Council in Prince Edward County is pulling $30,000 from reserves to make sure a water project gets done.
Council approved a motion on Tuesday night at Shire Hall for the Picton Harbour Master Drainage Plan.
Mark Boone from the Quinte Conservation Authority told those in council chambers the federal funding needs to be used before March of next year.
Mayor Steve Ferguson says it is a worthwhile project.
The funds are coming from the studies reserve and if the provincial funding does come through, the funds will be reimbursed.
Boone told council Picton Bay is part of a larger drainage system called the Bay of Quinte and this water body was designated an Area of Concern in 1985 by the International Joint commission under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States. This designation was assigned due to environmental concerns associated with excess nutrients, persistent toxic contamination, bacteriological contamination, and loss of fish & wildlife habitat.
The map detailing the Picton catchment area for the The Picton Harbour Master Drainage Plan.
Untreated stormwater has been identified as one of the sources contributing to this problem. As such, several recommendations have been provided in the Remedial Action Plan to address storm water and potential sources of contamination.
Recommendation #23 of the Remedial Action Plan required completion of Pollution Prevention and Control Plans (PPCPs) for Belleville, Trenton, Picton and Deseronto. This has been completed under the direction of Quinte Conservation (2011).
The total cost of the project is $200,000 down from $285,000. Funding assistance of $95,000 has been secured from the Environment Canada -Great Lakes Sustainability Fund. An additional $95,000 has been applied for through the Provincial Canada Ontario Agreement fund. The balance is to be made up though both cash and in kind funding from the Municipality and in kind contribution from Quinte Conservation.
