Seven Manatee County projects expected to reach more than 13,000 people were awarded Community Education Grants from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org. These grants offer up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.
This year the District awarded "35 grants Districtwide(2010 Community Education Grant Projects)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/business/communitygrants/projects.php for a total of $144,052. This is the 13th year Community Education Grants have been available.
The overall goal of the "Community Education Grant Program(Community Education Grant Program)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/business/communitygrants 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 educational activities. These grants offer up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.
The following five projects received funding from the District's "Manasota(Manasota Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/manasota.php Basin Board. The Manasota Basin includes Manatee and Sarasota counties.
*Bradenton Beach* received a $2,500 grant for the Using Every Drop Water Conservation Day March 20 at the volunteer fire auxiliary and adjacent Bradenton Beach City Hall. The event included a native plant sale and a rain barrel workshop where attendees learned about free water resources, such as condensation from air conditioners and rainwater, and about conservation of area water resources.
The *River Club community* received a $2,700 grant for a bilingual informational campaign targeted at River Club residents and their lawn care specialists, educating them on fertilizer best management practices. The grant will provide educational materials, including road signs, and fund a town hall meeting and booths at community events.
The *Garden Lakes Community* received a $4,000 grant to restore the water quality of two stormwater ponds located within the community. The grant will fund community meetings, a littoral shelf planting and a picnic/carnival, as well as newsletter articles and educational materials. The project will educate residents on the importance of stormwater ponds and how people impact water quality.
*Simply Green Solutions* received a $2,700 grant to teach pet owners and related businesses the importance of picking up after pets. The Pooches for the Planet project will encourage pet owners to sign pledge cards to pick up after their pets, and educate them through community presentations.
The *Friends of the Manatee County Extension office* received a $1,650 grant for a rain barrel demonstration site. Through 10 workshops and signage, visitors will learn how to install and maintain a rain barrel.
The following project received funding from the District's "Alafia River(Alafia River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/alafia.php, "Manasota(Manasota Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/manasota.php, and "Peace River(Peace River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/peace.php basin boards. The Alafia River Basin includes the southern half of Hillsborough County and the southwestern portion of Polk County. The Peace River Basin includes Hardee, DeSoto, and portions of Charlotte, Highlands and Polk counties.
The *Range Cattle Research and Education Center* received a $5,000 grant to offer free soil and tissue testing and educational materials to regional beef and forage producers. Reductions in the amount of fertilizer applied to pastures could decrease pollution of surface and groundwater resources in ecologically sensitive areas in west-central Florida. If you are a rancher who would like to participate in the project, please contact Reyna Speckman, range cattle station Extension specialist, at (863) 735-1314.
The following project received funding from the District's "Coastal Rivers(Coastal Rivers Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/coastal.php, "Hillsborough River(Hillsborough River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/hillsborough.php, "Manasota(Manasota Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/manasota.php and "Pinellas-Anclote River(Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/pinellas-anclote.php basin boards. The Coastal Rivers Basin includes portions of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties. The Hillsborough River Basin includes portions of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties. The Pinellas-Anclote River Basin includes Pinellas County and a portion of Pasco County.
*Kayak Nature Adventures* received a $5,000 grant to organize manatee habitat "spring cleaning" at six locations: two at Weeki Wachee in Hernando County, two at Terra Ceia in Manatee County, and one each at Clam Bayou and Bear Creek in Pinellas County. Volunteers will be provided free access to kayaks, a guide, trash bags and equipment needed to collect the trash. This project will educate the public about the damage household waste and polluted runoff have on their quality of life and manatee habitat. For more information and participant registration, please visit http://kayaknature.com.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District's 2011 Community Education Grant program will "begin its application process in June 2010(2011 Grant Dates)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/business/communitygrants/dates.php. For more information, please call the District's Communications Department at 1-800-423-1476 or (352) 796-7211, ext. 4757.
This year the District awarded "35 grants Districtwide(2010 Community Education Grant Projects)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/business/communitygrants/projects.php for a total of $144,052. This is the 13th year Community Education Grants have been available.
The overall goal of the "Community Education Grant Program(Community Education Grant Program)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/business/communitygrants 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 educational activities. These grants offer up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.
The following five projects received funding from the District's "Manasota(Manasota Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/manasota.php Basin Board. The Manasota Basin includes Manatee and Sarasota counties.
*Bradenton Beach* received a $2,500 grant for the Using Every Drop Water Conservation Day March 20 at the volunteer fire auxiliary and adjacent Bradenton Beach City Hall. The event included a native plant sale and a rain barrel workshop where attendees learned about free water resources, such as condensation from air conditioners and rainwater, and about conservation of area water resources.
The *River Club community* received a $2,700 grant for a bilingual informational campaign targeted at River Club residents and their lawn care specialists, educating them on fertilizer best management practices. The grant will provide educational materials, including road signs, and fund a town hall meeting and booths at community events.
The *Garden Lakes Community* received a $4,000 grant to restore the water quality of two stormwater ponds located within the community. The grant will fund community meetings, a littoral shelf planting and a picnic/carnival, as well as newsletter articles and educational materials. The project will educate residents on the importance of stormwater ponds and how people impact water quality.
*Simply Green Solutions* received a $2,700 grant to teach pet owners and related businesses the importance of picking up after pets. The Pooches for the Planet project will encourage pet owners to sign pledge cards to pick up after their pets, and educate them through community presentations.
The *Friends of the Manatee County Extension office* received a $1,650 grant for a rain barrel demonstration site. Through 10 workshops and signage, visitors will learn how to install and maintain a rain barrel.
The following project received funding from the District's "Alafia River(Alafia River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/alafia.php, "Manasota(Manasota Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/manasota.php, and "Peace River(Peace River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/peace.php basin boards. The Alafia River Basin includes the southern half of Hillsborough County and the southwestern portion of Polk County. The Peace River Basin includes Hardee, DeSoto, and portions of Charlotte, Highlands and Polk counties.
The *Range Cattle Research and Education Center* received a $5,000 grant to offer free soil and tissue testing and educational materials to regional beef and forage producers. Reductions in the amount of fertilizer applied to pastures could decrease pollution of surface and groundwater resources in ecologically sensitive areas in west-central Florida. If you are a rancher who would like to participate in the project, please contact Reyna Speckman, range cattle station Extension specialist, at (863) 735-1314.
The following project received funding from the District's "Coastal Rivers(Coastal Rivers Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/coastal.php, "Hillsborough River(Hillsborough River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/hillsborough.php, "Manasota(Manasota Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/manasota.php and "Pinellas-Anclote River(Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/pinellas-anclote.php basin boards. The Coastal Rivers Basin includes portions of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties. The Hillsborough River Basin includes portions of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties. The Pinellas-Anclote River Basin includes Pinellas County and a portion of Pasco County.
*Kayak Nature Adventures* received a $5,000 grant to organize manatee habitat "spring cleaning" at six locations: two at Weeki Wachee in Hernando County, two at Terra Ceia in Manatee County, and one each at Clam Bayou and Bear Creek in Pinellas County. Volunteers will be provided free access to kayaks, a guide, trash bags and equipment needed to collect the trash. This project will educate the public about the damage household waste and polluted runoff have on their quality of life and manatee habitat. For more information and participant registration, please visit http://kayaknature.com.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District's 2011 Community Education Grant program will "begin its application process in June 2010(2011 Grant Dates)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/business/communitygrants/dates.php. For more information, please call the District's Communications Department at 1-800-423-1476 or (352) 796-7211, ext. 4757.