Students and teachers from Twin Lakes Elementary in Tampa were honored today with a Water Stewardship Award from the Southwest Florida Water Management’s Hillsborough River Basin Board.
The board chose the Twin Lakes Elementary “Water Everywhere, Put It First, Make It Last” project to receive the Water Stewardship Award because of the student involvement. The school used a District grant to educate and engage students in water resources by planting a drought tolerant garden. The project was tied in with a student’s Eagle Scout project, which involved purchasing concrete benches and writing a youth grant for art supplies for wildlife reflections.
The Water Stewardship Awards program recognizes excellence in the following categories: wetland systems restoration and preservation, water supply and conservation, water resources education, uplands restoration and management, water quality.
One project was chosen from each Basin within the District that exemplifies protection and/or conservation of west-central Florida’s water resources, demonstration of cost-effectiveness and demonstration of a benefit beyond that which is required by law, regulation or permitting requirements was chosen in each basin.
Applicants were from private businesses (commercial and agriculture), government agencies, individuals/communities (volunteers, business service clubs, individuals and non-government organizations), and educational institutions.
Basin Board winners will be considered for the Districtwide Water Steward of the Year Award. The winner of this award will be announced at the Governing Board meeting on September 28, 2004.
The Hillsborough River Basin includes portions of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk Counties.