Two Manatee County projects expected to reach nearly 2,650 residents 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 32 grants Districtwide. This is the 12th 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.
Funding for the following two projects is provided by the District’sManasota Basin Board. The Manasota Basin includes Manatee and Sarasota counties.
TheManatee County Extension Service will receive $5,000 for the Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Waterfront Enhancement and Demonstration Landscape project, which involves replanting a littoral and shoreline buffer zone on an area of waterfront along Lake Uihlein near the town hall. In addition, signs will be posted and two workshops will be held to teach residents about the importance of maintaining healthy aquatic systems as stormwater structures. This project is expected to reach 1,000 people.
TheMill Creek Association Phases 1 through 5B in Bradenton will receive $3,000 for a project that will teach residents about the function and ecological significance of stormwater ponds, and human impacts on water quality and ways to protect it. This project involves a workshop and pond planting. The pond restoration will benefit local water resources by filtering pollutants, minimizing erosion and improving beneficial wildlife habitat. Residents will also learn about how they can improve the ecosystem by reducing fertilizer and pesticide use, and preventing grass clippings and other items from entering the neighborhood ponds. This project is expected to reach approximately 1,650 people.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 2010 Community Education Grant program will begin its application process in June 2009. For more information, please call the District’s Communications Department at 1-800-423-1476 or 352-796-7211, ext. 4757.