In August 2025, the provincial government announced $41 million in funding for irrigation projects in the Niagara fruitlands. The money is for improving the NOTL irrigation system and designing and implementing  a new irrigation scheme in the St. Catharines-Lincoln area.

The Niagara-on-the-Lake irrigation committee has been actively involved with a design team since November 2025. A public information session was held in NOTL on June 10. The irrigation committee received a project update on July 8.

It was decided by grower members of the Niagara Irrigation Initiative Project to split the funding 50-50 between Niagara-on-the-Lake and St. Catharines-Lincoln. 

I would like to thank the irrigation vice chairman Erwin Wiens for his help in advocating for irrigation for all the Niagara fruitlands as well as input in securing the 50-50 split.

Growers can look forward to an improved irrigation system in the near future.

Kevin Buis
Chair of NOTL irrigation committee