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
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
|
SUBJECT: |
Ottawa
Rural Clean Water Grants Program – |
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|
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OBJET : |
PROGRAMME MUNICIPAL DE SUBVENTIONS POUR
L'ASSAINISSEMENT DE L'EAU EN MILIEU RURAL - |
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.
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.
There are no technology implications associated with this report.
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.
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 |
|
|
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 |
||
|
Nutrient management |
$750 |
2 |
$1,613 |
|
Nutrient management |
$863 |
||
|
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 |