City of Lincoln Rain Garden Project
On September 8, 2010, the City of Lincoln's Watershed Management Division launched the NEW 50-50 Cost Share Program for Lincoln city private property owners to design their own rain gardens. Each qualifying property owner is eligible to be reimbursed up to $1,000 for their rain garden expenses. Reimbursement is for the cost of soil amendments (compost and sand), plants, drain tile, equipment rentals and work performed by an approved landscape professional.
The 50-50 Cost Share Program will install 50 gardens within Lincoln's City limits by October 31, 2012. This rain garden project's goal is to educate the public about stormwater quality concerns and improve the water quality of local waterways e.g., Antelope Creek.
The EPA estimates that 70% of all water pollution stems from stormwater runoff, because when it rains the pollutant-laden water flows into storm drains and directly into local waterbodies. Rain gardens aid in the protection of our local waterways by temporarily holding stormwater runoff and allowing the water time to infiltrate the soil, which filters out pollutants like dirt, fertilizer, garbage and bacteria that were collected from roofs and driveways.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the $50,000 in funds provided by Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality are expended, or by October 31, 2012, whichever comes first.
Who can apply?
Under the program, any private property owner can apply for a grant that will offer to reimburse 50 percent of eligible rain garden expenses for up to $1,000 per property.
To apply, please fill out the application below and submit by email or print and mail to the address listed on the application:
Rain Garden Application (94 K) 
If you know of a homeowner, private business or other private property owner that would be interested in incorporating a rain garden into their outdoor learning environment, please contact:
Ellen Wright at ewright@lincoln.ne.gov or (402) 441-7075.
How can I contribute?
The easiest way is to install your own rain garden! You can install a rain garden in many locations, and there are many resources available to help you with this.
There are upcoming how-to classes available:
The City of Lincoln offers Rain Garden: Homeowner Edition classes in the spring and fall. In this class, you will not only receive the information needed to design and build your own rain garden but you'll also help install a rain garden. Space is limited, so sign up early!
No time for a class? There's plenty of information available:
On the Web:
In Print:
- University of Nebraska NebGuides
City of Lincoln Libraries:
- The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens
- Rain gardens: managing water sustainably in the garden and designed landscape
For more information on this grant, contact Ellen Wright at ewright@lincoln.ne.gov or (402) 441-7075.
