Aquatic habitat quality improvement (AQHA)

• Maximum financial assistance can cover up to 75% of eligible project costs.
• Funding may span up to 24 months depending on project priority.
• Administrative and office expenses are eligible up to a maximum of 10% of total eligible expenses.
• Expenses for species recolonization in new habitats are eligible up to 10% of the total project value.
• Annual depreciation or rental costs for IT equipment are eligible up to a maximum of 33% of the equipment's value over three years from the purchase date.

• The applicant must be a legally constituted public or private organization engaged in the conservation, enhancement, or management of wildlife habitats (individuals are not eligible).
• The proposed project must have a direct benefit for aquatic wildlife and target water bodies accessible to the public within Quebec (excluding federal lands and fishing ponds).
• The project must be planned and supervised by qualified specialists in the relevant field.
• The project should not involve significant problems arising from forestry, agricultural, or industrial activities.

Who is eligible?

• Legally constituted public organizations engaged in wildlife habitat conservation and enhancement
• Legally constituted private organizations engaged in wildlife habitat conservation and enhancement
• Local or regional organizations involved in conservation or management of aquatic habitats
• Non-profit organizations dedicated to the stewardship or restoration of aquatic environments
• Municipal organizations involved in habitat conservation within Quebec

Who is not eligible

• Individuals (private persons) cannot apply.
• Businesses and organizations not legally constituted are not eligible.
• Organizations based on or seeking to conduct projects on federal lands or in fishing ponds are not eligible.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and regular benefits related to project coordination, supervision, execution, and follow-up, including travel expenses.
• Fees for specialists and expert consultants.
• Administrative and office expenses (e.g., office rent, supplies, photocopying, phone, postage, accounting), up to 10% of total eligible expenses.
• Rental or depreciation costs for computer equipment during the project, with annual depreciation up to 33% of equipment value (over three years from purchase date).
• Purchase of materials, tools, and light equipment, as well as rental costs for machinery or equipment necessary for project completion.
• Transportation costs and equipment installation directly related to project execution.
• Expenses to accelerate the recolonization of a species in a newly enhanced habitat, limited to 10% of the total project value.
• In-kind contributions such as volunteer work, equipment loans, or material donations, calculated at rates equal to or below regional standards.

Eligible geographic areas

• Province of Quebec (excluding federal lands and fishing ponds)
• Nordic territory of Quebec (north of the 49th parallel, the St. Lawrence River, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence) for specific funding streams

• Completeness and clarity of the application, including provision of all required information and authorizations.
• Degree of project planning, such as integration into watershed-scale planning and inclusion of knowledge transfer activities.
• Proponent’s capacity to realize the project effectively.
• Wildlife value: impact on the resource and its habitat, potential to increase fishing opportunities, and consideration of the presence of competing species.
• Technical and financial feasibility, including leverage of funding from other sources and cost-benefit analysis.

• The program gives priority to projects eligible for specific funds, such as those for Atlantic salmon, brook trout, and northern wildlife.
• Applicants are encouraged to contact a program manager prior to submitting their application to validate project relevance and eligibility.
• The project promoter is required to sign a protocol agreeing to the terms of the funding and must provide annual follow-up and maintenance reports for habitat developments funded by the Foundation for three years following completion.
• Site inspections may take place during the three years after project completion to ensure proper maintenance of supported developments.