The RDN's Community Watershed Monitoring Network is a partnership initiative with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV), local environmental stewardship organizations, and Mosaic Forestry Management. Through this initiative, participating volunteer-based stewardship groups from across the region are trained to collect water quality data on local creeks and streams, to fill gaps in the provincial network. The RDN's DWWP program also sponsors the training and execution of physical stream assessments that are often completed to complement and expand upon the data collected through the water quality monitoring initiative. Through both avenues, a better understanding of the state of our local creeks, rivers, and streams is achieved. In some cases, recommendations emerge for next steps to restore or enhance water quality and/or habitat viability in these watercourses.

It is the intention of this seed funding to support stewardship groups that are poised to take further action, including enhancement efforts that have been identified and recommended through the monitoring and assessment process. Seed funding is open to groups who have not previously participated in RDN DWWP initiatives but demonstrate relevance in their proposed project description, as it connects to improving watershed health in our region.

For a project to be eligible for Stewardship Seed Funding (SSF), it must:

• be located within the Regional District of Nanaimo,
• be led by a non-profit organization,
• actively enhance stream health, hydrology, or function,
• involve volunteers,
• be jointly funded by other partners, donors, and/or include in-kind contributions,
• acquire all necessary permissions and permits to complete work at the project site, and
• not have received funding for three consecutive years.

For an organization to be eligible for SSF, it must be a volunteer-based, not-for-profit group that actively pursues the completion of restoration, research, and/or enhancement projects that are of direct benefit to a creek, stream, river, estuary, or wetland within the Regional District of Nanaimo. 

Priority will be given to groups pursuing recommended actions (i.e. site enhancement/restoration) generated from RDN supported stream assessments or water quality monitoring but will not be limited to this.

Multi-year projects can apply annually for up to three consecutive years. After the third year of funding, the project is ineligible for funding for that following year. After a one-year grace period to allow others to access funds, the project is eligible to apply for funding again for up to three consecutive years.

• Stewardship Seed Funding Information Sheet
• Stewardship Seed Funding Pre-approval Application Form
• Stewardship Seed Funding Claim Form
• Estimated Projects Costs Template
• Site Overview Template

Seed Funding is awarded by the RDN's DWWP Program, based on the merit of the application and how it matches current program priorities. Funding issued can be up to $10,000. Apply early as limited funds are available each year. It will be indicated at the top of this webpage when funding is exhausted for the year. 

Before the commencement of restoration, research, and enhancement projects, appropriate agencies must be notified and, in some cases, permits must be obtained. Projects can be pre-approved on the condition that a copy of any required notifications and permits are provided to the RDN before works begin. Written permission from landowners must be obtained and submitted to the RDN for all projects taking place on private property. Projects that do not have the appropriate approvals prior to the start date will be ineligible for funding. 

Agencies that may require notification or permits include: local, provincial and federal government. The below list is not an exhaustive one; understanding the location-dependent and project-specific requirements of other agencies is the responsibility of those applying for seed funding and not the responsibility of the RDN.

Included in the below list are the agency, associated legislation and any relevant section, a brief example, and contact information.

• Municipal Government:
  • Specific bylaws and development permit areas vary – contact the applicable municipality directly for details
  • Example: a Development Permit Exemption for work on a site within the municipality.
  • District of Lantzville: 250-933-8083 kyoung [at] lantzville.ca (kyoung[at]lantzville[dot]ca)
  • City of Parksville: 250-954-3061 planning [at] parksville.ca (planning[at]parksville[dot]ca)
  • Town of Qualicum Beach: 250-752-6921 lsales [at] qualicumbeach.com (lsales[at]qualicumbeach[dot]com)

• Regional Government:
  • Electoral Areas A, B, C, E, G, H: Bylaw 500, Part 5 – Freshwater and Fish Habitat Development Permit Area
  • Electoral Area F: Bylaw 1285, Section 7 – Freshwater and Fish Habitat Development Permit Area
  • Example: a Development Permit Exemption for work on a site within the municipality.
  • RDN Planning Department: 250-390-6510 or 250-954-3798 planning [at] rdn.bc.ca (planning[at]rdn[dot]bc[dot]ca)

• Provincial Government:
  • Water Sustainability Act, Section 11 – Changes in and about a stream
  • Water Sustainability Regulation, Part 3 – Changes in and about a stream
  • Example: an approved Changes in and About a Stream Permit or notification submitted to Habitat Officer 45 days prior to the commencement of work.
  • FrontCounterBC: 1-877-855-3222 or 250-751-7220 FrontCounterBC [at] gov.bc.ca (FrontCounterBC[at]gov[dot]bc[dot]ca)

• Federal Government:
  • Fisheries Act, Projects Near Water
  • Example: for work in a fish-bearing waterway.
  • DFO Community Advisors: Vancouver Island North Central – 250-465-8348 Jacob.Melville [at] dfo-mpo.gc.ca (Jacob[dot]Melville[at]dfo-mpo[dot]gc[dot]ca) & Vancouver Island Central West Coast – 250-918-4782 Ryan.Cyr [at] dfo-mpo.gc.ca (Ryan[dot]Cyr[at]dfo-mpo[dot]gc[dot]ca)

Email or mail the completed form, supporting documents, and 'before' photos to waterstewardship [at] rdn.bc.ca or Attn: Drinking Water & Watershed Protection Program, Regional District of Nanaimo, 6300 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo BC, V9T 6N2, respectively.

