ARAC approves renewal of Rural Clean Water Program
By Ward 21 Councillor Scott Moffatt
I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to attend one of our virtual town hall meetings. If you were not able to attend, we have taken the luxury to record the presentation as well as the question and answer portion and they are posted to our Team Twenty One YouTube channel. You can find the links to these town hall sessions at teamtwentyone.ca.
Rural Clean Water Program
At our most recent meeting, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approved modifications to make the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program even more successful over the next five years.
The program provides cost-share grants to farmers and rural landowners for projects that protect surface and groundwater quality. With an annual budget of $200,000, applicants are eligible every year for grants of up to $15,000 for 18 different project types. Over the last five years, the program provided more than $627,000 to 234 projects. Landowners invested an additional $1.4 million into those projects.
Following a five-year review, the Committee approved changes to the program, adding wetland habitat restoration to the list of eligible projects. To promote certain priority project types, the Committee also approved modified criteria that would give precedence to specific erosion control projects. The grant structure for tile drain control projects would change to increase cost sharing, while grant amounts for chemical or fuel storage projects, nutrient management planning and precision farming projects, and work on septic system repair or replacement would increase.
The City has been running the program since 2000, and in that time, it has delivered $2.1 million in grants to more than 1,300 projects. Landowners have contributed an extra $10.1 million towards those projects.
Learn more about eligible projects and how to apply at ottawa.ca/cleanwater.
Spring 2021 Tree Planting
Every spring, the City’s Forestry Services Department provides an update on their tree planting. Throughout May and June, they will undertake tree planting in parks, at City facilities and along streets. This year’s program begun last week with Ward 21 second on the list of ward order so much of this work may have already occurred. New trees are slated to be added in the following parks:
- King’s Grant Park
- Munster Community Centre
- Kars Community Centre
- Centennial Park
- Gordon & Ivy Scharf Park
- Bob Slack Park
- Richmond Lions Park
New street trees will also be added in various locations on East Healey Avenue, Temple Street, Roger Stevens Drive, Moore Street, Rideau Valley Drive, Ann Street, Manotick Main Street, Farmstead Ridge, Mansfield Road, McCaffrey Trail and Strachan Street. Where a tree is planted adjacent to a residence, notifications will be provided to the resident in advance of the planting.
If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at Scott.Moffatt@ottawa.ca or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Ward 21 issues, please visit TeamTwentyOne.ca.
