All Conservation Landscaping practices including Meadows, Mulched Beds, Tree Plantings, Filter Strips, and Riparian Buffers will be reimbursed at 80% of total costs. Payments will not exceed total cost of the project with a maximum payment of $7,000.00.
Conservation Landscaping is the practice of modifying the visible features of turf grass areas or bare soils, to an area of land that incorporates environmentally sensitive design, low impact development, non-invasive native plants, and/or integrated pest management. The purpose is to create a diverse landscape that helps to protect clean air and water and support wildlife. Converting landscape into highly functioning ecosystems can have significant beneficial impacts on local water quality and that of the Chesapeake Bay.
While both conservation landscaping and rain gardens incorporate similar elements of gardening to promote cleaner air and water, rain gardens are more focused on water drainage while conservation landscaping typically focuses more on visual and wildlife elements.
Native plants are generally best adapted to local soil and climate conditions and therefore require the least amount of nutrient addition or cultivation in order to maintain the amount of ground cover best suited to minimize runoff. In contrast, turf grasses and non-native species generally require both continual maintenance and periodic fertilization in order to provide the same amount of stormwater runoff protection. Therefore, the conversion to of native plants will generally be beneficial from a non-point source runoff pollution prevention stand point.
Additional Photos of Completed VCAP Conservation Landscaping Projects:
Shade Tolerant CL Mulched Bed 
Flourishing CL Meadow 
CL-Mulched Bed on Slope 
CL-Before 
CL- Just After Installation 
Cl-Meadow 
CL – Mature Riparian Buffer