Who May Apply?

Residents, non-profits, businesses, schools, and local goverment units (LGUs) may apply. The project area must be located on property owned by the applicant.

Maximum Grant Award

• Residents: Up to 75% of cost up to $5,000.
• Non-profits: Up to 75% of cost up to $20,000
• Businesses, schools, and LGUs: Up to 50% of cost up to $50,000

Location Requirements

The near-shoreline or shoreland area of any waterbody in the district including lakes, ponds, wetlands, and streams. With some exceptions, the project area must be above the Ordinary High-Water Line (OHWL) of the waterbody; this typically means above the bank of the waterbody (e.g. streambank).

 If you are interested in a natural shoreline restoration that extends into the water, check out Shoreline Restoration Project. Only major lakes qualify for this project type.

Approved Uses of Funds

The purchase of materials or services needed to install a native vegetation buffer are allowable costs. This includes design fee, site preparation, erosion control, seeding, and planting. Landscaping edging may be eligible if it supports project maintenance needs, but eligible cost for edging will not exceed $2/per linear foot. Projects may also be offered additional funds to support the first three years of maintenance if it’s done by a professional.

Aesthetic or recreational elements such as stepping stones, bird baths, and landscaping edging are not eligible.

Maximum Allowable Costs

To maximize value per dollar but still allow flexibility for grantees in materials selection, maximum allowable cost has been set.

Eligibility for In-Kind Credit or Professional Maintenance Funds

This project type may be eligible for in-kind labors and/or three (3) years of professional maintenance support for residents and non-profits only. In-kind credit must be accounted for during the application process. The grant coordinator will determine if a project is eligible for professional maintenance support.

Some projects may not be awarded a Stewardship Grant unless the grantee commits to three years of professional maintenance. If a grantee enters into a grant agreement that include professional maintenance funds, they must commit to at least three years of maintenance performed by a qualified habitat restoration specialist.

Requirements

Minimum Size

The goal of a waterbody buffer is to stabilize soils through the use of native plants to provide water quality protection as well as near-shore habitat. The buffer project area length must be along at least 25 feet along a waterbody with an average width of 5 feet. The longer and wider the project, the higher the grant award percent will be.

Other Requirements

• The existing condition of the site (before project installation) must create significant runoff because the site is developed or or has compacted soil. Examples of qualifying existing conditions: lawn, turfgrass, parking lot, pavement or other hard or compacted surface. A severely eroded or otherwise highly degraded natural site of high value may also be considered for a grant. NOTE: Areas infested with Buckthorn or Reed Canary Grass will usually not meet the requirement of impermeability or low-permeability for Stewardship Grant buffer projects.
• You must provide a native vegetation establishment plan (how project will be installed) and a maintenance plan (how project will be maintained) with your application. If you're not familar with establishing a native vegetation buffer, you may want to hire a habitat restoration specialist. Project plan materials must include a map showing the location of the project on the property, a planting plan, an estimated timeline of project installation tasks, site photos, detailed cost estimate, and a long-term maintenance plan.
• The bulk of the project must be above the Ordinary High-Water Line (OHWL) of the waterbody. This means you should not be planting into or immediately adjacent to the water line.

Native Plants Only

To be eligible for a Shoreline Restoration Grant, a project must use non-cultivated varietes of native plants and provide habitat benefits. Requirements include:

1. Only native plants in their natural form. No cultivars allowed.
2. Native plants must be purchased from an approved vendor.
3. Plant selection must be appropriate for site conditions.
4. Plant selection must include at least 9 different species with 3 species that bloom in spring, 3 species that bloom in summer, and 3 species that bloom in fall. (Note: All plants types qualify as a "blooming plant" including wildflowers, grasses, sedges, shrubs, and trees, etc.)
5. Must practice ecologically friendly maintenance.

To apply, you will need to provide a detailed native plant list that includes scientific name, common name, bloom time, size of plant to be purchased, price for each, quantity of each, and total cost. See an example native plant list ⬈ ⬈. Download a native plant list spreadsheet ⬈ ⬈ that you can populate with your plant selections (open in Excel, Google Sheets, or other spreadsheet application). See application form for additional requirements.

Maximize Your Grant Award

Review the scoring sheet to see how you can maximize the cost share award for this project type:

Scoring Sheet for Lake Shoreline Restoration Project and Waterbody Buffer Project