Saugeen Conservation is proud to announce the launch of the 2018 Soil & Water Stewardship Program. This cost-share program aims to reduce paperwork required for eligibility and provides a participation stream for innovators, while putting emphasis on education and community participation as a means for long-term stewardship adoption.

The Soil & Water Stewardship Program consists of two project streams; Seed Reimbursement and Project Partnership.

The Seed Stream covers 100% of seed costs for water quality stewardship projects, such as cover crops, buffer plantings and grassed waterways (up to $1000 per applicant). Should a project incur additional costs, such as in a berm project, applicants are invited to apply to the project partnership stream. The Project Partnership Stream is meant for larger stewardship projects and innovative trials. In this stream, staff will meet with you to discuss your project and assist with grant applications. Both streams' applications will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is at capacity.

The goals of the program are to improve water quality, through soil conservation measures. By reducing paperwork and streamlining the program, we can divert applicants' efforts into education and community participation actions. Participants can get information on step one from @SVCAStewardship account tweets and can tweet about their actions using the hashtag #SaugeenSteward.

Applicants that have five or more years experience with stewardship practices regarding soil conservation will have already achieved the requirements for Stream 1 but will still be eligible for funding. They will be required, however, to participate in the education and community participation actions as workshop/demonstration hosts and presenters.

The program will end October 30th, at the Coffee, Crops & Donuts Event: The Economics of Stewardship focussing on the 'bottom line' of stewardship and best management practices. At this event, applicants are asked to bring a picture of their finished project and paid receipt to receive their reimbursement.

Applications are available via online form (link available on our twitter account and website), for download on our website and available for pick up at the SVCA office in Formosa. For more information, interested applicants can e-mail Tori Waugh: [email protected], check out our twitter account: @SVCAstewardship or visit: svca.on.ca

source: media release, SVCA