The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored two Marion and Levy county projects during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel. A total of 26 projects were recognized Wednesday.
- Gail Mowry with the Marion County Clean Water Program was recognized for her work with the Clean Farms Initiative. This initiative addresses the issue of water quality that comes with the management of manure from commercial horse farms and other livestock businesses. Marion County conducted surveys and focus groups to determine the most effective way to educate farm owners on best management practices. This project was one of the first funded by the District that used community-based social marketing research. The results of the research saved the county time and enhanced potential effectiveness by pinpointing the best ways to reach the audience.
- Genie Sturtenvant, a teacher at Yankeetown School, was recognized for the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve Legacy Project. This Withlacoochee River basin initiative has given Yankeetown middle school students the opportunity to monitor the Withlacoochee River for five years, checking the levels of dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity and chloride. The students have also studied the flora and fauna at the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve, utilized the nine principles of Florida-friendly landscaping to create a garden, and installed identification inscription posts along student-created trails.
Projects in Marion and Levy counties receive funding from the District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board, which includes portions of Marion, Pasco, Sumter, Hernando, Citrus and Levy counties.
To select the awardees, District staff reviewed school projects funded 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.