NWF News: Get Your Native Plant Rebates!

Find rebates on native plants where you live; plus, Sacred Grounds grows in Detroit and what’s new with the Association of Northwest Steelheaders

By Delaney McPherson
NWF News
Mar 26, 2026

Planting for Pennies With Rebates

Sustainable gardening supports wildlife and the community at large, but transforming a yard from a biodiversity desert into a wildlife paradise can be costly. To help defray that expense, programs nationwide offer rebates on environmental upgrades for your outdoor space, from purchasing native plants (above) and rain barrels to converting lawns into gardens (below).

Community Backyards, run by the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District in Franklin County, Ohio, is one such initiative. Residents can attend an online or in-person workshop annually to learn about water pollution and runoff, and how sustainable gardening techniques improve water quality. They then receive a $50 voucher to put toward rain barrels, compost bins or native plants.

An image of a garden with mulch and drought tolerant plants.

“We try to hit on: This is good for the environment, but you can also save some money,” says Grace Chaffin of Franklin Soil and Water. “We know people who have made whole gardens out of $50 rebates year after year.”

Similar efforts exist all across the country, from Austin, Texas, to Spokane, Washington. To make them easier to access, the National Wildlife Federation’s Habitats and Communities team has created an online database of rebates plus information on how to jump-start a program in your area. Find resources near you.

An image of a rain garden celebration.

A Groundswell of Support

When completed in fall 2027, the 10 newest green stormwater infrastructure sites supported by Sacred Grounds™ in Detroit, Michigan, will help mitigate flooding, increase access to nature and lower stormwater fees.

Sacred Grounds—an NWF program that supports churches, mosques, temples and other houses of worship in creating native plant gardens—launched the stormwater initiative in 2019, after Detroit recalibrated its stormwater fees. By charging for parking lots and other impervious surfaces, the new system resulted in an increase in stormwater and drainage fees, particularly at large gathering places like churches and community centers. Installing rain gardens, for example, can help offset these costs, but designing, constructing and maintaining them is no small feat. Sacred Grounds, in partnership with Friends of the Rouge and Sierra Club of Michigan, provides funding, materials and architectural designs to create the gardens, as well as stipends for maintenance. One of the biggest benefits, however, is participant pride.

“It’s a moment of creating and building people up to be climate champions,” says Tiffany Jones, NWF director of community engagement. “When people see how these projects tackle climate change, it’s a whole other way to see environmental stewardship.”

To date, the program has completed 12 sites (including Grace in Action, above) that store 49,776 total gallons of stormwater—which will increase by 823,000 gallons with the additional 10 sites. The new sites will host 30 newly planted trees and will keep nearly 800 pounds of sediment out of the waterways annually. The 12,600 square feet of new habitat will also include nature-based play elements and other features that will increase access to nature. Analysis by an outside consultant showed that rain gardens at two previous sites improved community well-being and provided tens of thousands of dollars in environmental benefits.

“[Detroit is] a predominantly Black city with its own challenges: aging infrastructure, divestment and neglect,” Jones says. “This is a way that people can use their own community solutions for these issues.”

Donor Spotlight: Holly Cable of Lunenburg, Massachusetts

WHY I GIVE “I find solace in the forest and in enjoying the wild creatures that make a home there. My wish is for every person to find this for themselves wherever they can.”

Interested in learning more about the impact you can have on wildlife? Please visit nwf.org/donate.

An image of fishing workshops in Oregon.

Angling for Inclusivity in the Pacific Northwest

In the 65 years since its founding, the Association of Northwest Steelheaders has stayed its course, advocating for healthy runs of salmon and steelhead trout, even when the waters have been choppy.

Take June 2025. That month, Oregon and Washington filed suit against the federal government’s withdrawal from the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative, an agreement that would have paused dam litigation in favor of adopting a plan to save endangered salmon and steelhead, helping local communities thrive. Northwest Steelheaders stepped up in support of the states, campaigning to raise awareness. With dams currently preventing the free flow of wild fish in the Columbia and Snake rivers, the association has mobilized the recreational angling community to advocate for imperiled migratory fish.

An image of fishing workshops in Oregon.

“One of the things that makes us unique is our connections to the community in a grassroots sense,” says James Adkins, the new executive director as of October 2025, reflecting a commitment to public access, stewardship and recreation. “Our members fish these rivers, are deeply connected to them and are incredible advocates for them.”

The association has been rooted in advocacy since its initial goal of reclassifying steelhead as a game fish, granting the migratory, seagoing trout stronger protections from commercial gillnetters. In 1974, after a 15-year battle, the Steelheaders succeeded. Today the NWF affiliate for Oregon operates eight chapters there and in Washington, with members across those states and Idaho.

The association activates its volunteer networks for river cleanups, workshops and angling events (pictured). Some programs include Fishing with Veterans and Fish Eggs to Fry, which provides K-12 classrooms with eggs and supplies. As kids raise and release fish, they learn about their roles in the ecosystem. Chapters also have paved boat ramps and built ADA-accessible docks.

“I want to create opportunities to get more people engaged who are maybe newer to the sport and create a welcoming community for them to be a part of,” Adkins says. “I want to focus on positive places for people to learn and be encouraged.”

An image of a juvenile male ruby-throated hummingbird.

Bulletin: Wildlife Week

This April 6 to 12, celebrate National Wildlife Week in living color! Wildlife comes in all shapes, sizes and hues. Learn how to help wildlife thrive and find related activities, such as coloring pages for kids, at nationalwildlifeweek.nwf.org.