Stewardship Grants

Photo of a shoreline buffer Stewardship grants are for projects that prevent stormwater pollution to our lakes and Nine Mile Creek. Examples of projects include raingardens, shoreline buffers, and permeable pavers. In order to be eligible for funding, all projects must meet one or more of the grant program goals:

Improve water quality or increase the capacity of the watershed to store or infiltrate water
Protect and preserve groundwater quality and quantity
Preserve, protect, and restore native plant and wildlife habitats, with emphasis on projects adjacent to or near lakes, rivers, and wetlands

Grant funds for stewardship projects are available to:

residents
associations
nonprofits
schools
businesses
government entities

Projects must be located within the boundaries of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District (the District).

Check if you are located in the watershed district

Cost Share Information Session

Listen to this 30-minute information session to learn more about the types of grants available and how to apply!

Eligible Stewardship Grant Projects

Many types of projects are eligible for stewardship grant money. A few examples include: raingardens, shoreline buffers, permeable pavers, and chloride reduction projects. Habitat restoration projects are funded through our habitat restoration grants.

Projects must exceed minimum regulatory requirements (projects required by District permits are not eligible for cost share grants).

The 2023 application has passed. Grants will be available again in 2024.

Funding Amounts

Bush Lake Izaak Walton League Shoreline Restoration funded by grants from Nine Mile Creek — Photography by: Bush Lake Izaak Walton League

Grants are reimbursed for up to 75% of a project’s cost for materials, labor, engineering, and consulting fees. The minimum grant award is $500.

Maximum grant award:

$5,000 for residential projects
$20,000 for townhome, condominium, or lake associations
$50,000 for commercial, government, or nonprofit projects

In 2023, the District will allocate a maximum of $150,000 for stewardship grants.

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Required Grant Match

Stewardship grants are required to have a 25% match.

In-kind materials and services can be used as match. Landowner/volunteer labor is eligible as an in-kind contribution at $20 per hour.

Lifetime Funding Limits

A site can only receive one grant per year. The lifetime watershed district grant award limit a site can receive over multiple grant cycles are as follows:

Residential: $10,000 lifetime per site
Townhome, condominium, or lake associations: $40,000 lifetime per site
Commercial, government, or nonprofit: $100,000 lifetime per site

Refer above for the maximum grant amount awarded per grant cycle.
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Apply for a Grant

2024 Application Deadline: March 15, 2024, by 4 PM

Learn how to apply

Plants

To be eligible for reimbursement, plants must be selected off a District plant list.

Raingarden Plant List (PDF)

Shoreline Buffer Plant List (PDF)

Reporting Forms

Final Reports

If you have completed your grant project, a copy of the final report form is below. This form must be submitted to the District within 30 days of project completion.

Final Report Form (PDF)

Final Report Form (Word)

Yearly Reports

If you are currently in the maintenance period of your grant agreement, a yearly report is required. This report must be submitted by December 30th each year for the duration of the maintenance period.

Cost Share Yearly Report Form (PDF)

Cost Share Yearly Report Form (Word)

In-Progress Reimbursement

The District will reimburse for cost share project expenses throughout the grant period upon submitting a progress report and receipts/paid invoices. The District will hold the final 10% of the grant until the project is successfully completed and a final report is submitted and approved.

Reimbursement Progress Report Form (PDF)

Reimbursement Progress Report Form (Word)

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