FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

Date of issue: April 25, 2009

Province of Ontario providing $839,140 in new 2009 funding in region for stewardship projects to protect drinking water

2008 funding under Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program is now committed to projects proceeding in Ausable Bayfield, Maitland Valley areas

       The Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) is providing $839,140 in additional funding for voluntary stewardship projects by property owners near municipal wells and intakes to protect drinking water sources in the Ausable Bayfield and Maitland Valley watersheds.
       The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority and Maitland Valley Conservation Authority jointly announced in Atwood today the new grant approval from the Province of Ontario through the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program (ODWSP). The conservation authorities also announced that 2008 ODWSP funding in the region has now been completely committed to projects adding extra barriers of protection to municipal, residential drinking water sources.
       John Wilkinson, MPP, Perth-Wellington, attended today's event, where some eligible Atwood-area property owners were applying to replace septic systems with municipal hook-ups.
       "Our government believes that rural Ontarians are the very best stewards of our precious clean water resources," stated Wilkinson. "This new funding helps residents who want to do the right thing for themselves and their neighbours. It's exciting to see that all the previous funds from this program are now committed in the region to practical projects that protect our drinking water sources." 
       The ODWSP is delivered in the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region by the ABCA, the MVCA and the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA). The Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program, created under the Clean Water Act, 2006, provides financial assistance for owners of homes, farms, businesses and other properties in vulnerable areas to decommission or upgrade wells; inspect or upgrade septics; review pollution prevention practices at their businesses; create runoff and erosion protection; land conservation; fuel storage upgrades, maintenance and removal.
       For information on stewardship program eligibility and funding in the area contact Derek Matheson, Source Protection Technician, at MVCA at 519-335-3557 or Kate Monk, Stewardship and Conservation Lands Supervisor at ABCA at 519-235-2610 or 1-888-286-2610.

PHOTO:

Partners working together in delivery of ODWSP in the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Drinking Water Source Protection Region (including parts of the counties of Perth, Huron, Bruce, Wellington, Lambton and Middlesex).
 
Shown in photo at funding announcement in Atwood on Apr. 25:
 
Karen Galbraith, Source Protection Committee member
John Wilkinson, MPP, Perth-Wellington
Alison Lobb, Chair, Maitland Valley Conservation Authority
Bob Norris, Director, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority
Julie Behrns, Warden, Perth County
Larry Brown, Chair, Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Drinking Water Source Protection Committee (SPC)
Mary McIntosh, Field Representative (Perth), Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA)
Joe Vermunt, Regional Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture 

Perth-Wellington MPP John Wilkinson announced on Saturday, April 25 in Atwood that the Province of Ontario is providing an additional $839,140 towards stewardship projects by owners of homes, farms, businesses and other properties located closest to municipal wells and intakes in the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Drinking Water Source Protection Region. Jointly making the announcement with him were Bob Norris, a Director of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) and Alison Lobb, Chair of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA). The local Conservation Authorities also announced that all 2008 funding - $155,999 – has been spent or committed to projects now underway to protect drinking water sources in the region.
    

CONTACT: Derek Matheson, Source Protection or Doug Hocking, Water Quality Extension Coordinator, Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, at 519-335-3557 or Kate Monk, Supervisor of Stewardship and Conservation Lands, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, at 519-235-2610 or 1-888-286-2610 or e-mail kmonk@abca.on.ca.

POSTED APRIL 2009:

We would like to invite you to attend a brief announcement to public and media about positive new funding in the region and progress in the delivery of voluntary drinking water stewardship projects in the Ausable Bayfield and Maitland Valley Source Protection Areas.

The announcement will be made at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 25 at the Elma Memorial Community Centre, 251 Main Street, Atwood, Ontario, near the corner of Main Street (Highway 23) and Elma Centre St.

To view the invitation and further details please look under our downloads section for "Invitation to April 25, 2009".

If you are able to attend we encourage you to reply in advance to Tim Cumming, Communications Specialist, at tcumming@abca.on.ca or by fax to 519-235-1963. Thank you — and hope to see you there!