Clean Water Project Maintenance Grants

Capitol Region Watershed District’s (CRWD) Clean Water Project Grants (formerly Stewardship Grants)  provide technical and financial assistance to residents, non-profits, schools, and businesses, and public agencies within the District to build clean water projects that prevent stormwater pollution from entering our lakes and the Mississippi River. Clean water projects include rain gardens, water harvesting and reuse systems, shoreline restorations, permeable pavement, and green roofs.

Grantees agree to maintain their clean water projects for the life of the project, often 10 years or longer, to ensure it continues to provide water quality benefits.  CRWD offers financial assistance to clean water project grantees through its Maintenance Grant Program.

Grant Overview

Applicant Eligibility

The following groups are eligible to apply for assistance if they build a clean water project through  CRWD’s grant program.

  • Non-profits
  • Schools
  • Businesses
  • Homeowners’ associations (HOAs)
  • Boulevard curb-cut rain garden grantees

At this time, clean water projects that are on private property and owned by individual homeowners are not eligible for maintenance grant funding.

Project Eligibility

For grant-funded clean water projects, the following activities and materials are eligible for reimbursement on an annual basis for the life of the project.

  • Routine maintenance work done by a contractor including weeding, dirt removal, plant replacement, erosion repair, and mulching.
  • Cost of materials* for grantees doing maintenance work themselves, including tool and equipment rental.
  • Cleaning of permeable surfaces (such as permeable pavers or asphalt) with sweeping or vacuuming equipment.
  • Hydrovac services for underground infiltration systems or pre-treatment structures (such as sumped catch basins or hydrodynamic devices).

Native landscaping projects are not eligible for maintenance grant funding.

*Tools and equipment purchases are not eligible for reimbursement.

Grant Award and Matching Funds

CRWD will cover 50% of annual maintenance costs, up to $2,000/year, for the life of the project after its completion. The grantee will be responsible for a minimum of 50% of project maintenance costs.

If the clean water project is in the Focus Area, CRWD will cover 75% of project costs, up to $2,000/year for the life of the project. The grantee will be responsible for a minimum of 25% of project maintenance costs. Check the Focus Area Map to see if you qualify.

Time spent by grantees doing maintenance work themselves can be included toward the required grantee match as in-kind labor at $25/hour per person.

The minimum grant award is $200.

Get Started

New eligible clean water projects will automatically be enrolled in the Maintenance Grant program. No action is needed from the grantee. Eligible projects already in progress or completed can be retroactively enrolled in the program. Contact Alexandra Morrison at 651-644-8888 ext. 108 or amorrison@capitolregionwd.org to determine eligibility and enroll.

2023 Maintenance Grant Guidelines and Policies PDF

Reimbursement

Maintenance Grants are funded on a reimbursement basis once per year. Grantees may submit one reimbursement request per calendar year, received by December 1st. The reimbursement form PDF is available below or can be requested by contacting Alexandra Morrison.

Receipts and/or paid invoices must be included with the reimbursement form for all items or work completed. Reimbursements will be issued within 60 days of final CRWD approval.

2023 Maintenance Grant Reimbursement Form PDF