The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored two Pasco County educators for their outstanding water resources education projects. A total of 26 projects were recognized Wednesday during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel.
- J.D. Durham, a Moore-Mickens Education Center teacher, was recognized for her “Florida-friendly Landscapes and Promotions” project. Students enrolled in the exceptional student education program learned about water conservation through a 2006–2007 Splash! mini-grant project. They discussed drought-tolerant plants, the use of rain barrels and how to measure rain collection using rain gauges. They also designed, planted and maintained a landscape area using drought-tolerant plants.
- Linda D. Blake, a Mittye P. Locke Elementary School teacher, was recognized for her Outdoor Classroom that featured native plants and a butterfly garden. This 2006–2007 Splash! mini-grant project enabled students to create a garden using Florida-friendly landscaping, focusing on native plants to attract wildlife. The classes discussed the problems associated with exotic plants, as well as the responsibilities involved with maintaining the landscape so it does not put a strain on water resources.
Portions of Pasco County are represented by each of these District Basin Boards: Coastal Rivers, Hillsborough River, Pinellas-Anclote River and Withlacoochee River.
To select the awardees, District staff reviewed school projects funded 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.