Native plants and pollinator habitat · Wisconsin

Wisconsin DNR Healthy Lakes and Rivers Grant for Shoreland Practices

Run by Wisconsin DNR with UW-Extension and Wisconsin Lakes (Healthy Lakes and Rivers)

OpenPlan requiredLast checked October 17, 2026
What you get
State reimbursement up to $1,000 per Best Practice; up to $25,000 per project for an applicant covering multiple owners; owner cost-share percentage not stated on page
Maximum
$1,000 per household
Who qualifies
Shoreland property owners on lakes or rivers, applying through an eligible local applicant (county, municipality, tribe, or qualified lake or river organization). DNR cannot fund individual owners directly
Where
Lake and river shoreland owners statewide, applying through a county, municipality, tribe or lake or river group.
Status
Open. Applications accepted year-round.
Type of payment
Cost share
Official program page

What you do

Install simple shoreland practices on lake or river property: 350 sq ft native planting, rain garden, rock infiltration, runoff diversion, or fish sticks

Requirements

  • Property owner is recruited and joins an applicant's project
  • Site visit and simple design for each practice
  • Applicant submits authorizing resolution, parcel map, owner list, site visit results (first-time applicants add design plans and pre-implementation photos)
  • Reimbursement grant: spend first, then submit expenses and volunteer time
  • Check shoreland zoning and DNR permit rules for work near the water

The plan or design it asks for

Simple site plan per practice; extensive design not required

Make the plan in Sow

Draw the layout and build the plant list

Sow places plants on a photo of your yard and keeps a list of everything you add. Check Wisconsin DNR's rules for exactly what to submit.

Start a plan in Sow

How to apply

  1. 1Contact your county lake or land conservation staff, lake association, or DNR Lake Biologist / grant specialist to find the local applicant
  2. 2Join their project and complete a site visit
  3. 3Applicant files the application (accepted year-round, no pre-application)
  4. 4After award and grant agreement, install practices
  5. 5Applicant submits expenses for reimbursement

Timing and deadlines

not published

Year-round

Sources

Last checked October 17, 2026. See something out of date? Tell us.

Sow is not affiliated with any of these agencies or utilities. Amounts and rules change, often at the start of a fiscal year, so confirm the details on the official page before you start a project. How we research these programs