EcoAction: Stream 2 Freshwater Sustainability and Innovation across Canada
Not accepting applications
Deadline Details
The intake closed on January 20, 2026.
Funder
Canada Water Agency
Funding Organization Type
- Federal Government
Funding Range
- Small (up to $50K)
- Medium ($50K-$250K)
Eligible Community
- Local Governments
- Indigenous Communities
- Métis Nations
- Modern Treaty Nations
Eligible Project Activities
- Project Feasibility
- Project Implementation (e.g. Design / Procurement / Construction)
EcoAction Stream 2: Freshwater Sustainability and Innovation across Canada will fund projects related to the following objectives:
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Pilot innovative and/or clean technology solutions to improve freshwater quality and/or freshwater ecosystem health that not only address local issues but are able to be applied across Canada.
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Enable circular economy opportunities (e.g., nutrient recycling and/or recovery) for communities and/or sectors to achieve co-benefits, such as increased resilience to climate change, local economic growth, value chain efficiencies, etc.
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Address freshwater data challenges to ensure that Canadians and decision-makers have access to and can use freshwater-related data and/or Indigenous knowledges, to strengthen knowledge generation and to enhance effective freshwater management in Canada.
The aim of EcoAction Stream 2: Freshwater Sustainability and Innovation across Canada is to:
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Achieve tangible environmental results
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Engage communities and organizations to improve freshwater management
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Enable sustainable outcomes and engagement following project completion
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Projects should be of national relevance and/or national in scope, be of relevance to multiple locations within Canada, or be a localized initiative that could be scaled up to have national relevance. All project activities must be implemented in Canada.
Projects must always address at least one of the objectives identified in the call for applications and clearly demonstrate that activities lead to measurable, positive results for the environment at the end of the project. The following types of projects may be eligible under EcoAction Stream 2: Freshwater Sustainability and Innovation across Canada:
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Developing, testing or demonstrating innovative tools, technologies and techniques that can be applied in multiple locations across Canada to improve freshwater quality and/or freshwater ecosystem health
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Scaling-up or transferring innovative tools, technologies and techniques that have been proven to be effective in a specific region to other locations across Canada to test their effectiveness in improving freshwater quality and/or freshwater ecosystem health in other regions of Canada
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Freshwater-related studies and/or projects that improve circular economy opportunities for communities and/or specific sectors
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Projects that enhance opportunities for communities to increase resilience to climate change, enable local economic growth and/or achieve value-chain efficiencies related to freshwater management
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Improving access to data to assist with decision-making and/or taking actions to enhance freshwater stewardship in CanadaProjects that integrate diverse knowledge systems, including Indigenous perspectives to inform freshwater stewardship and decision-making
Eligible Community
The following applicants are eligible to receive funding:
- Domestic not-for-profit organizations, such as charitable and volunteer organizations, professional associations, and non-governmental organizations
- Municipal governments and local governments
- Domestic research, academic and educational institutions
- Domestic small for-profit entities piloting innovative and/or clean technology solutions (less than 100 employees)
- Domestic Indigenous organizations, governments, boards, commissions, communities, associations and authorities
Required Community Contribution
No community contribution required
Funding Stacking Restrictions
Yes
Professional Input Required
No
Applicants are responsible for conducting the necessary research to determine if laws or mandates apply to any of the activities listed in the application. It is recommended that applicants verify relevant federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal legislation and regulations relating to the project’s activities and/or location(s).
Other Eligible Communities
Businesses / For-profitIndigenous Organizations
Non-governmental Organizations / Not-for-Profits
Academic Institutions
Type of Funding
- Non-repayable Contribution
Range of Funding Available per Project
- Small (up to $50K)
- Medium ($50K-$250K)
Description of Funding
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EcoAction Stream 2: Freshwater Sustainability and Innovation across Canada can provide a funding contribution of a minimum of $25,000, and a maximum of $200,000
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Projects can be single or multi-year in nature but must be completed within the 2-year timeframe ending March 31, 2029
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The current Call for Applications is for projects that will begin during the 2027/28 fiscal year
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EcoAction will not fund 100% of project expenses (please note matching requirements below)
Percentage of Project Funded
A minimum of 50% of the total value of the project must come from sources other than the Government of Canada.
Therefore, for every dollar you receive from the Government of Canada, including EcoAction Stream 2: Freshwater Sustainability and Innovation across Canada, you must obtain at least the same amount from non-federal government partners (1:1 match funding required).
Potential sources of matching funds (cash and in-kind) and how collaborations are to be undertaken (e.g. contributions by the applicant, landowners or others involved in the project, use of equipment, expertise etc.) must be clearly outlined and described in the Project Budget.
Eligible Costs
EngineeringDesign
Operational and Maintenance Costs
Equipment/Material Purchase
Project Management
Staff Costs
Administration Fees
Research and Development
Eligible Project Costs:
- Human resource costs, including salaries and benefits
- Contractors required to perform activities related to the project
- Management and professional service costs such as accounting, monitoring, communications, official language translation, Indigenous languages translation, audit and legal fees
- Hospitality, travel and venues/conference expenses in accordance with the Treasury Board Secretariat’s Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference, and Event Expenditures
- Hospitality expenditures can include costs related to Indigenous ceremonial offerings to be utilized or consumed during meetings or ceremonies such as traditional medicines, cultural foods, tea and sacred plants
- Costs associated with an Indigenous participation or ceremony
- Monetary honoraria offered to Indigenous Elders and/or Knowledge Keepers related to specific participation activities which may include but not be limited to translation and interpretative costs, leading a traditional opening/closing ceremony and/or prayer, the sharing of traditional knowledge and protocols, (including spiritual advice to individuals), and demonstrating traditional art and other practices
- Materials and supplies
- Printing, production and distribution costs
- Equipment purchases or rentals
- Vehicle rental and operational costs
- Costs associated with land securement (e.g. leases, conservation easements, covenants or servitudes) and
- A reasonable share (15% or less) of overhead and/or administrative costs which are directly attributed to the carrying out of the project
Ineligible Costs
Any costs incurred prior to signing a funding agreementBuilding Purchase Costs
Land Acquisition
Ineligible Project Costs:
- Capital asset purchases
- Planning
- Preparation of formal curriculum materials (with the exception of informal, supplementary materials that may be used to enhance learning)
- Core organizational functions (e.g., meetings, maintenance, administration that is unrelated to the project)
- Annual or regular organizational events/campaigns
- Attending general conferences
- Recreational purposes
- Construction of infrastructure
- Decontamination of sites
- Land acquisition
- Purchase of a vehicle
- Incentives and rebates and
- Further disbursement of funds to a third party recipient (e.g., micro grants)
If you are unsure about the eligibility of your project, project activities or related costs, please contact EcoActionStream2-EcoActionVolet2@cwa-aec.gc.ca for clarification.
Reporting Requirements
Progress reports and final reports