8. OTTAWA RURAL CLEAN WATER GRANTS PROGRAM – 2011 ANNUAL REPORT

PROGRAMME MUNICIPAL DE SUBVENTIONS POUR L'ASSAINISSEMENT DE L'EAU

EN MILIEU RURAL - RAPPORT ANNUEL 2011

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

That Council:

1. Receive the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Grants Program (ORCWGP) – 2011 Annual Report for information; and

2. Extend the urban farm pilot described herein, until December 31, 2015 to coincide with the remaining term of the ORCWGP.

RECOMMANDATIONS DU COMITÉ

Que le Conseil :

1. Prenne connaissance du rapport annuel de 2011 sur le Programme municipal de subventions pour l’assainissement de l’eau en milieu rural (PSAEMR), à titre d’information;

2. Prolonge le projet pilote de ferme urbaine décrit dans le présent document jusqu’au 31 décembre 2015 afin qu’il coïncide avec la durée de l’échéance du PSAEMR.

Documentation

1. Deputy City Manager’s Report, City Operations dated 5 April 2012
(ACS2012-COS-ESD-0001).

2. Extract of draft minutes, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meeting of

5 April 2012.

Report to/Rapport au :

Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee

Comité de l'agriculture et des affaires rurales

and Council / et au Conseil

05 April 2012 / le 05 avril 2012

Submitted by/Soumis par: Steve Kanellakos, Deputy City Manager/

Directeur municipal adjoint, City Operations/Opérations municipales

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Michael Murr, Manager, Environmental Sustainability Gestionnaire, Durabilité de l’environnement

(613) 580-2424 x25195, michael.murr@ottawa.ca

City-wide / À l'échelle de la Ville

Ref N°: ACS2012-COS-ESD-0001

SUBJECT:	Ottawa Rural Clean Water Grants Program – 2011 Annual Report

OBJET :	PROGRAMME MUNICIPAL DE SUBVENTIONS POUR L'ASSAINISSEMENT DE L'EAU EN MILIEU RURAL - RAPPORT ANNUEL 2011

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council:

1. Receive the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Grants Program (ORCWGP) – 2011 Annual Report for information; and

2. Extend the urban farm pilot described herein, until December 31, 2015 to coincide with the remaining term of the ORCWGP.

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité de l’agriculture et des affaires rurales recommande au Conseil de :

1. Prendre connaissance du rapport annuel de 2011 sur le Programme municipal de subventions pour l’assainissement de l’eau en milieu rural (PSAEMR), à titre d’information;

2. Prolonger le projet pilote de ferme urbaine décrit dans le présent document jusqu’au 31 décembre 2015 afin qu’il coïncide avec la durée de l’échéance du PSAEMR.

BACKGROUND

Since 2000, the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Grants Program (ORCWGP) has been providing grants to farm operators and rural property owners to undertake projects that protect Ottawa’s water resources by improving the quality of surface water and ground water. Grants are provided in three categories:

· Projects that provide direct environmental benefits (e.g. erosion control, livestock restrictions from watercourses; and well decommissioning)

· Projects that demonstrate agricultural best management practices (e.g. precision farming, manure storage, and nutrient management plans); and

· Projects that educate and build awareness.

Since the program’s inception, a total of 864 projects have received just over $1.36 million in funding support.

The program is delivered in partnership with the three Conservation Authorities (CAs) within the City of Ottawa: Mississippi Valley Conservation, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, and South Nation Conservation. South Nation Conservation co-ordinates the overall program with each Conservation Authority delivering the program within its own watershed boundaries. Annual funding for the program is provided through a special levy to the South Nation Conservation Authority. Further program details and information can be found on the City’s website, www.Ottawa.ca/cleanwater or www.Ottawa.ca/assainissementdeleau.

