The purpose of this program is to improve water quality and benefit aquatic life in Deer Creek and its tributaries by installing landscaping that helps manage stormwater by capturing rain where it falls, instead of allowing water to run off-site.

Rainscaping is any combination of plantings, water features, catch basins, permeable pavement, and other activities that manage stormwater as close as possible to where it falls, rather than moving it someplace else. Rainscaping can also be employed to solve a drainage problem, increase aesthetic appeal, improve property values, and/or attract birds and butterflies, in addition to other benefits. Rainscaping practices can include features such as rain gardens, bioswales, trees and shrubs, green roofs, etc. to slow down, soak up and reuse rainwater before it carries pollutants to a local stream.

Each landowner with property located in one of the Program Focus Areas is eligible to apply to receive a rebate of 75% of approved and documented costs up to a maximum of $4,500 for project design, implementation, and/or maintenance costs incurred for Rainscaping Cost-Share funded feature(s). NEW in 2023, institutional applicants are eligible for a rebate of 60% of approved and documented costs up to a maximum of $6,000. 

Verify your eligibility with this NEW interactive map! Enter your address to see if you are located within one of the Program Focus Areas.  Note, these areas are shaded purple within the purple Deer Creek Watershed boundary. Landowners including residential, institutional and commercial are eligible to participate. If your address is not located within one of the Deer Creek Watershed Program Focus Areas, you may qualify for the MSD Rainscaping Small Grants Program instead. There is some overlap in the Deer Creek and MSD program areas, and you may qualify for both programs.  Landowners may only receive ONE award from ONE of these rainscaping programs.  Landowners may not receive multiple awards from one program or an award from both programs.

You are required to attend an orientation for landowners (if you haven't previously attended one within the past two years) to learn more about the Rainscaping Cost-Share Program if you would like to apply. In 2024, we have scheduled two rainscaping orientations:

1. In-Person Orientation:
   • Date: February 21, 2024
   • Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
   • Register here
2. Virtual Orientation:
   • Date: March 5, 2024
   • Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
   • Register here

If you have questions, need assistance with registration and/or an accommodation to participate in one of these orientations, please contact:

(314) 577-0202 or
[email protected]

Note, please reserve your questions until after you have attended an orientation session and/or carefully reviewed the information and forms for landowners in the blue box at the top right-hand side of the page.

Sign up on the register page to be notified when the next round starts and orientation sessions become available in the future.

For more information about how to incorporate rainscaping in your yard, visit the Missouri Botanical Garden's online Rainscaping Guide.

The Deer Creek Watershed Alliance Rainscaping Cost-Share Program is administered by Missouri Botanical Garden and funded by Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, Mabel Dorn Reeder Foundation, the Holton family, and US EPA Region 7 through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (subgrant number G22-NPS-09), under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.