There is a program in Bruce County dedicated to ensuring better water quality.
The Agriculture, Tourism, and Planning Committee agreed to a recommendation from the Planning and Economic Development Department recently that will see 200 thousand dollars go towards water quality improvements in 2009.
The programs objective is to support water quality projects, groups dedicated to improving water quality, and water quality research.
75 thousand has already been allocated to 3 different initiatives leaving 125 thousand available.
Councillor Mitch Twolan says a report from the Planning Department summarizes some of the past discussions about the issues along the lakeshore and in the watersheds.
He says there will be some growing pains as they get this program underway but it is a great start.
Twolan — the Mayor of Huron-Kinloss — says Council can expect to receive many applications from grassroots organizations.
He says Council will be making the decision as to who will be getting the funding.
He says they know the importance of the applications as they have a pulse of what is going on in their municipalities.
Twolan says the biggest problem is getting the word out that there is funding available for water quality improvements through this program.
Councillor and Northern Bruce Peninsula Mayor Milt McIver did raise a concern about whether maintaining such a program would put additional financial burden on the County.
Twolan says it will take some time before they know the financial impact but they will monitor the progress of the program and go from there.