Water Quality and Habitat Improvement Program

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Water Quality and Habitat Improvement Grants

Interested in improving water quality and habitat on your property? Need some guidance on the best kind of project or how to design it? Need funding to put the plan into action? The program is designed to help landowners with all of this.

Process:

Contact Hamilton Watershed Stewardship Program (HWSP) staff to arrange for a free site visit at your property.
Work with HWSP staff to design a water quality or wildlife habitat improvement project on your property.
Acquire all necessary permits.
If the project is eligible to apply for financial assistance from the HWSP, complete a financial assistance application form with help from HWSP staff.
Submit the completed application form to HWSP.
HWSP will present the application to its application review committee.
You will be notified by letter to tell you whether or not your application has been approved.
Once your application has been approved start the project with assistance from HWSP staff.

Project Category	Eligible Projects
Livestock Waste Management	Livestock Restriction, Alternate Watering Devices, Crossings
	Clean Water Diversion/Barnyard Runoff Control
	Milkhouse Washwater Disposal
	Manure Storage
Erosion Control Structures	Grassed Waterways
	Water and Sediment Control Basins
	Streambank Stabilization
	Drop Inlets, Spillways, and Rock Chutes
Habitat Restoration or Enhancement	In-stream
	Stream Bank
	Forest
	Wetland
	Prairie
	Meadow

Water Quality and Habitat Improvement Program

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Water Quality and Habitat Improvement Grants

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Current Water Levels

Water Level Explanations

Flood Status Explanations

	Normal No low water conditions exist.
	Level 1 Water users are asked to voluntarily reduce consumption by 10 percent. Precipitation totals are less than 80 percent of long-term averages and/or 30-day average streamflows are less than 100 / 70 percent (springtime / otherwise) of the minimum of the long-term average monthly flows for summer months.
	Level 2 Water users are asked to voluntarily reduce consumption by 20 percent. Precipitation totals are less than 60 percent of long-term averages and/or 30-day average streamflows are less than 70 / 50 percent (springtime / otherwise) of the minimum of the long-term average monthly flows for summer months.
	Level 3 There is also potential for economic harm to water takers and/or significant harm to the ecosystem. The Hamilton Water Response Team may ask the province to impose mandatory restrictions on those holding Permits to Take Water. Precipitation totals are less than 40 percent of long-term averages and/or 30-day average streamflows are less than 50 / 30 percent (springtime / otherwise) of the minimum of the long-term average monthly flows for summer months.

	Normal No flood conditions exist.
	Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety High flows, unsafe banks, melting ice or other factors that could be dangerous for recreational users such as anglers, canoeists, hikers, children, pets, etc. Flooding is not expected.
	Watershed Conditions Statement - Flood Outlook Early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts calling for heavy rain, snow melt, high wind or other conditions that could lead to high runoff, cause ice jams, lakeshore flooding or erosion.
	Flood Watch Flooding is possible in specific watercourses or municipalities. Municipalities, emergency services and individual landowners in flood-prone areas should prepare.
	Flood Warning Flooding is imminent or already occurring in specific watercourses or municipalities. Municipalities and individuals should take action to deal with flood conditions. This may include road closures and evacuations.