The ORCWGP has a Program Committee that provides program direction and advice. The committee is comprised of representatives from the following groups:

· Arnprior Region Federation of Agriculture

· Carleton Soil and Crop Improvement Association

· City of Ottawa

· Conservation Authorities

· Environmental Farm Plan

· Ontario Ministry of the Environment

· Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

· Ontario Rural Wastewater Centre

· Ottawa Federation of Agriculture

· Ottawa Stewardship Council

· Members-at-Large

Members of the Program Committee also serve on Review Committees in each watershed to assess and approve projects from applicants within their respective watersheds.

On July 14, 2010, the ORCWGP was renewed by City Council (ACS2010-ICS-PGM-0132) as follows:

· Allocation of $200,000/year (subject to cost of living increases) to the program for an additional five years ending December 31, 2015, to be funded from the special levy to the South Nation Conservation Authority;

· Establishment of agreements with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association and Green Acres and Shoreline Naturalization Programs to deliver top-ups (additional funds to ‘top-up’ existing grant allocations);

· Creation of a one-year pilot to include farm projects within the urban boundary if the farm operator has completed an Environmental Farm Plan;

· Direction to report annually to Committee and Council regarding program uptake and effectiveness; and

· Inclusion of a separate account (starting with $50,000 in 2011) for eligible urban well decommissioning projects.

As per Council direction, this report summarizes the results of the 2011 program.

DISCUSSION

The ORCWGP is designed to help farm operators and rural property owners carry out projects and best management practices that improve surface water and groundwater quality. The 2011 program was promoted both directly through advertisements, brochures and newspaper articles, and by the various partner agencies. The deadline for applications was May 1, 2011.

Overall Granting Activity

In 2011, a total of 62 projects were awarded grants with a value of $150,609. Overall, manure storage and treatment projects were awarded the most funds ($45,000), representing about 30% of the total grants awarded. However, the most popular project types were precision farming with 11 projects and buffer strips with 9 projects.

Table 1 highlights the project types, grant rate, maximum grants, and total value of grants.

Table 1: Ottawa Rural Clean Water Grant Program 2011 Summary

Project Type	Total #	Max. Grant Rate	Max. Grant Amount	Total Grants
Buffer strips	9	90%	$7,500	$15,876
Grassed waterways	0	90%	$7,500	$0
Land retirement	1	90%	$7,500	$150
Livestock restrictions from watercourses	0	90% (100% if self-installed)	$7,500	$0
Streambank stabilization	3	90%	$7,500	$22,500
Well decommissioning	6	90%	$3,000	$8,638
Educational initiatives	0	75%	$5,000	$0
Natural windbreaks	2	75%	$6,000	$1,400
Tile outlet protection	0	75%	$2,500	$0
Chemical storage and handling fuel storage relocation	5	50%	$1,000	$6,000
Clean water diversion and leachate seepage	3	50%	$5,000	$14,056
Controlled tile drain	0	50%	$1,000	$0
Manure storage and treatment	3	50%	$15,000	$45,000
Milkhouse washwater treatment	1	50%	$5,000	$2,254
Nutrient/turf management plan	2	50%	$1,000	$1,613
Precision farming	11	50%	$1,000	$11,000
Septic	8	50%	$2,000	$16,000
Well upgrades	5	50%	$500	$2,487
Urban Well decommissions	3	90%	$3,000	$3,636
Total	62			$150,609

For further information, please see 2011 Ottawa Rural Clean Water Grant Program – Details (attached as Document 1). This document provides further information on the various sub-categories of the grant program including the directly funded ORCWGP projects, the Ontario Soil and Crop/ Green Acres/ and Shoreline Naturalization Program ‘top-ups’, Well and Septic projects from 2010, and Urban Well Decommissioning projects.

One-Year Pilot for Farms within the Urban Boundary

Historically, only rural properties outside the urban boundary were eligible for funding, but for 2011, a 1-year pilot was created to include farm projects within the urban boundary. To be eligible, the urban farm operator must have completed an Environmental Farm Plan, thereby ensuring consistency for Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program top-up grants through the ORCWGP.

