Guelph, ON (May 17, 2006) - Summer is a time of peak residential water use in urban and rural communities, and on the farm. Wise management of this shared resource is critical to ensure that all users have enough water to meet their needs, and avoid water shortages.

Under the Canada-Ontario Water Supply Expansion Program (COWSEP), unveiled in September 2005, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs are providing $5.6 million to Ontario’s agriculture industry for regional water infrastructure initiatives and strategic studies.

The COWSEP initiative consists of three tiers. Tier I is for on-farm use and is administered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association in Guelph. Tiers II and III of COWSEP are administered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) in Guelph, Ontario.

The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Regional Municipality of Niagara and the Norfolk Federation of Agriculture are the first successful applicants under Tiers II and III to receive funding to help develop and protect water supplies in hopes of guarding against water shortages.

Under the criteria for Tier II proposals, funding of up to 33 per cent is available to infrastructure projects with a large number of users. The Niagara-on-the-Lake development will increase capacity within the existing irrigation system, improving conveyance to a number of users on nearly 3,000 acres of tender-fruit and vineyard operations, as well as greenhouse and nursery operations. Funding of $331,666 has been made available to help with the $995,000 total project costs.

With Tier III projects, the focus is on strategic initiatives, including proposals that will enhance operational and developmental limitations to agricultural water supply. Funding worth up to 75 per cent of total costs is available under this tier. Using these guidelines, The Regional Municipality of Niagara’s study will assess water quantity issues, and environmental impacts of using groundwater sources for areas south of the Niagara Escarpment. Relying on field work, the study also will assess the efficiencies of using municipal drains for distribution. Of the $400,000 required for the project, COWSEP is providing up to $300,000.

“If we’re going to compete down the road, we have to improve the viability of our agricultural lands and this money helps us move those expanded irrigation systems along,” says Corwin Cambray, Commissioner of Planning and Development for the Regional Municipality of Niagara. “The COWSEP money helped the municipality proceed past the initial feasibility study. It’s also important for the expertise we get from federal and provincial governments, because they’ll assist us in meeting all the requirements we have to look at in this day and age.”

The third initiative, also funded under the Tier III criteria, will protect and maintain water supplies in the Norfolk Sand Plain region. The project will allow for the collection of water management data, training in beneficial management practices for water use efficiency, and managing low water situations. The Norfolk Federation of Agriculture is receiving $115,000 of the $160,000 total project costs.

Information on COWSEP is available on the AAC website at www.adaptcouncil.org, under Current Programs. Links are available on how to apply. The next deadline is May 30, 2006.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is working with provincial and industry partners to develop programs and promote sound farm stewardship practices which contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment for all Canadians and safer, healthier food for consumers. For more information on AAFC's environment programs and services, visit www.agr.gc.ca or call 1 800 667-8567.

The Agricultural Adaptation Council is a non-profit, grass roots coalition of 67 agricultural, agribusiness and rural organizations dedicated to providing financial resources to help Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food industry remain profitable, grow and maintain its economic strength. COWSEP is administered under the Environmental Chapter of the federal-provincial-territorial Agricultural Policy Framework, which is designed to position Canada’s agri-food sector as a world leader in environmentally sustainable production. The Agricultural Adaptation Council administers COWSEP on behalf of the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario.

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For more information:

Nadine Buitenhuis
Communications Manager
Agricultural Adaptation Council
Ph: 519-822-7554
E-mail: nbuitenhuis@adaptcouncil.org
Website: www.adaptcouncil.org

 

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, ON
(613) 759-7972
1 866 345-7972