Six Pinellas County projects expected to reach more than 18,000 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 "Pinellas-Anclote River(Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/pinellas-anclote.php Basin Board. The Pinellas-Anclote River Basin includes Pinellas County and a portion of Pasco County.
*Pinellas Living Green* received a $5,000 grant for the Pinellas Living Green Expo 2010 June 5–6 at the Coliseum in St. Petersburg. This environmental education event provides attendees with ideas, resources and information that promote sustainable living. This year's Expo will include art and science projects from Pinellas County students.
The *Riviera Bay Civic Association* received a $4,800 grant to clear debris from the neighborhood canal system and within the watershed. Signs will be posted on storm drains and at the boat ramp. Neighborhood meetings will educate attendees on how to conserve water and improve water quality and participants will sign water conservation pledge cards.
*Pinellas Technical Education Centers* received a $5,000 grant to install Earth™ Massage low-flow showerheads and bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators in 700 low-income homes. Volunteers will provide homeowners with information on how to conserve water and other resources.
The *city of St. Petersburg* received a $5,000 grant to build four exhibit stations at the city's new water resources administration building. Each station will feature a display that explains water-related conservation measures. Through educational workshops, this project will educate participants on cistern construction, landscape design and irrigation efficiency.
The *Woodfield Homeowners Association* received a $5,000 grant to hold workshops to educate the homeowners about the community's wetlands and stormwater treatment system. Residents will learn how the system works and best practices for fertilization, watering, pesticides, mowing, and grass and yard clipping disposal. Homeowners will be invited to tour the drainage system and help plant wetland trees and herbaceous plants.
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 Manasota Basin includes Manatee and Sarasota counties.
*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 "Pinellas-Anclote River(Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/pinellas-anclote.php Basin Board. The Pinellas-Anclote River Basin includes Pinellas County and a portion of Pasco County.
*Pinellas Living Green* received a $5,000 grant for the Pinellas Living Green Expo 2010 June 5–6 at the Coliseum in St. Petersburg. This environmental education event provides attendees with ideas, resources and information that promote sustainable living. This year's Expo will include art and science projects from Pinellas County students.
The *Riviera Bay Civic Association* received a $4,800 grant to clear debris from the neighborhood canal system and within the watershed. Signs will be posted on storm drains and at the boat ramp. Neighborhood meetings will educate attendees on how to conserve water and improve water quality and participants will sign water conservation pledge cards.
*Pinellas Technical Education Centers* received a $5,000 grant to install Earth™ Massage low-flow showerheads and bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators in 700 low-income homes. Volunteers will provide homeowners with information on how to conserve water and other resources.
The *city of St. Petersburg* received a $5,000 grant to build four exhibit stations at the city's new water resources administration building. Each station will feature a display that explains water-related conservation measures. Through educational workshops, this project will educate participants on cistern construction, landscape design and irrigation efficiency.
The *Woodfield Homeowners Association* received a $5,000 grant to hold workshops to educate the homeowners about the community's wetlands and stormwater treatment system. Residents will learn how the system works and best practices for fertilization, watering, pesticides, mowing, and grass and yard clipping disposal. Homeowners will be invited to tour the drainage system and help plant wetland trees and herbaceous plants.
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 Manasota Basin includes Manatee and Sarasota counties.
*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.