Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund (AHRF)

• Total funding available through the Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund was $75 million in Grants & Contributions, allocated until March 31, 2025.

• The applicant must be an Indigenous group.
• The project must involve aquatic habitat restoration activities in freshwater or marine ecosystems.
• The project must be located within the Salish Sea, the Fraser River watershed, or inland watersheds along the TMX pipeline corridor in British Columbia or Alberta.

Who is eligible?

• Indigenous groups involved in aquatic habitat restoration

Who is not eligible

• No specific information regarding ineligible companies or industry restrictions is provided for the Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund (AHRF).

Eligible expenses

• Personnel costs related to Indigenous-led aquatic habitat restoration activities.
• Expenses for community capacity building initiatives.
• Purchase of materials and equipment required for restoration work.
• Costs for conducting studies on aquatic habitats.
• Outreach and educational materials related to stewardship and habitat protection.

Eligible geographic areas

• Projects located in the Salish Sea region
• Projects within the Fraser River watershed
• Inland watersheds along the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) pipeline corridor in British Columbia and Alberta

• AHRF was established specifically in response to concerns raised by Indigenous groups during consultations on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX).
• The fund focused on both freshwater and marine ecosystems as part of its restoration efforts.
• Monitoring and maintenance are essential components to support the long-term sustainability of affected habitats.
• AHRF is linked to other related federal initiatives such as the Salish Sea Initiative and Terrestrial Studies Initiative.