NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. - On behalf of Canada's Environment Minister Jim Prentice, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced today $326,500 in funding from the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund for 7 projects to clean up the Niagara River Area of Concern. Thirty-eight projects throughout the Great Lakes are receiving $2.2 million in funding this year.

"The Great Lakes Sustainability Fund is a concrete example of how we can work together to ensure clean water for Canadians, and to restore the health of the Great Lakes. The funding we are announcing today will help to address challenges and bring us closer to our goal of restoring water quality in the Niagara River and in all of Canada's Great Lakes Areas of Concern," said Minister Nicholson.

"The Great Lakes Sustainability Fund has proven to be very effective in facilitating the many partnered projects working to restore water quality in the fifteen Canadian Areas of Concern. Here in Niagara Falls, the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund is being used to fund projects like the Water Quality and Habitat Improvement Program," said Dean Allison, Member of Parliament for Niagara West-Glanbrook.

The Water Quality and Habitat Improvement Program includes professional teams of biologists, technicians and expertly trained volunteers who have undertaken a Natural Areas Inventory. The inventory is creating a database of up to date biological data and detailed mapping information that will act as a resource for the community. The information is being incorporated into the Provincial Wetland Classification system and will also serve as a baseline for use in future environmental planning and policy development.

"The Government of Canada is taking action to preserve our environment. Together with our partners and with all Canadians, we are helping ensure that Canada's communities and families can thrive in a healthy environment," added Minister Prentice.

Tony D'Amario, CAO/Secretary Treasurer of the Conservation Authority stated, "The Natural Areas Inventory project is of great significance as it has allowed us to fill in information gaps which will assist in prioritizing future restoration opportunities to protect and enhance the natural heritage system within the Area of Concern. The project has been a great success due mainly to the overwhelming positive public response for voluntary participation in this initiative."

Using the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, the Government of Canada is partnering with provincial and local governments and community organizations to help clean up the 15 Canadian Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes Basin. The fund supports environmental restoration activities in three priority areas: fish and wildlife habitat rehabilitation and stewardship, contaminated sediment assessment and remediation, and innovative approaches to improve municipal wastewater effluent quality.
More information about the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund is available at sustainabilityfund.gc.ca.