“It really is a great benefit all around for your environment,” said Molly Nelson of the Rice Creek Watershed District.
The RCWD has two kinds of grants available for those who put native plants in their yard or along a lakefront or shorleine.
“The mini-grant will be a $500 reimbursement grant and that goes towards native plants for pocket planting, rain gardens, shoreline buffers, things of the sort,” Nelson said. “You can also apply for rain barrels through that program. The water quality grant program is our larger grant program. You can get up to $10,000 for that program…if you’re looking to install maybe a larger rain garden on your property or do a full-on shoreline restoration project.”
These grants are available to residents in the RCWD area which includes Blaine, Centerville, Circle Pines, Lexington, Lino Lakes and Spring Lake Park.
“We like to see residents get involved and plant native plants in their yards,” Nelson said.
Plenty of benefits
There are plenty of benefits to going au natural because these plants can tolerate Minnesota’s extreme weather. Put in blazing stars, purple coneflowers or black eyed Susans and do your part for the earth.
“They were here first, so they are adapted to live within this landscape and this climate very well,” Nelson said. “The plants require very little maintenance and care. Native plants are known for their deep and robust root structure, which that’s what we’re most excited about when it comes to these plants for helping water quality because deep root structures help stabilize the soil and also helps infiltrate stormwater runoff.”
Native plants are nature’s buffer in a storm. Their presence can improve water quality.
“When you have a big rain event and rain washes across the landscape, if you have good roots and good native plants established the water can infiltrate down into the ground,” Nelson said. “Then the native plants, their root structures, can help absorb any pollutants or excess nutrients that are also with storm water so all of this water will be cleaner when it goes to lakes, rivers or streams.”
Simply put, native plants are good for the entire ecosystem.
“It’s also great for pollinators,” Nelson said. Providing food habitat for different animals, bugs and butterflies.”
The Rice Creek grant programs are popular and money is allocated quickly so if you’re interested reach out as soon as possible. For more information go to their website at Rice Creek dot org.
