Ten Hillsborough County projects that will reach up to 64,500 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 38 grants Districtwide for a total of $136,598. This is the 11th 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 Hillsborough County recipients are grouped according to funding by basin. Funding for the following three projects is provided by the Alafia River Basin Board. The Alafia River basin includes the southern half of Hillsborough County and the southwestern portion of Polk County.
The Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center will receive $5,000 for the Family Naturalist Program, which will encourage families with children ages four and up to learn about their watershed and how to protect it. The program includes a series of 12 Saturday workshops covering a variety of topics, including water conservation, flood protection, water quality and natural systems. Workshop activities include an introduction to the watershed, a hands-on learning activity and a brief stewardship activity. Participants will be quizzed before and after the workshop to measure their knowledge and behavior change. Approximately 1,000 people will be reached by this program.
The Alafia River State Park will receive $1,740 for the South Prong Trail. With help from volunteers, the state park will construct a boardwalk and bridges along the floodplain and the south prong of the Alafia River. The bridges will protect low-lying portions of the river from foot traffic. Interpretive signage will be placed along the trail to explain the importance of the floodplain and the vegetation found in the area. The goal is to teach volunteers and visitors about the role the floodplain plays within the watershed. This project has the potential to reach approximately 55,000 visitors a year.
The Clean Water Fund will receive $1,500 for the Water and Coastal Area Restoration and Maintenance project. The group plans to initiate a pollution prevention program to reduce marine debris and stormwater runoff. The program includes a volunteer cleanup of local waterways, maintenance of filtration devices in stormwater drains and an outreach campaign. The goal of this project, which is expected to reach 500 people, is to inform participants about the effects their actions have on the health of the local water bodies.
Funding for the following three projects is provided by the Hillsborough River Basin Board. The Hillsborough River Basin includes portions of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties.
The Crystal Springs Foundation, Inc. will receive $4,695 for the Tires to Trails project. This project will remove eight tons of rotting tires and other debris from the upper Hillsborough River with the help of volunteers. These efforts will improve water quality and increase awareness of watershed health. A community open house will be held during the cleanup to encourage water and natural resources conservation. Approximately 1,000 participants are expected.
The Mayor’s Beautification Program will receive $4,990 for a shoreline adoption program. The group will initiate an aggressive educational advertising and marketing campaign to publicize their Shoreline Adoption Program to enlist new adopting groups. Participants will remove invasive plants, pick up litter and plant appropriate plants on their adopted shoreline. The goal is to increase participation and encourage residents to respect nature and keep Tampa’s shorelines well maintained. Approximately 3,000 people will be reached by this program.
The Friends of the River, Inc. will receive $4,995 for the Lower Hillsborough River Shoreline Restoration project. This project will perform demonstration shoreline restorations at several privately owned riverbanks. Restoration efforts include removing invasive plants and replacing them with appropriate shoreline plants. Homeowners will be required to go through an application process to be selected. The restoration process will be filmed so it can be used to teach other riverfront property owners about the benefits of proper riverfront landscaping and to encourage them to initiate their own projects. The film will be available on the Friends of the River web site and on cable television. Approximately 300 people will be reached by this project.
Funding for the following project is provided by the Alafia River Basin Board and the Hillsborough River Basin Board.
The Clean Water Fund will receive $1,500 for the Water and Coastal Area Restoration Maintenance project. This project will initiate a pollution prevention program to reduce marine debris and stormwater runoff. The project will include a volunteer cleanup of local waterways, maintenance of filtration devices in stormwater drains and an outreach campaign. Participants will learn how their actions impact the health of local water bodies. Approximately 500 participants are expected.
Funding for the following three projects are funded by the Alafia River Basin Board, the Hillsborough River Basin Board and the Northwest Hillsborough Basin Board. The Northwest Hillsborough basin includes northwest Hillsborough County.
Wildrose Lawn Care will receive $5,000 for the “2008 Florida Yard Fandango.” This annual event held at the Museum of Science and Industry focuses on Florida-friendly landscaping techniques. The event includes educational workshops and a vendor fair with plants and other items. The goal is to encourage residents to incorporate Florida-friendly landscaping principles in their yards. The project will reach approximately 2,500 people.
The Hillsborough County Planning and Growth Management Department will receive $5,000 for the Green Roofs Symposium, which will focus on the benefits, design and implementation of green roof technology. This symposium is aimed at local officials and others. A green roof system is an extension of an existing roof that involves a high-quality waterproofing and root-repellant system, a drainage system, cloth, a lightweight growing medium and plants. The symposium will encourage the development of green roofs to reduce the negative impacts of stormwater runoff. Approximately 100 people are expected to attend.
The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) will receive $2,306 for the “Right Plant, Right Place” community project, which will coincide with the Florida Yard Fandango. Attendees will receive plant identification guides and learn about the benefits of a rain barrel. They will also have the opportunity to paint a rain barrel. Signage on the museum grounds will identify plants and highlight Florida-friendly principles in action. Approximately 600 people will be reached by this project in addition to the annual visitors to the museum.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 2009 Community Education Grant Program will begin its application process in June 2008. For more information, please call the District’s Communications Department at 1-800-423-1476 or 352-796-7211, ext. 4757.