Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program

Eligible program applicants must be legal entities:

• Incorporated watershed stewardship groups
• Indigenous communities and organizations
• Irrigation and drainage districts
• Municipalities
• Non-profit organizations 
• Non-government organizations registered under the Alberta Societies Act 

Individuals and private enterprises are not eligible to receive funding under this program but are encouraged to participate and contribute to projects with eligible partners.

The Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program funds partner projects that contribute to the following outcomes:

• advancing flood and drought resiliency in priority areas within watersheds in Alberta
• restoring and enhancing ecological connectivity and function in critical areas
• increasing knowledge, awareness and tools that enhance watershed resiliency

Applications may include projects for one individual site or multiple sites within a watershed under the same project plan.

Data collection efforts for the purpose of research, evaluation and assessment, and education and outreach will be considered but must be directly tied to one of the above mentioned on-the-ground activities as part of an overall project plan.  

This program is competitive and over-subscribed, so only high-impact projects will be funded.

Watershed resiliency 

Watershed resiliency means that when a watershed experiences a stressor, it can function within its baseline of normal catchment, storage, and release. For example, in a year with heavy precipitation, a watershed will be highly resilient if it can catch, store, and release excess water without flooding outside of its normal range.

• A Resiliency Framework for Physical Hydrology 

Projects considered under the program include, but are not limited to:

• enhancements to riparian areas, the interface between land and a river, stream, lake or wetland (for example, livestock watering systems, improved stream crossings, livestock management fencing or native vegetation plantings)
• enhancements to wetlands (for example, livestock exclusion fencing or restoration)
• improvements to floodplains and runoff management (for example, channel naturalization, removal of old structures and flow impediments, re-vegetation, surface water capacity enhancements)
• increase of absorptive capacities (for example, rain garden installation, removal of old drainage infrastructure or other surface water retention efforts)

Eligible project costs to the applicant funded under the program include, but are not limited to:

• Costs of goods and services to promote and deliver the eligible activities (including administrative costs)
• Operating expenses related to the project
• Equipment purchases and leases
• Capital infrastructure directly tied to restoration or conservation projects
• Materials and deliverables directly tied to the project
• Technical consulting and professional services
• Education, communication and outreach activities related to the project
• Post project evaluation performed within the program term and directly linked to project deliverables
• Salaries and benefits tied to staff hired specifically for Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program project(s)
• Reasonable travel-related expenses as outlined by the Government of Alberta
• Cost of computer equipment together with software to be used for the eligible activities up to a maximum of $3,000 unless otherwise approved
• Speaker fees for workshops, conferences or seminars related to watershed resiliency and restoration

Costs not eligible for funding under the program include:

• Structures such as berms, dykes, dams, berms, tunnels, culverts, riprap, etc.
• “Hard-armoured” erosion control work
• Dugout or water well construction
• Other construction-based work such as river training, stormwater ponds, in-stream structures
• Salary and benefits of existing staff that are funded by other sources
• Expenses for the administration and coordination of activities to maintain a Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program project in Alberta beyond the approved proposal
• Purchase of capital equipment not directly tied to the project
• Purchase or construction of real property or structural works
• Purchase of fleet (for example: land, water, air vehicles)
• Land or wetland conservation offsets or compensation
• Academic research or education/outreach not tied to a specific approved project
• Goods and Services Tax (GST) (refundable portion)
• Expenses incurred outside of the project term
• Any expenditures or costs that are not approved by Alberta's government

Municipalities should seek funding for wetland creation and restoration under the Wetland Replacement Program.

Email [email protected] for more information on the Wetland Replacement Program.

Hard infrastructure projects concerning drought and flood should be directed to the Drought and Flood Protection Program.

Email [email protected] for more information on the Drought and Flood Protection Program.

Applications are assessed by a Government of Alberta review committee of subject matter specialists for eligibility and potential to improve watershed functions. We will review eligible applications based on program objectives, the funding priorities and priorities of Alberta's government. Not all applications that meet the established review criteria will be approved for funding.

Applicants will receive written notification of the decision regarding their application before March 31. If your project is approved, you will work with the Program Coordinator to enter into a grant agreement. The agreement will outline expected timelines, budget, and deliverables and conditions.

The primary criteria focus on the degree to which a proposed project mitigates the potential impacts of flood or droughts in priority areas.

Secondary criteria such as innovation, additional environmental benefits, data gathering, outreach, education and stewardship will also be considered.

Each project is ranked by relevant experts, who can be anyone from a river engineer to a community outreach specialist, depending on the nature of the project.

View webinars and information supported by the Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program.

• YouTube: Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program

Find out more about Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program-supported projects.

• Modeste Watershed Riparian Area Assessment – North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance
• Municipal Toolkit for Flood and Drought Action Planning – Miistakis Institute
• Putting Beavers to Work for Watershed Resiliency and Restoration – Miistakis Institute

• Riparian Areas and Wetlands Municipal Engagement Needs Assessment Survey Summary

These maps provide information about flood, drought and water quality priority areas in Alberta. The maps were developed to inform decisions on the allocation of grant funds. They do not represent the state of the watershed and should not be used for any purpose other than informing program applications.

• Priority areas maps

The objective of the Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program prioritization project was to identify priority watersheds for allocation of program resources using an objective and scientifically rigorous approach. The summary report provides a description of the methodology used to identify priority areas. Contact program staff for the full report.

• Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program Prioritization Project Summary Report