This report is the culmination of Phase I of the three-phase Investing in Watersheds project and builds on previous efforts in the Grindstone Creek watershed, which began in 2019 in collaboration with NAI, Conservation Halton, the City of Hamilton, the City of Burlington, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and the Greenbelt Foundation.

This report includes:

• An overview of the existing investment instruments operating to support watershed health for Grindstone Creek
• Types of watershed investment instruments that could be accessed by applying the Grindstone Creek Natural Asset Management Project findings
• General watershed investment principles that could be considered when designing a watershed investment approach that is inclusive, scalable, and durable
• An overview of the Common Asset Trust (CAT) financing model proposed to support investment in the restoration, protection, and management of biodiversity, ecosystems, and ecosystem services for the Grindstone Creek Watershed

Acknowledgments

This report was prepared by NAI and Dark Matter Labs (DML). The project builds on efforts in the Grindstone Creek watershed, which began in 2019 in collaboration with NAI, Conservation Halton, the City of Hamilton, the City of Burlington, the Royal Botanical Gardens, with funding generously provided by the Greenbelt Foundation.

Watershed Partners and Grindstone Creek Working Group: Conservation Halton, the City of Hamilton, the City of Burlington, NAI, and DML.

This project was financially supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Co-operators is thanked for committing funds to the next phase of work following this report.