* �� Dear Editor:
Recently,* �Â� the* �Â� Muskrat Watershed Council MWC)* �Â� received* �Â� information from* �Â� Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MP Cheryl Gallant’s office regarding new federal funding programs* �Â� to* �Â� improve* �Â� water quality. * �Â� Ms. Gallant’s office* �Â� also shared this information with the media.* �Â� The two funding programs are* �Â� the Great Lakes Protection Initiative and the EcoAction Community Funding Program.
The MWC would like to let our members and supporters know we have looked into these two federal funding programs and were advised that we do not qualify for one program and the other program only offers limited funding.
The MWC contacted representatives from the Great Lakes Protection Initiative to see if the Muskrat* �Â� Lake* �Â� Watershed qualifies as one of the Great Lakes “Areas of Concern’. MWC was advised that the watershed does not qualify for funding under the Great Lakes Protection initiative* �Â� because it* �Â� is* �Â� not considered an* �Â� “Area* �Â� of Concern.’ For this reason, MWC cannot apply for funding through the Great Lakes Protection Initiative.
The* �� Muskrat Watershed Council* �� does qualify* �� for the* �� EcoAction Community Funding Program. The funding offered through this program is limited and would not* �� support a large-scale remediation* �� project for Muskrat Lake.
However, MWC is working with community partners to research the best direction* �� forward* �� for the EcoAction Community Funding Program.
We will work diligently toward* �� finding* �� relevant* �� projects that comply with the requirements of the funding program.
We will keep our community up-to-date on the status of our application and will continue to search for other funding opportunities* �� that will help our watershed.
For more information about the MWC, please visit its website www.muskratwatershedcouncil.com or engage with members on Facebook Muskrat Watershed Council.
Karen Coulas, Chair
Muskrat Watershed Council
