The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized two Pasco County projects as outstanding school, community grant or volunteer programs that focus on water resources education. A total of 52 projects 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.
Here are the Pasco County recipients grouped by the appropriate Basin:
Coastal Rivers Basin
The Coastal Rivers Basin includes portions of Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties.
Scenic Pasco, Pasco County Adopt-A-Pond
Nearly 200 Pasco County residents participated in an Adopt-A-Pond pilot program. The program included a two-hour training on stormwater management systems, native plants verses invasive plants and native wildlife in a functioning pond habitat. The class was followed by two days of pond planting and pond maintenance activities. A leadership training class was also held for those interested in leading their own pond project.
Pasco County Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program
This program provides builders/developers and irrigation and landscape professionals with information on Florida-friendly landscaping. The education shows how by following th – principles, new construction can use water efficiently on landscapes while not adversely affecting the business’s bottom line. Pasco County is part of the Costal Rivers, Withlacoochee River and Hillsborough River basins.