Stewardship Grants

Stewardship Grants provide financial and technical assistance to residents and organizations within the Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) to build clean water projects that prevent stormwater pollution from entering our lakes and the Mississippi River. Examples of stormwater best management practices (BMPs) include:

  • rain gardens 
  • water reuse systems,
  • shoreline buffers,
  • permeable hardscapes, and
  • green roofs.
Map of CRWD
View Stewardship Grants Overview PDF

Qualifying Applicants

  • Residents, non-profits, schools, public agencies, businesses, and all other organizations located within CRWD.

Grant Award Match Requirements

  • Residential, public agencies and non-profits: match requirement of 5%.
  • Businesses and other for-profit organizations: match requirement of 25%

Grant Awards

  • $300 – $40,000

Deadlines

  • Applications are accepted year-round.

Focus Area Bonus

  • In effort to expand clean water programs and projects in the district, CRWD is offering a focus area grant award bonus. In addition, CRWD has adjusted match requirements for those that qualify for the bonus. Check the Focus Area Map to see if you qualify.
    • Residential: no match requirement
    • Public agencies and non-profits: match requirement of 5%
    • Businesses and other for-profit organizations: match requirement of 10%

Visibility/Education Bonus

  • CRWD is offering a bonus for projects that are accessible or visible to the public. This bonus is available to projects that qualify. See Program Guidelines and Polices to learn more.

Program notice

  • Curb-cut boulevard rain gardens in the City of Saint Paul are on hold until further notice. If you are interested in a curb-cut boulevard rain garden in Saint Paul, please email clundgren@capitolregionwd.org to be notified when this part of the program resumes.

 

View the Stewardship Grant Policies and Guidelines

How to Get Started

Fill out a Stewardship Grant Interest Form

Stewardship Grant Program COVID-19 Response

Updated: January 14, 2021

CRWD’s Stewardship Grant Program is still available to provide technical assistance and landscape designs. Site visits will occur onsite while practicing social distancing. Property owners can opt for a virtual site visit or homeowners do not need to be home or come outside for a site visit. Staff will require permission to access the property to evaluate project opportunities.

Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time.

 

Curb cut rain garden captures runoff from nearby streets
Multiple downspouts flow into a rain garden, allowing runoff to soak into the ground rather than going down the storm drain
Rain gardens at Bang Brewing capture and clean stormwater runoff and provide pollinator habitat
Permeable pavers in a driveway allow water to soak into the ground and reduce runoff
Rain gardens capture and clean stormwater
Stormwater pond at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Saint Paul collects and cleans runnoff from the church parking lot
The boulevard rain garden at this residence captures and cleans street runoff
The restoration along Lake McCarrons' shoreline stabilizes the shoreline and filters out pollutants
The water from neighboring driveways flows into a rain garden where it can soak into the ground
A native plant community garden at Rice Street and Maryland Avenue provides green space and allows water to soak into the ground
This permeable paver patio allows water to soak into the ground