Grants

The Rice Creek Watershed District Cost-Share Grant Program awards financial assiatance for any of the following catagories:

Innovative Best Management Practices

Awards for a new, uncommon and innovative use of a combination of best management techniques to meet district water quality and quantity standards. Consideration given for solutions that apply to urban retrofits and space or elevation limited situations. See our information on Best Management Practices (BMPs) to find out more about green roofs, raingardens, infiltration trenches, vegetated swales and pervious pavement.

Example: In a redevelopment area, space limits the use of a NURP type pond, so the engineers propose a swirl chamber assembly used in combination with a sand filter infiltration system using vegetated parking lot islands and grading as collectors.

Shoreland Management and Streambank restoration

Programs or project focused on restoring and renovating lake and stream bank areas using the BMP to eliminate erosion and phosphorus/sediment deposition.

Example 1: An individual or group would like to improve their lakeshore property. The property is eroded from wave action and an existing retaining wall is failing. They design a vegetated buffer zone and creative site drainage that protects the lake.

Example 2: A portion of their stream bank is failing every year during high flows. Trees and bank are falling into the creek. They consult with the district or others to determine the best actions for repair and then seek matching funds to correct the erosion.

Lake Restoration

Program or project or process designed to address in a comprehensive way the long-term restoration of a particular lake within the RCWD. The program must address the physical, environmental or social aspects of lake restoration and must result in nutrient reduction and the prevention of the deposition of sediments or of sediments.

Example 1: A lakeshore association decides to publish a newsletter informing the residents of the nature of the problems with the lake and possible solutions. They use the newsletter to raise funds and organize an event. They may use these funds to mobilize volunteers to selectively harvest noxious weeds and replant with more natural species.

Example 2: A group or individuals decide to identify problem areas in and around the lake they know. They make surveys and create maps showing the various features and problems in a given lake such as sedimentation areas, leaking septic systems, and poor aquatic conditions. They make a display of their findings and present it at local schools.

Raingardens & Lakeshore Stabilization Using Native Plants

If you live in the Rice Creek Watershed District and are installing a raingarden, or stabilizing your shore with native plantings, you may be eligible for a cost-share grant from the Rice Creek Watershed District.

To pursue a cost-share (C-S) grant from the Rice Creek Watershed District, please call the county conservation district where your project is located. The RCWD has signed service agreements with the Anoka, Ramsey, and Washington Conservation Districts to administer the Rice Creek Watershed District’s Best Management Practice (BMP) cost-share program. For Anoka County call: Nate Zwonitzer at 763-434-2030 For Ramsey County call: Ryan Johnson at 651-266-7275 For Washington County call: Pete Young at 651-275-1136 x21