Backyard Conservation Cost Share

The Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District backyard conservation cost share program is on pause while the program is being evaluated for effectiveness and funding secured.

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The Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Conservation Cost-Share Program is an incentive program intended to defray landowner costs for implementing conservation practices that benefit soil and water quality and wildlife habitat.  Preference will be given to projects on lands that are not eligible for other state and federal cost-share programs.  The goal of this program is to help landowners practice better environmental stewardship by providing financial assistance for the implementation of conservation practices that would not otherwise be implemented without financial assistance.

The expectation of the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors (hereinafter referred to as the District) is that Participants in the Conservation Cost-Share Program are responsible for proper installation, long-term operation, and maintenance of conservation practices.Conservation practices installed with cost-share funds must be in place for a minimum of three years.

The BYC cost share program is matching grant program (50% of project cost reimbursed up to approved max cost share amount) and participant contributions can be in the form of purchased materials and services, equipment rental or donated equipment use, materials, and labor. 

Practices eligible for cost share funding include:

• Rain gardens and bioswales
• Constructed wetlands for wildlife
• Water/pond edge enhancements
• Filter strips
• Prairie plantings
• Pollinator gardens
• Invasive plant removal
• Tree plantings
• Porous Pavement/pavers

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Did you know?

Home owners associations (HOA's), parks, schools, and other entities are eligible for cost share funding through the cost share program or as education demonstration projects!