Shoreline restoration grants & cost-share
A lot of lake property owners don’t realize their county will help pay for shoreline work. Through Soil & Water Conservation District cost-share, a large share of a restoration or riprap project can be covered, which can turn a project you were putting off into one that’s well within reach.
covered for native shoreline plantings in Otter Tail County
covered for riprap installation in Otter Tail County
Otter Tail, Grant & Douglas, each with its own program
Why native plantings get the most funding
The Soil & Water Conservation Districts lean toward the green shoreline solutions, like deep-rooted native vegetation, cedar tree revetments, coir logs, and live stakes, because they hold soil, filter runoff, and help water quality and habitat in ways rock cannot. That’s why those practices usually qualify for the highest cost-share rates.
Rock riprap is usually funded at a lower rate and saved for shorelines where the softer methods won’t hold against the wave energy or boat wake. For a lot of lake lots, that means a native or hybrid approach is both better for the lake and cheaper after cost-share.
We’ll give you an honest read on which approach fits your shoreline, and how that choice affects what your county may cover.
How cost-share works
The process is pretty simple, and the first steps are usually free.
- 1
Contact your county SWCD
Reach out to the Soil and Water Conservation District for your county and ask about shoreline cost-share. The first site visit and design help are usually free.
- 2
Get a site assessment and design
A district technician looks at your shoreline and lays out an eligible practice, whether that is native plantings, bioengineering, or riprap.
- 3
Get approved before you start
The cost-share has to be approved before the work begins. Starting work first can make a project ineligible, so this step comes before any installation.
- 4
Install the project to spec
The approved practice gets installed to the district's specs. That is the part we handle, building it right so it qualifies and holds up.
- 5
Receive your cost-share
Once the work is checked, you are reimbursed the cost-share percentage of your eligible costs, which takes a real bite out of what you pay yourself.
Programs by county
Cost-share is administered by your county Soil & Water Conservation District. Here’s who to contact and what each district typically offers.
Otter Tail County
Native shoreline plantings
up to 75%
Riprap installation
up to 50%
Otter Tail County is covered by two districts, East and West Otter Tail SWCD, and both offer free shoreline visits and design help. Native shoreline plantings and rain gardens can be cost-shared up to 75% of the install, and riprap is typically funded up to 50% when rock is the right call. The money comes through Minnesota Clean Water and Legacy programs.
Grant County
Native shoreline plantings
up to 75% of eligible costs
Riprap installation
varies, ask the district
Grant County SWCD, based in Elbow Lake, helps landowners with shoreline restorations, rain gardens, and buffers. State cost-share through the Board of Water and Soil Resources can cover up to 75% of the total eligible cost of a conservation practice. The exact rate for a given project, riprap included, depends on the practice and the funding available that year, so check with the district.
Douglas County
Native shoreline plantings
60% to 75% (general)
Riprap installation
varies, ask the district
Douglas SWCD, in Alexandria, has listed general cost-share in the 60% to 75% range, which means a qualified landowner might pay only 25% to 40% out of pocket on an eligible project. Shoreland restoration and buffer plantings around the county's many lakes are common. Check the current rate and what qualifies, riprap included, with the district.
These are typical “up to” amounts that change with annual funding, eligibility, and the specific practice, so treat them as a solid starting point, not a quote. Your SWCD gives you the current, project-specific numbers, and that conversation is free. We do the shoreline work and point you to the right contacts, and the district handles the funding itself.
More helpful resources
Grant & cost-share questions
What lake property owners ask us most
How much of a shoreline project can a grant actually cover?
It depends on your county, the practice, and the current funding, but the share is real. In Otter Tail County, native shoreline plantings can be cost-shared up to 75% of the install and riprap up to 50%. Grant and Douglas counties have comparable programs, commonly in the 60% to 75% range for eligible conservation practices. That can turn a project you were dreading into one that is well within reach.
Do native plantings really get more funding than riprap?
Generally, yes. The Soil and Water Conservation Districts put the green options first, the deep-rooted native plantings and bioengineering, because they filter runoff and help water quality and habitat. Those tend to qualify for the highest rates, while rock riprap is usually funded at a lower rate and saved for shorelines where the softer methods will not hold.
Do I apply before or after the work is done?
Before. The cost-share has to be approved before the project starts. If you install first and apply later, the project usually will not qualify. Reach out to your SWCD early, while you are still planning, so the funding is lined up before any work begins.
Which district covers my property?
It goes by county. Otter Tail County is served by the East and West Otter Tail SWCDs, Grant County by the Grant County SWCD in Elbow Lake, and Douglas County by the Douglas SWCD in Alexandria. If you are near a county line and not sure, we can help you figure out who to call.
Can you help with the project so it qualifies for cost-share?
Yes. We build shoreline projects to the kind of specs these programs ask for, and we can work with your district so the finished job matches what was approved. We do the work and point you to the right grant contacts, and the district handles the funding itself.
Are these figures guaranteed?
No. These are typical "up to" amounts that change with the funding, what qualifies, and the specific practice. Treat them as a solid starting point, not a quote. Your SWCD gives you the current, project-specific numbers, and that conversation is free.
Let’s build a project that qualifies
Tell us about your shoreline and we’ll recommend the right approach and point you to your county’s cost-share program, all as part of a free estimate.