Rainwater Rewards Program | St. Louis Park, MN

rain garden

St. Louis Park’s Rainwater Rewards program offers financial assistance to residents that complete stormwater management projects on their property. The projects must effectively manage stormwater in the city by doing one or more of the following:

Protect and restore stormwater by capturing pollutants in rainwater runoff
Increase the watershed's ability to store water
Preserve and restore native plant and wildlife communities
Protect and preserve groundwater quality and quantity

Residential landowners may submit applications year-round until funds are gone. An application must be approved by the city prior to starting any work. Projects started or completed when submitted are not eligible for funding.

The project must be completed within one year, or the agreed upon timeline, of the initial application approval.

The city offers two different ways to complete your rainwater rewards project:

Rain garden lottery (funded by Clean Water Fund) – Rain gardens are designed and built for homeowners by Metro Blooms and Conservation Corps of Minnesota. Learn more about the rain garden lottery below.

Rainwater rewards Do-It-Yourself (DIY) program – Projects are designed and built by the homeowner with or without help from professional designers and contractors. Learn more about the rainwater rewards DIY program below.
- Rain barrels - a great way to capture water from a roof and hold it for later use, such as on lawns, gardens, or indoor plants. Collecting roof runoff in rain barrels reduces the volume of water that flows off your property and it's a great way to conserve water and its free water for use in your landscape.
  - The Rainwater Rewards program will reimburse residents for the purchase of up to three rain barrels at a cost of $50 each rain barrel.
  - Submit application
- Rain gardens and other stormwater management projects
  - Learn more about the various types of DYI projects below.
  - Submit application

Due to the overwhelming interest in the Rainwater Regards program by the City of St. Louis Park residents to manage stormwater runoff and improve habitat, and the overall aesthetics of their properties, the program has exhausted this year’s funding. The city will still be happy to accept new project applications; however, all approved projects will be deferred to 2025.

Funding

The city may offer to fund all of or a portion of the project. Funding percentages are based on specific criteria, including location in the watershed and type of project proposed. Before starting a project, it needs to be approved by the city. Projects started or completed when submitted are not eligible for funding.

Due to funding limitations and to be equitable to residents interested in the program, the Rainwater Rewards can only provide funding for a single project and rain barrel each fiscal year.

Type of project	Cost share	Maximum funding
Rain barrels	$50 per rain barrel, up to 3	$50 per rain barrel, $150 maximum
Rain garden without hard surface drainage	50%	$1,500
Rain garden with hard surface	75%	$2,000
Infiltration with hard surface drainage, pervious pavement and green roof	75%	$3,000

* Funding for rain gardens is in part provided by support from the Clean Water Fund.

In-kind or free services will not be considered for matching contributions. Contracted engineering or consulting fees are eligible for reimbursement.

Rainwater rewards Do-It-Yourself (DIY) program

Eligible projects

Selecting the right project is important to ensure that it is effective at reducing stormwater runoff and pollutants.

Rain gardens are depressed landscaped areas that collects rain water from roofs, driveways or streets and allows it to soak into the ground. Learn more about rain gardens.

Permeable pavement is paving surfaces that allow stormwater runoff to soak through the surface and into the ground. Learn more about permeable pavement.

Green roof is a roof that is partially or completely covered with vegetation, which allows rainwater to be absorbed. Learn more about green roofs.

Rain barrels are barrels that capture runoff from roofs and hold it for later use, such as on lawns or gardens.

Other innovative stormwater management practices

Step-by-step process

Select your project.
Create a preliminary design and cost estimate. Use the rainwater rewards program checklist.
- Perform a site review to determine the most effective location and design your project.
  Keep in mind the following items when performing a site review to ensure the project will be effective:
  - Soil types and potential infiltration rates. Additional infiltration field testing may be required.
  - Drainage area and site characteristics
  - Site constraints, such as underground utilities and easements
  - Applicable permits for working within the city right of way, utilities, plumbing, electrical or erosion control
If you need assistance with site review and design, Blue Thumb Partners provides a list of local designers and contractors that have experience with storm water management design and construction.

