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Application for Other Stewardship Grant

Use this application to apply for:

  • Habitat restoration
  • Shoreline restoration
  • Waterbody buffer strip
  • Lawn alternative such as a bee lawn 
  • Stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) such as a rain garden or tree trench (must follow guidelines in the Minnesota Stormwater Manual)

 

Feel free to reach out with questions! We can help determine if your project is eligible, provide advice on how to use online county property maps to approximate project measurements, and how to gather the information you need for the application.

Email the grant coordinator.

Who may apply?

Homeowners, non-profit organizations, businesses, schools, and municipal governments located in RPBCWD may apply.

 

Can I get in-kind credit for installing the project myself?

Homeowners and non-profit organizations are eligible for an in-kind labor credit for projects listed on this page. Other applicant types are not eligible for an in-kind credit.

Make sure you check out the project type requirements.

Commonly missed requirements

  • Habitat Restoration: Project size must be at least 250 square feet of developed/disturbed land. That means the existing condition of the area must be impermeable of low permeability such as a lawn, turf grass, parking lot, patio, other hard surface, or severely compacted soil. A severely eroded natural site of high value may fit into this description.
  • Lake Shoreline Restoration: Project must be at least 25 feet of shoreline or 25% of shoreline, whichever is greater, and a minimum average natural area width of 10 feet with at least 5 of those feet extending above the high water line. Only major lakes will be considered for shoreline restoration projects.
  • Waterbody Buffer: Project must be located outside the shoreline zone. Project must extend at least 25 feet along (parallel to) shoreline and have a minimum average width of 10 feet. Waterbodies include lakes, pond, wetland, and creeks, etc.
  • Rain Garden: Our definition of a rain garden aligns with the Minnesota Stormwater Manual, which means there are technical specifications and drawings that need to be provided, usually by a landscape architect or knowledgeable advisor.

Maximum Grant Award for Types of Projects Listed Above

Applicant Category Cost Share Percentage Cost Share Maximum Award

Homeowner

Up to 75% of project cost

Up to $5,000

Non-profit property owner

Up to 75% of project cost

Up to $20,000

Municipality, school, business

Up to 50% of project cost

Up to $50,000 for Stormwater BMP;

Up to $20,000 for other types or projects listed above

 

Evaluation of Application

Review the application evaluation forms to see how you can maximize the cost share percentage for your project!

Required Attachments for Application

Please upload these items with your application form or you will have an INCOMPLETE application. The application form has places to upload documents and images, or you may email them directly to the grant program coordinator.

Required for Habitat Restoration, Lake Shoreline Restoration, or Waterbody Buffer project:

  1. Before photos of project area(s)
  2. Description or sketch of the project area on your property (preferably with an aerial image or parcel plat) showing boundary of project area with respect to property line
  3. Estimated size of project area in square feet
  4. Maintenance plan (how will you maintain the restoration area?): We offer 3 years of professional maintenance support for high-value restoration projects; qualifying projects will need to provide 3-year maintenance estimate from a qualified habitat maintenance contractor in order to have this support included in a cost share agreement.
  5. Detailed cost estimate for the native plants you are proposing (include size/pack description, quantity, price each, and total cost)
  6. List of live plants/seeds with scientific names for all species AND bloom time (check out our Favorite Native Plants for Suburban Yards which includes species organized by bloom time with keystone species noted). See this example of a native plant list.
    • This should include at least 9 different species with at least 3 blooming in spring, 3 blooming in summer, and 3 blooming in summer
    • There should be at least one keystone species within your plant list

 

Required for Alternative Lawn project:

  1. Before photos of project area(s)
  2. Description or sketch of the project area on your property (preferably with an aerial image or parcel plat) showing boundary of project area with respect to property line; indicate what work will be done where (planting area, etc.)
  3. Estimated size of project area in square feet
  4. Detailed cost estimate for all components including services, materials including plants you are proposing (item description, quantity, price each, and total cost)
  5. Maintenance plan (how will you maintain the alternative lawn?)

 

Required for Stormwater BMP project:

 

  1. Before photos of project area(s)
  2. Civil design plan
  3. Provide technical specifications for equipment if this is part of your cost share request
  4. Estimated size of project area in square feet
  5. Detailed cost estimate for all components including services, materials, and equipment (item description, quantity, price each, and total cost)

Application Form

You will need to scroll down to complete the entire form and then hit "Submit" button at the bottom. Click to open application form in a new window.