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 |
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.
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
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 – |
|
|
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 |
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
ACS2012-COS-ESD-0001 City-wide / À l'échelle de la Ville
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.
Mr. Michael Murr, Manager, Environmental Sustainability, Environmental Services Department, provided a brief summary of the report, which discusses the results of the 2011 Program, including experience with an urban farm pilot. He said no applications had been received in 2011 from urban farm operators, hence the report recommendation to extend the pilot to allow for greater uptake. Chair Thompson noted the presence of Ms. Josée Brizard, Director of Conservation Programs, Water Quality, South Nation Conservation Authority, and he thanked her for the SNCA’s support of the Program. The report recommendation was then put to the Committee and CARRIED, as presented.