It is recommended that a qualified designer or engineer perform a detailed site review.
- Create a cost estimate.
- Submit the project design and cost estimate with your application.
Submit an application. Include project design and cost estimate, or come back to submit them at a later date.
- To ensure the project is effective over time, it must be routinely maintained and the property owner will need to enter into a maintenance agreement with the city.
Application review and project approval
- City staff will review the application for effectiveness in managing stormwater runoff, feasibility, overall design characteristics and eligibility for funds. During the review process, city staff will inform you if any permits are required to construct your project.
- City staff will contact you with the project approval or comments after the application review is complete.
Construction
Inspection
- The city will inspect the project to ensure it was built according to plan and functions as intended. The homeowner must contact city staff to set up inspection.
Funding reimbursement.
- Upon completion of the inspection and final approval, reimbursement for the project will begin. View the funding table in the next tab to see how much funding your project will receive. It may take about two weeks to receive the reimbursement check.

Rain garden lottery (funded by Clean Water Fund)

Every year, with funding provided by the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment, the city partners with Metro Blooms to help St. Louis Park homeowners manage stormwater by installing rain gardens at a reduced cost!

Homeowners are responsible for paying an upfront $50 consultation cost to Metro Blooms for the rain garden design. The Conservation Corps of Minnesota crews construct the rain gardens in the summer, and homeowners do the finishing touches by installing the plants.

The city’s Rainwater Rewards program and the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment funding are subsidizing a large portion of the cost for the rain gardens, making it a great, low-cost opportunity to improve the aesthetics of your property and help manage stormwater!

clean water logo conservation-corps-minnesota-logo metro-blooms-logo

More stormwater management incentives

Discounted trees and planting

If you would like to add trees to your property and would like assistance with transporting, siting or planting, learn more about the city's full service tree purchase and planting option. Residents can purchase a discounted tree and coordinate planting with Tree Trust, a local nonprofit. Additional discounts are available for properties in the city’s designated priority planting area and where ash trees were recently removed.

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for the Rainwater Rewards program?

Select project and complete application online.

What is the difference between a rain garden lottery and rainwater rewards DIY projects?

Rain garden lottery (funded by Clean Water Fund) – Rain gardens are designed and built for homeowners by Metro Blooms and the Conservation Corps of Minnesota. Metro Blooms provides on-site consultation, rain garden design and installation. It is a lottery program that is limited to 30 households a year.

Rainwater rewards Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects – Are stormwater management projects that are designed and built by the homeowner with or without help from professional designers and contractors. You can select your project from the list of eligible projects, which include rain gardens, rain barrels, permeable pavement, green roofs and more.

Do I need to hire a designer for a rain garden?

No. You can design your rain garden. If you need assistance with site review and design, Blue Thumb Partners provides a list of local designers and contractors.

Are projects that have already been started eligible for funding?

No. To be eligible for reimbursement, the project must be approved prior to construction.

What is the purpose of the Rainwater Rewards program maintenance agreement?

The purpose of the maintenance agreement is to allow access for inspection of the Best Management Practice (BMP) to ensure the proper function of the practice.

Maintenance of stormwater management projects

Rain gardens

Rain gardens need routine maintenance. The point where water enters the rain garden must be inspected roughly monthly to ensure that it is not clogged with soil or trash. Vegetation should be inspected roughly every two months to make sure it is healthy and to remove weeds. Trash and excess soil should be removed at this time. Care must be taken to ensure that soils in the rain garden and vegetation are not trampled and compacted. Do not fertilize the vegetation.

Rain barrels

Remove leaves and other debris from the screen at the top of the barrel, the overflow pipe, and the roof gutters. Regularly use water collected in your rain barrel between rain events to make sure there is room to collect rainwater during the next storm. Drain and turn over your rain barrel in October or November, before freezing conditions.

Rain barrels in the home landscape

Pervious pavement

Some key actions help ensure the long-term performance of permeable pavement during its operation life. The most frequently cited maintenance problem is surface clogging caused by organic matter and sediment.

Operation and maintenance of permeable pavement

Green roof

Green roofs provide new habitat for beneficial plants and animals in urban areas, helping to increase biodiversity. Increased biodiversity can help ecosystems continue to function even when they are disturbed by development or in other ways.

Green roof maintenance inspection checklist

Resources