Ontario Investing to Restore Areas of the St. Lawrence River
September 19, 2025Cornwall Ontario – The Ontario government is investing $435,829 in a project led by the River Institute to restore areas of the St. Lawrence River near Cornwall and Akwesasne.
This is one of 63 multi-year projects across Ontario receiving a total of $7.3 million to protect water quality, restore natural habitats and strengthen local ecosystems around the Great Lakes and their connecting waters. Together, these projects will improve fisheries, increase biodiversity and support healthier communities and stronger local economies.
“Home to 20 per cent of the world’s surface freshwater, the Great Lakes also support one of the largest economies, providing drinking water to our communities and driving tourism and growth across the province,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “We are making strategic investments with partners like the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences in initiatives that will conserve this vital resource for future generations.”
With funding from the Great Lakes Program, the River Institute is carrying out multiple actions that will improve the ecological health of the St. Lawrence River, through monitoring and research activities, as well as public education.
Some of these actions include:
- Evaluating fish and wildlife consumption restrictions over time to track improvements and allow the community to make informed decisions about what they eat
- Conducting water monitoring and sampling in partnership with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne to evaluate the effects of harmful algae on local water quality and support community resilience
- Building a digital map with the latest environmental data to track pollution levels across various zones of the river
- Educating community members on the impacts of climate change on local water quality and ecosystem health
“These collaborative environmental research and community engagement projects will not only advance the remediation and restoration of the St. Lawrence Area of Concern (Cornwall/Akwesasne) but also help build resilience along the Upper St. Lawrence River to face any future challenges,” said Jeff Ridal, Executive Director, St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences. “Funding from the Government of Ontario’s Great Lakes Program is instrumental in supporting local organizations to build partnerships and lead initiatives to restore and protect the health of these critical waterways.”
These projects are part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario by restoring waterways that are vital resources to the province’s thriving tourism and agriculture industries and to supporting healthy, more resilient communities.
“The St. Lawrence River is the lifeforce of our community, and it is imperative that we take care of it,” said Nolan Quinn MPP, Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry. “Through this investment, our government is ensuring that the St. Lawrence River is protected so future generations across Cornwall and Akwesasne can continue to have access to clean drinking water and make memories along the river.”
The River Institute is a leader in environmental research and is located in Cornwall on the campus of St. Lawrence College.
“The St. Lawrence River plays an important role in the daily lives of our communities,” said Justin Towndale, Mayor, Cornwall. “Historically, we have harnessed these waters for trade, for industrial applications, for the generation of electricity, for sports and leisure activities, and most importantly, for our drinking water. We appreciate this investment by the Ontario government to protect the St. Lawrence today, and for future generations.”
Quick Facts
- Of the $7.3 million investment, $5.5 million is provided through the 2024/25 Great Lakes Program and nearly $1.8 million is provided through the Great Lakes Local Action Fund.
- Almost 83 per cent of Ontario’s power generation and 95 per cent of Ontario’s agricultural lands depend on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin.
- Working with the Great Lakes community partners, our government is making progress on actions included in Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy, such as:
- restoring 14 Areas of Concern around the Great Lakes
- restoring and enhancing over 9,900 acres of wetlands through about 590 projects with $31 million from the Wetlands Conservation Partner Program
- expanding the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail to over 3,600 kilometres and connecting 170 communities, villages and First Nation communities.
About the River Institute
The River Institute was established in 1994 as a unique community partnership involving the City of Cornwall, the Mohawks of Akwesasne, government, education, business, and industry. Its mandate is environmental research and education with a focus on the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence River ecosystem. The River Institute is a non-governmental, charitable organization and works in partnership with a wide variety of individuals, groups, agencies, and communities to fulfill its environmental mission.
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