An evaluation of the Soil and Water Environmental Enhancement Program

The Soil and Water Environmental Enhancement Program (SWEEP), a federal-provincial program designed to reduce the volume of phosphorus being transported to Lake Erie, consisted of seven sub-programs. The federal programs included: the Pilot Watershed Studies, the Technology Assessment Panel, the Conservation Information Bureau, and the Socio-economic Evaluation. Each sub-program was managed by a private sector contractor except the Socio-economic Evaluation. The province of Ontario was responsible for: Local Demonstrations, Technical Assistance,and Soil Conservation Incentives. The two levels of government were jointly responsible for the Administration, Monitoring and Public Information sub-program. SWEEP operated with the support and participation of four government ministries: Agriculture Canada, Environment Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. The SWEEP objectives were: 1. To reduce phosphorus loading in the Lake Erie basin by 200 tonnes per year by 1990 from non-point agricultural cropland sources. 2. To maintain or improve the productivity of Southwestern Ontario agriculture by reducing or arresting erosion and other forms of soil degradation.The evaluation was conducted using an evaluation framework consistent with procedures specified by the Office of the Comptroller General, Treasury Board of Canada. The data used to conduct the evaluation come from program reports and interviews with 10 program staff, 25 key respondents, 5 contractors and a survey of 427 farmers. A sample of 800 farmers from the SWEEP area selected by Statistics Canada were mailed a questionnaire. In addition to 327 who returned questionnaires, 100 were interviewed on the telephone by Statistics Canada staff.