How to Get the Sebago Lakescaping Program
Portland Water District · Sebago Lake watershed, Cumberland County, Maine, ME
What you get
Portland Water District offers matching grants of up to $1,500 to homeowners on Sebago Lake or one of its major tributaries for work that reduces erosion, stormwater runoff, and nutrients reaching the lake. The process starts with a free Lakescaping consultation and a written Lakescaping Report of recommendations; following them is voluntary. Eligible expenses include native shoreline plants (the District names purchasing plants as a grant-eligible expense) and practices such as rain gardens, dripline and infiltration trenches, infiltration steps, and runoff diverters. Lake associations, commercial summer camps, and municipalities are eligible for up to $2,500 (Portland Water District, Sebago Lakescaping Program, last verified September 2026). The $1,500 is not a lifetime cap: a homeowner can apply a second time (Portland Water District, confirmed by email October 2026).
- Residential: Matching grant up to $1,500
Are you eligible?
- Be a Portland Water District customer
- Property located in: Standish, Sebago, Naples, Raymond, Casco, Windham, Frye Island
- Property on Sebago Lake or one of its major tributaries
- Schedule a free Lakescaping Consultation with Portland Water District (sebagolake@pwd.org)
- Receive the Lakescaping Report, then apply for the grant
- Install the recommended improvements after receiving a grant award letter, yourself or with a contractor
- Schedule a PWD inspection of the completed work before the grant is paid
Before you start
Do not remove turf or begin work before you have written approval. This program requires pre-approval. Starting early can disqualify the project even if everything else is correct.
Properties on tributaries beyond the immediate lake-shore towns may also qualify, so do not assume you are excluded. The program describes a matching grant but does not publish an exact match ratio.
The application checklist
How to apply for the Sebago Lakescaping Program
These are the steps this application actually takes.
- 1
Check eligibility
Make sure you qualify with Portland Water District before you start.
- 2
Get pre-approval if required
Some programs require approval before any work begins. Check with Portland Water District and take before photos of the existing yard first.
- 3
Do the work
Complete the project, take before and after photos, and save every receipt.
- 4
Submit your application
Send Portland Water District the completed application with your photos and receipts, then watch for the confirmation.
Get help applying
Want a hand with the application?
A 30-minute call with Stephen, the founder. He reads the Sebago Lakescaping Program rules with you, tells you what to photograph and file first, and answers anything this page does not cover.
Confirm your project ZIP first. If this program does not serve your address, do not buy; check your city or utility on the rebates page instead.
One-time $29.99. Guidance, not filing: you submit to the program yourself. Not legal or financial advice. Rebate amounts and approval are decided by the program.
Every program listed cites its official source, and each program page shows the date we last verified it against that source. Program details change throughout the year, so always confirm requirements, amounts, and eligibility directly with the program before starting work. Pollinator Patch is not affiliated with any rebate program and does not guarantee approval.
See a problem with a program? Report it
Programs change throughout the year. If something here is out of date or wrong, tell us and we'll check it against the provider.