Celebrating 25 Years of Rural Water Quality Programming (RWQP) in Wellington County

Wellington County, Ont. – The County of Wellington is pleased to announce renewed financial support for the Wellington Rural Water Quality Program (RWQP) for another five years. The announcement comes as the County and the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) launch a digital marketing campaign that celebrates 25 years of RWQP projects and successes.

The Wellington RWQP provides financial and technical assistance to Wellington County farmers and rural landowners who are implementing projects to improve and protect water quality throughout the area. The programme, which is funded by the County and administered by the Grand River Conservation Authority, was originally launched in 1999 after recognizing the many environmental and economic benefits that come from supporting voluntary action in the agriculture community. 

Over the past 25 years, the Wellington RWQP has awarded $11 million in grants, supporting nearly 4,000 projects. An additional $19 million in landowner investments has also been leveraged, for a total investment of $30 million towards watershed improvement projects in the region.

Wellington RWQP successes include: 

  • Planting 1 million trees, including 250 km of windbreaks and 76 km of stream and wetland buffers.
  • Decommissioning 622 old water wells and upgrading 658 wells to protect groundwater.
  • Completing 115 fencing projects to help restrict livestock from watercourses, helping to create buffers and stabilize banks along 50 km of water.
  • Supporting 236 farms introduce cover crops to their rotation, protecting 14,500 acres of cropland from erosion over the winter.
  • Improving 206 manure storage facilities to manage nutrients effectively and avoid winter spreading.

“Celebrating 25 years of Rural Water Quality Program successes is a proud moment for Wellington County,” commented Warden Andy Lennox. “The programme has transformed our approach to watershed improvement, fostering collaboration between government, farmers, and conservation authorities to create healthier environments for both our communities and future generations.”

The Wellington RWQP’s long standing grant programme has allowed the Grand River, Credit Valley, Maitland Valley, Saugeen, Halton, and the Hamilton Conservation Authorities to work directly with farmers to meet the long-term needs and goals of their properties. 

“The RWQP’s 25-year milestone is a testament to the power of partnership between the County of Wellington, the GRCA, and our dedicated farmers and rural landowners,” said County Councillor and GRCA Chair Chris White. “This programme, which began as a simple idea of supporting voluntary action, has grown into a cornerstone of our region’s environmental strategy. We’re grateful for the ongoing commitment of our farmers and partners involved.”

To learn more about the Wellington RWQP or inquire about funding to start a project, please contact your local Conservation Authority or visit www.wellington.ca/rwqp.

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Media Contacts:

Louise Heyming
Supervisor of Conservation Outreach
Grand River Conservation Area
519.621.2763 x 2279
lheyming@grandriver.ca 

Meagan Ferris
Manager of Planning and Environment
County of Wellington
519.837.2600 x 2120
meaganf@wellington.ca