The Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) and the federal cost-share programs are scheduled to end in the months leading up to March 31, 2008.  The Peel Rural Water Quality Program (PRWQP), in combination with EFP funding could fund eligible projects at an 80-100% grant rate.

The PRWQP was developed in partnership with the Region of Peel, Credit Valley Conservation, and Toronto and Region Conservation.  The program supports agricultural landowners as they try to make a better connection between agriculture, rural land use, and the environment. 

This program provides technical and financial resources to qualified agricultural landowners who are caring for their land and water resources through the implementation of beneficial management practices.  These can include, but are not limited to:

• Livestock access restriction
• Buffer strip planting
• Nutrient management plan
• Manure storage
• Clean water diversion/ barnyard runoff control
• Well repair/protection
• Milkhouse washwater disposal
• Tree planting

Farm operators in the Region of Peel who have an approved 3 rd edition Environmental Farm Plan are likely eligible for funding assistance above what is provided by the EFP Program.  Conservation staff can work with you to determine eligibility, arrange a site visit, and help fill out the application.  The application will be forwarded to an approvals committee specific to the Peel Rural Water Quality Program.  This committee will evaluate and prioritize each project based on the benefits to water quality and available funding.

For more information contact:

Melanie Williams
Toronto and Region Conservation
416-661-6600 x5349                                                      
ruralwater@trca.on.ca

Jamie Ferguson
Credit Valley Conservation
905-670-1615 x430
ferguson@creditvalleycons.com

Conservation Authorities are a provincial/ municipal partnership. The CVC was established by an Act of the province in 1954 with a mandate to protect all natural resources other than minerals in the area drained by the Credit River . We have been working for over 50 years with our partner municipalities and stakeholders to protect and enhance the natural environment of the Credit River Watershed for present and future generations.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Bernadette Fernandez,
Communications Specialist
905-670-1615 ext 240