VAIL — The town of Vail is now accepting applications for its Project Re-Wild program, a public-private cost-share initiative in which grants are available to assist with as much as 75 percent of design costs associated with local stream bank and riparian-restoration projects. Homeowners, businesses and homeowners associations are eligible to apply for the Project Re-Wild funding.

The Vail Town Council has allocated $102,000 for this pilot project in 2017 and 2018. Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until the funds are exhausted.

Owners or property managers can apply to design projects that use bank-stabilization structures or native vegetation to stabilize stream banks and restore Gore Creek. The town is in the process of selecting a qualified landscape firm to perform the Project Re-Wild design work.

These grants are available for design work only; materials and construction are ineligible. The town's regular permitting process for the restoration work will be applicable for each of the projects, with assistance provided by the town's contracted design firm.

The Town of Vail Environmental Sustainability Team is organizing Project Re-Wild with a reminder that Gore Creek restoration is a communitywide effort. For its part, the town has been working to restore important riparian habitat on public property from Donovan Park to Ford Park and is encouraging private property owners to do the same.

For details about application information, contact Pete Wadden, watershed education coordinator, at 970-479-2144 or pwadden@vailgov.com.