Native Plant Project - Shoreland Health

About the Project Type

The Native Plant Project - Shoreland Health is a project type of the Mini-Cost Share Program. The project is intended o help lake residents improve their shoreland health score by adding native plant groundcover within their shoreland zone. Native plants protect lake health by decreasing stormwater runoff, reducing erosion, supporting soil health, and providing wildlife habitat.

Who can Apply

This project type is for residents on a single-family residential lot with shoreline on these lakes: Ann, Duck, Lotus, Lucy, Mitchell, Red Rock, Riley, Silver, and Susan.

The program is open to both property owners and renters with permission from the property owner.

Non-residential applicants (non-profits, businesses, schools, and local government units) are not eligible for this project type.

Maximum Grant Award

Mini-cost share grants cover up to 95% of your project cost - you just cover the remaining 5%.

Lakeshore residents are eligible for up to $1,500 per year for this project type.

Mini-cost share grants are awarded on a rolling basis until funding runs out.

Location Requirements

The project must occur within the shoreland zone. For the purposes of the grant, the shoreland zone is the area located within 50 feet of the lake water line.

Only residential or deeded residential-access properties located on shorelines of major lakes are eligible. Major lakes with residential lots are: Ann, Duck, Lotus, Lucy, Mitchell, Red Rock, Riley, Silver, and Susan.

Use of Funds

In general, the purpose of the Native Plant Project - Shoreland Health is to improve the amount of native vegetation within the shoreland of residential properties. This aligns with the goal of our Shoreland Health Program.

Project Requirements

  • Roots-in-the-ground (no planters) within 50 feet of the lake water line.
  • Non-cultivated varieties of native plants
  • At least 75% of cost share award must go toward purchase of native plants and or seeds
  • Must submit receipts, before/after photos, and install project sign

Eligible Costs

  • Native plants and/or native seeds
  • Herbivore protective fencing
  • Natural mulch
  • Edging
  • Other items or materials deemed essential to project success

Ineligible Costs

  • Non-native or native cultivar plants
  • Decorative elements such as stepping stones
  • Irrigation supplies
  • Vehicle mileage or fuel
  • Landscaping fabric
  • In-kind labor or materials

Are you interested in a full shoreline restoration with a larger grant award (up to $5,000)? Check out the Shoreline Restoration Project.

Why Native Plants?

Native plants play a significant role in ecosystem health including water resources. Native plants provide habitat for wildlife and the base of the food web. As they grow, plants pull carbon from the atmosphere and sequester it in the form of new roots, leaves and stems.

Native plants are soil engineers with extensive roots that create structure and nurture a healthy soil ecosystem with microorganisms. Healthy soils have air pockets and rich, dark humus that allows rainwater and snowmelt to soak into the ground where the water is stored and used in time of drought. Native plants also protect soil by shielding it from erosion and shading it to reduce water loss.