What type of project costs are eligible for Stewardship Seed Funding?

• Costs incurred for items specifically used on-site for a project, and will not be used for other projects, are eligible for seed funding. Some examples are native plants and fencing materials, permit application fees, professional consultant restoration design and planning, and on-site volunteer support, such as lunch items for all-day planting or work-party.

Do I need to obtain permissions and permits before I apply for seed funding?

• No, seed funding can be allocated to a project on the condition that the necessary obtained permits, permissions, and/or notifications will be submitted to the RDN before works begin.

My project is in a municipality within the Regional District of Nanaimo, is it eligible for this program?

• Yes, projects that take place within the Regional District of Nanaimo, including all four member municipalities (Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, Qualicum Beach), can apply for seed funding.

What should be included on the Site Overview submitted with the Pre-approval Application?

• The Site Overview not only includes the current conditions of the site; it is the rationalization of why the site was chosen and further demonstrates the relevance of the project. The amount of information and details included in the Site Overview will vary from project to project. For a project based on recommendations from a previously-completed physical stream assessment report (i.e. USHP or Habitat Assessment), please cite those recommendations in the Site Overview. If your project is research-focused, highlight why that site is important and why it should be selected.

Do I have to follow the Estimated Projects Cost and Site Overview templates exactly?

• No, these templates may not fit every project. Rather, they are examples that can be utilized for your pre-approval application. To meet application requirements, you must include in one format or another an itemized breakdown of project costs and the reasoning the site(s) was/were chosen. 

What information needs to be included in the pre and post-project maintenance plan?

• Both the pre and post-project maintenance plans must include how the site will be monitored and sustained to ensure the functionality and longevity of the restoration and enhancement work. For research-based projects indicate how the collected data will be used or the site(s) will be monitored in the future.

Our project cannot be completed in one year, can we apply at one time for multiple years and/or phases of our project?

• Seed funding is based on an annual RDN Board-approved budget and cannot be allocated beyond the current calendar year. Still, with your pre-approval application, you may submit site-specific past/future restoration, research, and/or enhancement that has/will take place, including the final/estimated budget. Historic project information will aid in the assessment of your current application and future project plans will assist RDN DWWP staff in anticipating seed funding demand for upcoming years.

Once submitted, how long before I know my Pre-approval Application is accepted, denied, or more information is required to process the application?

• The contact listed on your application will receive a receipt of confirmation. From the receipt of confirmation, it will take two to three weeks to process and respond to the application contact. If you have a deadline you are working towards, clearly emphasize your deadline when you submit your application.

To compliment RDN DWWP Stewardship Seed Funding, what other sources of funding are there?

• There are other grants available for projects in our region. The BC Water Funders Collaborative lists a variety of potential funding sources, some of these and others are listed below. 
  • BC Conservation Fund
  • BC Hydro grants for community groups 
  • BC Hydro Re-Greening Grant
  • BC Real Estate Foundation
  • City of Nanaimo Community Watershed Restoration Grant
  • Civic Info BC: list of municipal grants from Union of BC Municipalities
  • Habitat Conservation Trust Fund
  • Environment Canada
  • Pacific Salmon Foundation
  • Sitka Foundation
  • Tides Canada 

I think my project will qualify, is there someone I can talk to before I take the time to complete the pre-approval application form?

• Yes, contact RDN DWWP at 250-390-6560 or by email waterstewardship [at] rdn.bc.ca (waterstewardship[at]rdn[dot]bc[dot]ca).

Permits

• DFO Community Advisors
• Who to Contact at DFO – project-specific inquiries
• DFO Environmental Emergency Response & Violation Contact Numbers
• Apply for a Change Approval or Submit Notification of Instream Work
• FrontCounterBC
• RDN Electoral Areas A, B, C, E, G, H – Zoning Bylaw 500, Part 5: DPA's
• RDN Electoral Area F – Zoning Bylaw 1285, Part 7: DPA's
• City of Nanaimo – Bylaw 5105: Respecting Watercourses
• City of Nanaimo – Bylaw 4500, Schedule C: Watercourse Type & Leave Strip
• District of Lantzville – Development Permit Application Form
• City of Parksville – Community Planning and Building
• Town of Qualicum Beach – Development Permits

Native and Invasive Species

• BC Invasive Species
• Invasive Species Council of BC
• Grow Me Instead Brochure
• Natural Abundance Native Plant Nursery
• Streamside Native Plants

Reports

• DWWP Reports – regional report inventory for watershed research
• 2001 - 2010 Haslam Creek Fish & Habitat Assessment
• 2015 French Creek USHP (FFCCS)
• 2015 Grandon Creek USHP (QBSS)
• 2016 Departure Creek Habitat Assessment (DCS)
• 2016 Millstone River USHP (IWFF)
• 2017 Annie Creek USHP (NCES)
• 2017 Cat Stream USHP (IWFF)
• 2018 Morison Creek USHP (MVIHES)

Inspiration from Elsewhere

• Fernie's Floating Wetlands Address Community Stormwater Pollution