Wellington County is celebrating 25 years of the Wellington Rural Water Quality Program.
The county announced in partnership with the Grand River Conservation Authority that the program has been extended for another 5 years.
To celebrate, the county and the GRCA are launching a digital marketing campaign to highlight the program's successes.
That includes awarding over $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.
Over 1 million trees have been planted, 622 old water wells have been decommissioned and 658 wells have been upgraded. 115 fencing projects have been completed to keep livestock away from watercourses, 236 farms have introduced cover crops to their rotation, and 206 manure facilities have been improved.
“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 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, you can contact your local Conservation Authority or visit www.wellington.ca/rwqp.