The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, Inc. (CHEC) Peace Talks Tour as an outstanding water resources education program.
Th – eace Talks Tour was a two-part educational workshop that took upper Peace River residents to the lower river area and lower Peace River residents to the upper river area. The goal was to provide education and experiences related to the varying use the water resources of the watershed. Tour participants included commissioners, mayors, utility operators, educators, agriculture leaders, phosphate workers, city council members, county managers, District Basin Board members and citizens.
The project was one of 52 projects throughout the District that were recognized as an outstanding school, community grant or volunteer program focusing on water resources education. The awardees were recognized during the October 7 Reflect, Connect, Celebrate Water Resources Education Conference at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center in Tarpon Springs.
To select the awardees, District staff reviewed grants applied for by teachers through the Splash! mini-grant program and grants applied for by community members, local governments and non-profit groups through the community education grant program. District-sponsored programs that use volunteers to educate others about water conservation were also considered.
Many of the District’s grant projects focus on various aspects of all four of the District’s areas of responsibility water supply, water quality, natural systems protection and flood protection.
Charlotte County is part of the Peace River Basin, which also includes portions of Hardee, Desoto, Highlands, and Polk counties.