Wellington Rural Water Quality Program
It pays to protect water quality when you apply to the Wellington Rural Water Quality Program
In 1999 the County of Wellington and City of Guelph initiated the Wellington Rural Water Quality Program. The Wellington Rural Water Quality Program is a voluntary program offering financial and technical assistance to private rural landowners throughout the County of Wellington. This program assists participants with the implementation of agricultural beneficial management practice projects, which protect and improve water quality.
Eligible Project Categories and Grant Rates
| Best Management Practice | Cost Share | Maximum Cost Share | Performance Incentive | Notes |
| Manure Storage | 50% | $25,000 | – | Per farm |
| Milkhouse Waste | 50% | $5,000 | – | Per farm |
| Clean Water Diversion | 50% | $5,000 | – | Per farm |
| Dead Stock Composting | 50% | $4,000 | – | Per farm |
| Nutrient Management Plans | 75-100% | $2,000 | – | Per applicant |
| Manure Storage Decommissioning | 50% | $3,000 | – | Per storage |
| Exclusion Fencing | 75-100% | $10,000 | – | Materials are eligible for 100% if installed by landowner. Per farm |
| Erosion Control Structures | 75% | $10,000 | – | Per farm |
| Tile Drain Control Structures | 80% | $7,500 | – | Per farm |
| Cover Crops | n/a | n/a | $60/acre up to 50 acres | Per Farm Business Registration (FBR) # |
| Machinery Crossings | 50% | $5,000 | – | Per farm |
| Tree Planting | 80% | $7,500 |
$350/acre per year for 3 years.Maximum 10 acres. |
Includes, stream buffers, fragile land retirement, field windbreaks. Per farm. |
| Living Snow Fence | 80-100% | $5,000 |
$500/acre per year for 3 years.Maximum 10 acres. |
Per farm. The higher grant rate is for priority sites identified by the municipality |
| Natural Area Restoration & Creation | 80% | $7,500 |
$350/acre per year for 3 years.Maximum 10 acres. |
Per farm |
| Fuel Storage | 50% | $4,000 | – | Per farm |
| Fertilizer and Chemical Handling and Storage | 50% | $2,500 | – | Per farm |
| Wellhead Abandonment | 100% | $2,500 | – | Per well |
| Wellhead Protection | 80% | $2,000 | – | Per well |
| Innovative Projects | 50% | $10,000 | – | Per applicant |
Rural Water Quality Program grant rates may be adjusted if combined with other funding programs for a total grant of 80% -100%. Revised grant rates in effect for new projects as approved by Wellington County Council on January 31, 2012.
How to Apply to the Program and Receive Funding
- Attend an Environmental Farm Plan workshop and complete a plan for your farm operation.
- Submit your Environmental Farm Plan for confidential review to the local Peer Review Committee.
- Contact Wellington Rural Water Quality Program staff to verify that your proposed project meets the guidelines and to arrange a site visit. Staff is available to assist you with planning your project and applying to the program.
- Applications are anonymously reviewed by a review committee, made up of local agricultural representatives and agency staff.
- Complete your project as approved.
- Book a final site visit with program staff.
- Receive your grant.
For more information and to arrange a site visit, please contact:
Mark Eastman, Senior Coordinator, Agricultural Outreach
mark.eastman@cvc.ca
Office: (905) 670-1615 extension 720
Cell: (416) 294-7335
Toll Free: 1 (800) 668-5557
