Common Goldeneye Nestbox Program:     $7,500
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Clarenville and Grand Falls, Newfoundland

There is international concern over the observed decline of Common Goldeneye populations. One of the factors thought to contribute to this decline is the reduction of available nest cavities as mature forests are often reduced by logging. In collaboration with local volunteers, Ducks Unlimited Canada proposes to build and deploy 150 nest boxes in the Grand Falls and Clarenville area. Similar boxes installed in other areas of Newfoundland have shown an 80% use rate. Volunteers will receive training to build, deploy, maintain and evaluate the usage of the boxes. The boxes will be installed in the winter time to facilitate their installation at a sufficient height by volunteers.

Airport Heights 'Naturally':     $12,000
Residents Committee - Airport Heights
St. John's, Newfoundland (Airport Heights Community Park)

Since 1998, the residents of Airport Heights in St. John's have been actively involved to ensure improved and proper development of their community. The Airport Heights Residents Committee will work to restore 3.4 hectares of land used as a gravel quarry in the 1960's. The Committee will clean up the site, restore the vegetation cover, which has started to very slowly re-establish itself on about half the surface, and add minerals and top soil to exposed areas. Woody plant material and seed mixtures will then be planted to provide food and shelter for wildlife.

Nain and Hopedale Common Eider Nest Shelter Project:     $23,433
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Labrador, Newfoundland (Nain, Hopedale, and Makovick)

There is considerable international concern over the population status of Common Eiders. The loss of eggs to predatory birds is one of the many factors responsible for this situation, an important problem as the Eiders seem to prefer nesting on islands that lack cover. Ducks Unlimited Canada, in partnership with the Labrador Inuit Association, will work to increase the number of Common Eiders found in the Nain and Hopedale area, along the coast of Labrador. Using local knowledge and other available information, the partnership will choose the location of and construct 140 nest shelters using locally available slab material, a technique which proved effective through the rough winters for other nests built in 1999. This project will help to give the local communities a sense of ownership and greater awareness of this important resource.

Bowring Park Duck Pond Restoration and Wetland Creation:     $18,000
Grand Concourse Authority
St. John's, Newfoundland

The Grand Concourse Authority is working in partnership with the City of St. John's and the Bowring Park Foundation on a large project to restore the ecological health of a section of the Waterford River, at the entrance of the widely-used public park. Site investigations have shown the pond area to be a source of excessive sedimentation with the potential for slope failure, indicating the need for bank stabilization. The organization will plant vegetation around the banks of the Duck Pond and in and around two adjacent wetlands. The wetlands and vegetation will provide wildlife habitat and limit local bank erosion while the wetlands will also help to reduce the rate of run-off which will in turn reduce erosion downstream.

Hare Bay Ecological Reserve Project:     $13,000
White Bay Central Development Association
Main Brook, Newfoundland (Hare Bay Islands)

Historically, Common Eiders used to be found in the thousands in the Hare Bay Ecological Reserve area. This group of islands of the coast of Newfoundland, used as habitat by the birds, became a concern when, in 1988, the population was estimated to be down to 88 pairs. It was found that combined egg and chick predation resulted in a very low survival rate of about 10% annually. Efforts were undertaken to put in place a captive rearing program and to build nesting boxes. The program was a large success resulting in a very large population of Common Eiders once again. It was found that other types of birds have also returned to the area. A number of the nesting boxes have deteriorated or are not in use; the White Bay Central Development Association intends to repair or replace up to 250 boxes, and relocate them as required.

Labrador Clean Water Project:     $89,000
Quebec-Labrador Foundation
Forteau, Labrador (North and South coastal communities, and Labrador Straits)

Communities along the coast of Labrador have long used the marine environment to receive their wastewater. However, as population increases and water quality is becoming a serious health concern (as shown by boil orders), communities are left with a huge problem; the cold climate and poor soil conditions combined with the lack of adequate funds and available local technical expertise for maintenance and repair make conventional, connected systems impractical in those areas. As a result, communities are left with unsafe disposal methods including leaking septic tanks, buckets and malfunctioning, incomplete sewage systems. The Quebec-Labrador Foundation will partner with the 200-student Mountain Field School in Forteau to connect its existing septic system to a natural peat filter within a small constructed wetland of native plants. This project will achieve improved water quality and biodiversity in the immediate area but a large part of the project will be directed at improving wastewater treatment in other communities by example. Residents in several communities will be encouraged to learn proper septic system maintenance and water quality monitoring as well as basic information about the water cycle and wastewater treatment options.

Wild About Wetlands! :     $10,000
ACAP Humber Arm Environmental Association Inc.
Corner Brook, Newfoundland

The City of Corner Brook is fortunate to have a marsh located at the heart of its community. Up to 1996, the marsh, located on the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper company, was used to receive dredge material from the company's water supply pond. The company has since ceased this use and restoration work was initiated. Five small ponds have been created in the 3-hectare marsh, and the material has been used to create wildlife islands. The ACAP Humber Arm Environmental Association will carry out additional needed work to improve the site for biodiversity. It will remove all debris, create a vegetative buffer on a steep slope between the marsh and a neighboring road and install 12 nesting boxes. The organization will be using the area to conduct guided tours to some 100 individuals and 30 schools.