporate Responsibility, ArcelorMittal USA.
With a focus on improving the quality and connectivity of tributary, wetland and coastal habitats, the selected projects will help protect, restore and enhance the ecological integrity of the Great Lakes and surrounding region. Some of the work to be supported with grant funding includes improving passage for fish and other aquatic organisms, controlling invasive species, restoring wetland hydrology, and improving stream habitat structure.
The announcement also marked the release of a progress report that summarizes the outcomes of the first five years of the Sustain Our Great Lakes program. From 2006 to 2010, the program awarded 103 grants worth $12.1 million and provided support for the restoration of:
- - Aquatic connectivity to 475 stream miles
- - 55 miles of stream and riparian habitat
- - 6,740 acres of wetland habitat
- - 1,605 acres of coastal habitat
The report is available to download at www.sustainourgreatlakes.org.
The Sustain Our Great Lakes program is a public–private partnership coordinated by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and funded by ArcelorMittal, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S.D.A Forest Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In 2011, Sustain Our Great Lakes received significant additional grant funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a federal program designed to protect, restore and enhance the Great Lakes ecosystem.
For more information on the Sustain Our Great Lakes program including applicant eligibility, eligible projects, and submission requirements, visit www.sustainourgreatlakes.org and become a fan on Facebook or follow the program on Twitter (@SOGL)
ArcelorMittal is the world’s leading mining and steel company with operations in more than 60 countries. ArcelorMittal Dofasco is a leading North American steel produ cer and supplier of high quality flat rolled steels. To learn more, visit www.arcelormittal.com/hamilton/dofasco.
– 30 –