Reducing stormwater pollution is vital to maintaining Lake George’s water quality.
Stormwater runoff is one of the leading threats to Lake George’s renowned water clarity and ecological health. As rain and snowmelt flow across roads, rooftops, and other hard surfaces, they collect pollutants like sediment, nutrients, oil, and debris—carrying them directly into the Lake. These pollutants fuel algal blooms, degrade habitats, and threaten drinking water quality. Investing in stormwater remediation and mitigation projects is essential to reducing this impact and protecting the lake’s long-term resilience. Through this grant program, we aim to support solutions that slow, filter, and treat stormwater before it reaches the Lake, safeguarding this exceptional resource for generations to come.
Available Funds
In 2025, funding is available to property owners (commercial and residential) within the Lake George Watershed for stormwater remediation and mitigation projects to reduce runoff and protect Lake George’s water quality by encouraging sustainable practices at the individual property level. Grants will be awarded based on both environmental and financial need with applications accepted on a rolling basis. No local match is required, and awards may be granted up to a maximum of $10,000.
These funds are intended to reduce nutrient and pollutant loading into Lake George by supporting the installation of stormwater mitigation projects on properties throughout the watershed.
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement (LC00A01141-0) to NEIWPCC in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program.
Applications are currently open- apply now!
Application Process
- Review the grant application requirements to ensure eligibility.
- Prepare any required documentation.
- Fill out and submit the online application.
- If selected, the LGA may perform a preliminary site visit with the homeowner or a final site visit to finalize the project.
- The grant is valid for 10 months from the award date.
The LGA will review applications on a rolling basis in the order they are received. Any application that is incomplete will be removed from its place in line until it is completed correctly, when it will then re-enter the approval process from the beginning behind any other applications that have already been submitted.
Eligibility Requirements
- The grant applicant shall be an owner or authorized representative of the property.
The use of the property must align with its approved zoning designation.
- The property shall not be used for short-term rentals.
- The property is in the Lake George Watershed.
- The proposed project must address a clearly identifiable stormwater issue, such as erosion, sedimentation, flooding, runoff into the lake or tributaries, or a lack of infiltration on impervious surfaces, etc.
- The proposed project must involve eligible stormwater best management practices, such as rain gardens, vegetated swales, infiltration trenches, drywells, permeable pavement, or similar practices that retain, treat, or reduce runoff.
- The applicant shall have a project ready before applying and complete the project within the grant timeline.
- The property must not be receiving funding for the same project through other federal, state, or local programs, unless disclosed and approved by the LGA.
- The applicant has ALL relevant documentation prepared to upload.
- The property owners identify as individuals “in need.” (This grant is intended to serve residents in need of financial assistance.)
This project does not support new development or expanded land use (e.g. a new house, extension, etc.).
Project Expectations
- The project must be completed to the satisfaction of the Lake George Association at their sole discretion.
All necessary permits for the project shall be obtained through the appropriate local or state agencies.
The project shall include appropriate erosion control measures.
- The project shall require no variances when possible.
- Site disturbance shall be kept to a minimum, avoiding any extension of steep slopes, excessive fills, and vegetation removal. Any trees or vegetation removed shall be replaced.
- Projects shall be compliant with all applicable codes and regulations, i.e. Town Codes.
- The applicant must agree to allow LGA staff or contractors to access the property for a pre-project site visit, post-project inspection, and monitoring if needed.
Documentation Requirements
- Property information (section, block, lot and town)
- Owner(s) information
- Project documents:
- Site plans/drawing (does not have to be a formal drawing from an engineer)
- Details of materials/species to be used in project
- Site photos
- Optional: Engineering plans, permits, non-jurisdictional letter, contracts, invoices
- Proof of finances for EACH owner and entity via the most recent year's tax return. You may upload other financial documentation to demonstrate financial need as well. (Note that each owner will be able to privately provide their financial information in such a way that the applicant or other owners will not have access to it.)
Frequently Asked Questions
When are applications open?
Grants are available and will be open as long as funds are available. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
How do I apply?
Applications will be accepted through a secure grant portal via the link above. We do not accept paper applications.
Where do the grant funds come from?
Stormwater homeowner grants are funded by the Lake Champlain Basin Program and donations to the Lake George Association.
Can I work on my application and save it for later?
Absolutely! Our grant platform allows you to start an application and save it along the way to finish at a time most convenient to you and your project schedule.
When can I apply?
You may apply as soon as you identify your project and meet all eligibility requirements.
How are you defining “in-need”?
Finances are really tricky, so we have no defined number. We will be looking at financial information as a package to be able to assess who grants should go to. If you feel like you are “in-need,” then please apply. If you aren’t sure if you are in-need, ask yourself if replacing your system will cause your family will be put under undue financial stress. Grant funds are limited, so please be thoughtful to your community.
Will my financial information be secure? I don’t want anyone else in my family to see it.
Yes- the platform we are using for applications is secure. The application is set up in such a way that property owners will receive a separate email with a private form to fill out their financial information. Owners will not see each other’s finances.
Did you get my application?
If you received an email confirmation stating your application was received, then yes! If you aren’t sure about the status of your application, you can log into our grant platform and view "my applications” to see the status.
What is the turnaround time?
We cannot provide a timeline for when an application will go through review or be awarded grant funding. Thank you for your patience.
It’s been awhile. What’s the status on my application?
We respectfully ask that you do not contact us asking for status updates on your application. Inquiries like these take valuable time away from processing grant applications. The LGA has a small staff and we are working diligently to get through a large number of applications. If you haven’t heard back from us, then your application has yet to be reviewed and is in the queue.
I have received a grant from the FUND or LGA in the past. Am I still eligible for this grant?
As long as you meet the other eligibility requirements, you would be still eligible for this grant.
I am or have been an LGA employee. Am I eligible?
In our goal to provide unbiased grants to those most in need, we cannot provide grants to current or former LGA employees.
I have questions. Who can I contact?
We encourage you to read through all the documentation on this page. You can also start an application (and save it) if you want to look the application questions over in advance. If you can’t find the information you are looking for, please email [email protected] and we will return your message as soon as possible. Please note that we have a small staff and are working through a large number of applications and messages, so responses may be delayed.
