A Prince Edward Island environmental organization will have to rely more on corporate donations to fund their projects as federal contributions continue to be "a big question mark."

The Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association has been asking for more private funding to keep its projects running.

This year, the association turned to the Royal Bank in Summerside to help fund its adopt-a-river program, with a total of $90,000 over three years.

Without that money, Tracy Brown, executive director of the Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association, said the program would have disappeared.

Brown said the BBEMA is happy the bank is supporting the local initiative, and says the money will hopefully make it easier to secure other private funding.

"It will allow us to go after other big corporations that are looking for long-standing projects to invest in," Brown said.

Boyce Murphy, of RBC in Summerside, said the bank has increased its funding to environmental groups by millions of dollars in the last couple of years.

"I think we're becoming more aware of the importance of water and water protection in our society going forward," Murphy said.

Program being re-evaluated

The BBEMA and 16 other similar groups across Atlantic Canada had problems earlier this year getting federal funding.

The 16 associations belonging to the Atlantic Coastal Action Program all offer programs, such as water testing, climate change information and best farming practices.

The groups must renew their federal funding each year and Ottawa waited until the last minute to hand out their 2010 financial allotment.

Brown said the federal government did deliver its funding, but the financial stress is not over.

"Next year is still a big question mark — they are still in the process of changing and re-evaluating the program."