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<br /> <br />Gem Lake News Page 2 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Get a Grant for Landscaping through VLAWMO <br />If you are considering a landscape project <br />this summer, there may be financial <br />assistance available. The Vadnais Lake <br />Area Water Management Organization <br />(VLAWMO) has a cost share program that <br />will fund 50% of the cost of materials up to <br />$1000.00 for certain rain/storm water, soil <br />retention, and native habitat restoration <br />projects. Both public and private landowners <br />living within the VLAWMO boundaries are <br />eligible to apply. Most, but not quite all, of <br />Gem Lake lies within the VLAWMO <br />boundaries. <br /> <br />Projects must support one or more of the <br />following objectives: <br /> <br />• Prevention of flooding or mitigation of <br /> drought <br />• Water quality improvement or increase <br /> in watershed storage capacity <br />• Preservation, protection, and restoration <br />of native plant and wildlife communities, <br />especially along lakes, rivers, and <br />wetlands <br />• Protection and preservation of <br />groundwater quality and quantity <br /> <br />Cost share grants are available to all of the <br />following: <br /> <br />• All residents of VLAWMO <br />• Non-profit and religious organizations in <br />VLAWMO <br />• Government agencies in VLAWMO <br />• Business and corporations in VLAWMO <br />• Public and private schools in VLAWMO <br /> <br />Project examples include: <br /> <br />• Rain gardens <br />• Redirection of water runoff <br />• Volume reduction and runoff treatment <br />• Solutions for soil erosion and sediment <br />control practices <br />• Native habitat restoration, especially <br />along lakes, ponds, streams, and <br />wetlands <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />The following conditions exist for the <br />grants: <br /> <br />• VLAWMO will fund 50% of the cost of <br />materials up to $1000.00 maximum. <br />Eligible materials are those which stay <br />on the property such as plants, erosion <br />control blanket, mulch, and top soil. <br />Tools, equipment, work gloves, and <br />shovels (any item that may be reused <br />on a future project) are not eligible for <br />funding. <br />• Projects completed or already in <br />progress are ineligible <br />• The cost share application and cost <br />share agreement must be approved by <br />VLAWMO and signed by both parties <br />prior to beginning the work. <br />• A site visit by VLAWMO staff is <br />required once the project is complete <br />before a reimbursement check is <br />released to the Grantee. <br />• Grantee must agree to maintain the <br />project for a minimum of five (5) years. <br />The site may be inspected by <br />VLAWMO staff within that time frame <br />to ensure compliance. <br />• Grantee must complete the project and <br />submit the reimbursement request <br />within one (1) year from the date of <br />grant approval. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />For more program information, or to obtain <br />an application, contact Kristine Lampert at <br />651-204-6074, or email <br />kristinelampert@vlawmo.org. Grant <br />money varies from year to year, and is <br />offered on a first come first served basis. <br />To view a map of VLAWMO’s boundaries <br />visit www.vlawmo.org. <br /> <br />Story contributed by Jim Lindner <br /> <br /> <br />