Two Citrus County projects that are expected to reach approximately 730 people were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. These grants provide up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.
This year the District awarded 32 grants Districtwide. This is the 12th year Community Education Grants have been available.
The overall goal of the Community Education Grant program is to actively engage adults in water-related issues pertaining to conservation, protection and preservation. Funded by the District’s Basin Boards, the program is intended to motivate communities to get involved in watershed protection through various activities and educational formats.
The projects are funded by the District’s Coastal Rivers and Withlacoochee River Basin Boards. The Coastal Rivers Basin includes portions of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties. The Withlacoochee River Basin includes portions of Citrus, Hernando, Marion, Levy, Pasco and Sumter counties.
TheCitrus County Department of Water Resources will receive $4,000 for a Water Conservation Month Celebration, which will include a series of education and outreach programs. The Board of County Commissioners will proclaim April to be “Water Conservation Month” at its meeting and the county utility is partnering with the District and the University of Florida/IFAS Extension service office to offer weekly water conservation programs in the Kings Bay area. Water conservation events will be designed for both elementary school students and residential audiences. The goal is to provide hands-on, visual education about the local watershed and the adverse impact of human behaviors on our waterways. The project will reach approximately 630 people.
TheGulf Archaeology Research Institute will receive $4,160 for two workshops to teach people how to identify healthy and stressed coastal ecosystems. The workshops will be held in Crystal River and Yankeetown and are geared toward government land managers, community boat and dive shop businesses, coastal residents, teachers and interested community preservation groups. Through boat tours and classroom sessions, participants will learn how to identify new damage to coastal ecosystems and how to report damage to the responsible government agencies. This project will reach approximately 100 people.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 2010 Community Education Grant program will begin its application process in June 2009. For more information, please call the District’s Communications Department at 800-423-1476 or 352-796-7211, ext. 4757.