The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized the Marion County 10th Annual Master Gardener Spring Festival 2004 as an outstanding water resources education program.
Approximately 9,000 people attended this Florida-friendly landscaping event, which is organized by the Marion County Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program. Information on proper plant material, water conservation and water quality materials was distributed. More than 1,000 people also participated in educational workshops during the two-day event. Workshop topics included rain barrel construction, micro-irrigation and fertilizer best management practices.
The project was one of 52 projects throughout the District that were recognized as an outstanding school, community grant or volunteer program focusing on water resources education. The awardees 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.
Marion County is part of the Withlacoochee River Basin, which also includes portions of Pasco, Sumter, Hernando, Citrus and Levy counties.