While some urban farm operators expressed an interest in the grant program, none applied in 2011. The fact that urban farms were not eligible for the first 10 years of the program likely limited awareness that these farms were now eligible. Those urban farms that did become aware may not have had sufficient time within the 2011 window to plan and budget for a project. For these reasons, the ORCWGP Program Committee recommends that urban farm eligibility be extended for the remaining term of the approved Ottawa Rural Clean Water Grants Program (to December 31, 2015), subject to the same eligibility criteria as rural farm projects.

Program Delivery Efficiencies

The transition to one-window access and a simplified application process has been beneficial for both the applicant and the City. Administration costs were reduced in 2011, thereby making more grant funds available to applicants. Efficiencies were achieved by streamlining the application process, reducing the number of Review Committee meetings, partnering with other cost-sharing programs to take advantage of their site visit schedules, and utilizing the City’s translation and communications services.

Financial Overview

In 2011, total available funding for the ORCWGP was $232,385 which included the amount approved through the special levy as well as surplus carried over from 2010. Total expenses were $180,273 which was a combination of grants and program delivery expenses. The unspent amount from 2011 is approximately $50,000 which will be carried forward to 2012.

Table 2: ORCWGP 2011 Budget

Revenue	Actual
Special Levy	$200,000
2010 Carry-over	$32,385
Total Revenue	$232,385

Expenses	Actual
Grants	$146,973*
Program Coordination, Communication, Administration	$33,300
Total Expenses	$180,273
Balance	$52,112

*Excludes Urban Well Decommissioning of $3,636

The Conservation Authority Special Levy 2012 budget report is expected to be addressed by the Finance and Economic Development Committee on April 3, 2012.

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

The Ottawa Rural Clean Water Grant Program helps farm operators and rural property owners protect groundwater and surface water in rural areas by reducing erosion, sediment and nutrient runoff into surface waterways, eliminating contamination and improving Ottawa’s waterways. The program benefits both the public-at-large, as well as the rural property owner.

CONSULTATION

The ORCWGP operates under the direction and advice of a Program Committee that represents agricultural organizations, provincial agencies and includes various community members.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS:

There are no legal implications associated with this report.

RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

There are no Risk Management Implications associated with this report.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no tax or budget implications associated with this report. Annual funding for the program is provided under a special levy to the South Nation Conservation Authority. The proposed 2012 levy of $200,000 will be identified in the Special Levy 2012 budget report to be addressed by the Finance and Economic Development Committee on April 3, 2012.

ACCESSIBILITY IMPACT

There is no accessibility impact associated with this report.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

The ORCWGP enables farm operators and rural property owners to improve storm water management, enhance the quality of the environment and water quality, restore and protect Ottawa’s natural systems, and reduce our environmental footprint by adopting best management practices.

TECHNOLOGY IMPLICATIONS

There are no technology implications associated with this report.

CITY STRATEGIC PLAN

This program directly supports the Term of Council Priorities (2011-2014), specifically the Environmental Stewardship strategic priority.

DISPOSITION

The Environmental Sustainability Branch will work with program partners to deliver the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Grant Program, and will report on the results of the 2012 program in 2013.

ATTACHMENT

Document 1: 2011 Ottawa Rural Clean Water Grant Program - Details

DOCUMENT 1

2011 Ottawa Rural Clean Water Grant Program - Details

The following provides a breakdown of the 62 projects that were awarded grants in 2011 by sub-category:

· Projects Funded Directly by ORCWGP (Not through Top-Ups)

· Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Project “Top-ups”

· Green Acres Reforestation Program and Shoreline Naturalization Program “Top-ups”

· Well and Septic Projects

· Urban Well Decommissioning Projects

Projects Funded Directly by ORCWGP (Not through Top-Ups)

Of the 62 projects, 14 applied directly to the ORCWGP (not going through the Green Acres and other programs) for a total value of $38,370. While well decommissioning was the most popular project type with 6 projects totalling $8,638, streambank erosion projects totalled $22,500, representing 59% of the funds awarded. Table 3 highlights the details of the 14 projects.

