The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized five Hernando County projects as outstanding school, community grant or volunteer programs that focus on water resources education. A total of 52 projects 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.
Here are the Hernando County recipients grouped by the appropriate Basin:
Coastal Rivers Basin
The Coastal Rivers Basin includes portions of Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties.
Central High School, Quality Water Awareness and Conservation
Students tested and evaluated water clarity, quality, temperature, adicity, conductivity, turbidity, amount of oxygen, ammonium, calcium, cholorine and mitrate levels using Lab Pro technology.
Suncoast Elementary, The Water Shed
A water resources center was created by an after-school environmental group of 4th- and 5th-graders. The group also organizes and maintains the center. The center helps students promote effective stewardship of water resources.
Nature Coast Botanical Club, Desertscape Garden Project
The Desertscape Garden Project provides Hernando County residents an opportunity to view an attractive water-conserving garden that survives on rainfall alone.
Withlacoochee River Basin
The Withlacoochee River Basin includes portions of Pasco, Sumter, Hernando, Citrus, Marion, and Levy counties.
Hernando County Utilities Department, Our Surprising Springs Workshop
Local government officials and employees were educated on the declining quality of the countys springs. The workshop included field trips to the Peck and Blue sinks, illustrating the difference between the high quality conditions of the Blue Sink compared to the polluted Peck Sink. The goal of this project was to increase public support for springs protection. This program is located in the Coastal Rivers and the Withlacoochee River basins.
Hernando County Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program
This program educates homeowners, irrigation and landscape professionals and students on Florida-friendly landscaping and how by following the nin – principles, residents can act in ways that protect the watershed in which they live. This program is located in the Coastal Rivers and the Withlacoochee River basins.