B.C. Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program

Le Programme d'infrastructures hydrauliques agricoles

B.C. Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program

The Investment Agricultural Foundation (IAF) Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program will help B.C. based primary and Indigenous producers, conservation groups, water purveyors and Indigenous communities in adapting to climate change by providing incentives to invest in water infrastructure for adaptation.

The Investment Agricultural Foundation (IAF) Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program will help B.C.-based primary and Indigenous producers, conservation groups, water purveyors and Indigenous communities in adapting to climate change by providing incentives to invest in water infrastructure for adaptation.

Timeline

Projects must start on or after August 31, 2023

The review dates for upcoming application batches are July 31 and September 1, 2023

Funding Amount

Stream 1:

Improvement, rehabilitation, expansion, or new construction of water storage systems for farms (including agricultural dams)
Up to $1M in funding at a 50% cost share ratio.

Stream 2:

Improvement, expansion or new construction of off-farm conveyance and water supply systems to farms
Up to $2M in funding at a 50% cost share ratio.

Stream 3:

Agricultural water supply assessments, engineering studies or plans
Up to $100,000 in funding at a 75% cost share ratio.

Eligible Applicants

Incorporated and individual producers
Agricultural and conservation groups
Irrigation/improvement districts and local/municipal governments that supply water to agriculture

Funding Details

Stacking of funds from other government programs is allowed up to 100% of project costs provided the programs are not delivered by IAF.
An initial payment (50%) will be made by IAF to all projects upon signing of their contribution agreement.
Interim and final payments will be made based on actual expenses reported.

Eligible Criteria

The project must involve a minimum of $15,000 in eligible expenses
It must be financed at least by 25% of private investment

Program Objectives

Target funding in water-scarce and drought-prone areas that will be increasingly stressed by climate change, and that will benefit from more efficient infrastructure or storage to maximize available water for agricultural uses, particularly irrigation and livestock watering.
Target funding in areas with sufficient water supply or with high potential for farmland expansion that could lead to an increase in agricultural production with additional water infrastructure.

Eligible Projects

Stream 1:

Rehabilitation and upgrade of agricultural dams and reservoirs to meet regulatory requirements.

New construction of reservoirs and large storage facilities.
Improvement, expansion or new construction of dugouts and storage facilities for irrigation water and livestock watering.
Improvement, expansion, or new construction of delivery systems to the farm gate from off-farm storage reservoirs and licensed intakes on streams.

Extension of an existing water purveyor network to expand water supply to additional agricultural land.

Stream 2:

Improvement, expansion, or new construction of off-farm conversion of conveyance ditches to pipeline where savings of 30 to 50% can be achieved.
Development of new water purveyed systems to agricultural land.
Installation of meters where a universal agricultural water metering program is being implemented by a water purveyor.

Stream 3:

Water supply assessments of feasibility studies in key agricultural areas to determine available water supply.
Engineering studies or plans for water purveyors to assess and determine opportunities for upgrades and expansion of existing purveyed water systems.
Dam engineering assessments, water release plans, dam safety reviews.

Thinking of applying for financing? Don’t wait! These funds are highly competitive. Contact us today to get started!

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