ORCWGP Direct Projects

Project Type	Total #	Grant	Total Grant
Fragile land retirement	1	$150	$150
Fuel storage	1	$1,000	$1,000
Leachate seepage	1	$4,082	$4,082
Precision farming	2	$1,000	$2,000
Streambank erosion	3	$7,500	$22,500
Well decommissioning	6	$450	$8,638
Well decommissioning		$2,023
Well decommissioning		$1,530
Well decommissioning		$855
Well decommissioning		$2,340
Well decommissioning		$1,440
	14	Total	$38,370

Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Project “Top-ups”

Under the 2011 program, the ORCWGP entered into an agreement to provide “top-up” grants to successful applicants of the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program, which is administered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA). Farm operators that were approved for the senior government grant were eligible for “top-up” grants from the ORCWGP.

This arrangement offers a one-window approach, streamlines the application and approval process, and has the potential to reach a larger number of farmers. The following table highlights the results of the ORCWGP and OSCIA partnership.

2011 Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Top-Up Projects

Project Type	Top-up	Total #	Total Top-up
Clean water diversion	$5,000	1	$9,974
Clean water diversion	$4974	1	$9,974
Fuel storage	$1,000	3	$3,000
Manure storage	$15,000	3	$45,000
Milkhouse wastewater	$2,254	1	$2,254
Natural windbreak	$900	2	$1,400
Natural windbreak	$500	2	$1,400
Nutrient management	$750	2	$1,613
Nutrient management	$863	2	$1,613
Precision farming	$1,000	8	$8,000
	Total	21	$71,241

Green Acres Reforestation Program and Shoreline Naturalization Program “Top-ups”

The 2011 ORCWGP also struck an agreement with the Green Acres, Ottawa’s Rural Reforestation Program and RVCA’s Shoreline Naturalization Programs to offer “top-up” grants to applicants who plant trees or native vegetation along waterways within the City. These programs directly impact water quality and this collaboration makes program delivery more efficient as site visits and some administrative costs are already covered by the other programs.

While there were no “top-up” grants to Shoreline Naturalization projects in 2011, the ORCWGP provided 9 “top-up” grants to Green Acre applicants for buffer strip projects, totalling $15,876. The following table provides the details of the Green Acres Reforestation projects.

Green Acres Reforestation Program “Top-up” Projects

Project Type	Total #	Top-up
Buffer strips	9 projects	$750
Buffer strips		$750
Buffer strips		$653
Buffer strips		$434
Buffer strips		$7,500
Buffer strips		$566
Buffer strips		$2,873
Buffer strips		$811
Buffer strips		$1,540
Total		$15,876

Well and Septic Projects

Of the 62 projects funded in 2011, 15 came from the 2010 well and septic project waiting list, and were funded from the 2010 surplus based on the 2010 grant criteria. Commencing in 2011, per Council’s direction, well and septic replacement and well upgrades were removed from the ORCWGP eligible projects (ACS-2009-ICS-PGM-0193). The following table outlines the project type, number of projects completed and the total value of grants paid from the 2010 surplus. The remaining unallocated funds ($10,898) were directed to the 2011 program.

2010 Surplus Funding Awarded in 2011

Project type	Total #	Grant Paid	Total Grants
Chemical storage	1	$2,000	$2,000
Precision farming	1	$1,000	$1,000
Septic Upgrade	8	$2,000	$16,000
Well upgrade	5	$415	$2,487
Well upgrade		$500
Well upgrade		$572
Well upgrade		$500
Well upgrade		$500
	15	Total	$21,487

Urban Well Decommissioning Projects

Commencing in 2011, Council approved $50,000 in a separate account for well decommissioning projects within the urban boundary. Grants were awarded to 3 projects totalling $3,636, leaving $46,364 in the account. A more targeted communication strategy is being implemented in 2012 to increase the awareness and uptake of this program.

Urban Well De-Commissioning

	Actual
Revenue: Urban Well Decommissioning	$50,000
Expenditure: 3 Projects	$3,636
Balance	$46,364