The Southwest Florida Water Management District is announcing the recipients of the 2005 Community Education Grant Program. The grants, which are up to $5,000 each, will help fund projects that provide communities the opportunity to learn about water resources.
This year the District awarded 29 grants Districtwide for a total of $107,667.
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 water protection through various activities and educational formats.
This is the ninth year community education grants have been available.
The Hernando County Utilities Department will receive $5,000 for the Groundwater Protection Workshop. This one-day public workshop is planned to educate developers, community leaders and regional policymakers on the importance of groundwater protection. The education will focus on the region’s unique karst geology, groundwater protection and the Floridan aquifer. The workshop will include guest speakers, field visits and hands-on activities for more than 100 participants. The workshop will be broadcast on the Hernando County government channel so area residents can also learn the information.
This project will receive funding from the Coastal Rivers and the 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, Levy, Marion, Pasco and Sumter counties.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 2006 Community Education Grant Program will begin its application process in August of this year if funding is approved by the Basin Boards. The deadline for applications is tentatively scheduled for October. To be added to the mailing list to receive the 2006 application, call the District’s Communications Department at 800-423-1476 or 352-796-7211, ext. 4757.