In addition to the base funding for water programs, since 2007 Ontario has spent more than $32 million to help restore and protect the Great Lakes ecosystem through the implementation of COA. This includes funding and projects to:
Protect and restore habitat. More than 60 projects across the Great Lakes basin are completed or well underway.
Bring back native species. Ontario delivered more than 30 projects to bring back native species including projects to increase the populations of American eels and Atlantic salmon in Lake Ontario.
Assess and remediate historically contaminated sediment in Great Lakes hotspots. Eleven projects have been completed in the last three years.
- The remediation of Lake Erie's Wheatley Harbour is one example of our success
Provide infrastructure funding to upgrade the last of Ontario's primary sewage treatment plans. Ontario has committed more than $653 million to wastewater infrastructure upgrades in the Great Lakes Basin since March 2007.
Reduce harmful pollutants. Ontario has implemented our Toxics Reduction Strategy and funded mercury and pesticides recycling programs across the province.
Publications documenting our progress
- Brochure: Keeping the Great Lakes great: success stories from the shoreline
- COA Progress report 2002-07
- COA Progress report 2004-05
- COA Progress report 2002-03
- Lake Ontario Lakewide Management Plan (on binational.net)
- Lake Erie Lakewide Management Plan (on binational.net)
- Lake Superior Lakewide Management Plan (on binational.net)
- Lake Huron Binational Partnership (on binational.net)
- Lake Michigan Lakewide Management Plan (on USEPA's site)