RAINSCAPE FUNDING
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Rainscape Your Property!
Homeowners can landscape to not only make their property look better, but have lasting impacts on our environment to improve local water quality. A variety of practices include rain barrels, soil quality restoration, rain gardens, and native landscaping. Rainscaping can achieve many goals including:
- Improve water quality
- Fix wet areas and drainage issues
- Provide pollinator habitat
- Create low maintenance landscapes
- A greener lawn with healthy soils
Not only can you get these added benefits from rainscaping, many cities have funds available to help you cover the cost! Cities including Des Moines, Waukee, Johnston, Ankeny, and Pleasant Hill have developed programs aimed at helping homeowners treat their own water to reduce flooding and improve water quality, while upgrading their property.
Whether you do-it-yourself or hire a specialized contractor is up to you. Either way, Polk Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is a resource for you every step of the way. Often, homeowners can build many of these practices themselves with proper instruction and tips from our staff. Please get in touch if you have any questions.
Soil Quality Restoration
This practice not only makes your lawn look better, but improves its health. Many new homes suffer from compacted clay soils and are left with lawns suffering from pooling and patches. An SQR will improve not only your soil, but the look of your lawn.
Overview of Available Programs for Homeowners
City of Ankeny
The City of Ankeny provides reimbursement for stormwater BMPs to encourage individual landowners and businesses to incorporate stormwater management on their properties. Funding is intended to offset the costs of materials and/or contract labor of BMP installation at a 50% match up to 1,800 per landowner or business. Funding can be used for multiple practices up to $1,800 and applicants may utilize the program for multiple fiscal years.
50% up to $1,800 (per landowner or business)
Rain garden, soil quality restoration, bio-retention cell, pervious pavement, native planting/buffer/swale, rain barrel
Applicants must complete and turn in applications to the City of Ankeny, Public Works Department along with the following materials. Applications and program information can be found on the City of Ankeny website.
- Maps and/or site plans showing the project location and area being treated with BMPs.
- Summary or description of project.
- Cost summary and/or contractor’s estimate for the project.
- Anticipated project schedule and expected completion date.
Contact:
Amy Bryant Jared Bright City of Ankeny, Public Works Department
515.963.3542 515.963.3534 220 West 1st Street
abryant@ankenyiowa.gov jbright@ankenyiowa.gov Ankeny, IA 50023
City of DSM
The City of Des Moines has provided a rebate to property owners that install stormwater BMPs. The City will make a reimbursement for 50% of the cost up to $2,000 to property owners who meet the requirements of their program. Work completed must have been performed and completed between the dates of January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2023 to be eligible.
50% up to $2,000
Rain gardens, soil quality restoration, bio-retention cells, permeable pavement, rain barrels, streambank stabilization, other practices approved by the director
To receive the stormwater BMP rebate, applications must be approved before work has begun. Property owners must submit the application along with the following list.
Applications can be found on the City of Des Moines’ website.
- Map/Site plans showing the project location and area treated by the BMP
- Summary/Description of the project
- Project schedule and expected completion date
- Project cost summary or contractor’s estimate
City of Johnston
The City of Johnston Department of Community Development has created a homeowner grant program to provide funding assistance for stormwater management improvements on single family residential lots. The grant program allocates funds for the cost of materials and associated labor for BMPs at a 50% match rate up to $750.
50% up to $750
Rain Gardens, soil quality restoration, bio-retention cells, rain barrels, pervious pavement, native landscaping, buffers, swales, erosion control, etc.
Applicants must complete and turn in the grant application to the City of Johnston Department of Community Development. The application must include the following list.
Applications can be found on the City of Johnston website.
- Summary/description of the project
- Maps/site plans showing the project location and area treated by the BMPs.
- Project schedule and expected completion date.
- Cost summary and/or contractor’s estimate of the project.
Contact:
Clayton Ender
515.727.7763
Polk County
REAP Funding
State funds from Resource Enhancement and Protection funds are managed by Polk SWCD for improvements including stormwater best management practices. Residents and businesses across the county are eligible for up to 50% cost share.
50% for eligible projects
Rain Gardens, soil quality restoration, bio-retention cells, rain barrels, pervious pavement, native landscaping, buffers, swales, erosion control, etc.
Applicants must complete and turn in the grant application to the City of Johnston Department of Community Development. The application must include the following list. Applications can be found on the City of Johnston website.
- Summary/description of the project
- Maps/site plans showing the project location and area treated by the BMPs.
- Project schedule and expected completion date.
- Cost summary and/or contractor’s estimate of the project.
Accordion Content
Easter Lake
The Easter Lake Watershed Project is a 10 year project aimed at restoring Easter Lake through in-lake improvements and improvements throughout the watershed. Project partners: City of Des Moines, Polk County Conservation, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship- Division of Soil Conservation, Iowa DNR, and Polk Soil & Water Conservation District have brought together funds for improvements including stormwater best management practices. Residents and businesses throughout the watershed can receive 75% cost-share for installed BMPs.
75% for eligible practices
Rain gardens, soil quality restorations, rain barrels, permeable pavement, bio-retention cells, bioswales, native landscaping, and other approved practices in the Iowa Stormwater Management Manual.
To receive cost-share, applicants must be approved at a monthly meeting before any installation has been completed. Any landowner wanting to install a BMP in the Easter Lake watershed may apply for cost-share. To do so, they must contact the watershed coordinator who will organize a site visit and help them through the BMP practice approval process.
Contact:
Cody Acevedo (DNR) – Ankeny Office
515-964-1883 ext. 3
cody.acevedo@ia.nacdnet.net or easterlakewatershed@gmail.com
City of Waukee
Through Waukee Public Works, reimbursement for the installation of rain gardens and rain barrels is available for residents. The reimbursement program allocates funds for a 50% match up to $1000 per property. Funding is intended to help cover the cost of materials and/or contract labor.
50% up to $1,000
Rain gardens, bio-retention cells, rain barrels, soil quality restoration
Applicants must complete and turn in the grant application to the City of Waukee including the following materials. Application can be found on the City of Waukee website.
- Summary/description of the project.
- Maps/site plans showing the project location and area treated by the BMPs.
- Anticipated construction schedule and expected completion date.
- Cost summary and/or contractor’s estimate of the project.
Contact:
Jenny Corkrean – Stormwater Coordinator
Office: 515-978-7920 Direct: 515-978-7394 Cell: 515-306-8617 Fax: 515-987-3979
http://www.waukee.org/468/Best-Management-Practices-Reimbursement-
City of Pleasant Hill
The City of Pleasant Hill has created a best management practice reimbursement program for landowners to offset the cost of installing stormwater management improvements. The reimbursement program allocates funds for the cost of materials and associated labor for eligible BMPs at a 50% match up to $750 and for rain barrels at a 50% match up to $75.
50% up to $75 for rain barrels
50% up to $750 for all other
Rain gardens, soil quality restoration, bio-retention cells, rain barrels, permeable pavement, native landscaping, and other practices approved by the director.
To receive the stormwater reimbursement, applications must be approved before work has begun. Property owners must submit the application along with the following list.
Applications can be found on the City of Pleasant Hill’s website.
Maps/site plans showing the project location and area treated by the BMP.
1. Summary or description of the project.
2. Project schedule and expected completion date.
3. Itemized and dated cost summary and/or contractor’s estimates.
Contact:
Chris Widmer
515.309.9463
Polk Soil and Water Conservation District
1513 North Ankeny Blvd., Suite 3
Ankeny, IA, 50023
Polk Soil and Water Conservation District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
