Eight Pinellas County projects that have the potential to reach approximately 298,800 people were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. 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 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 eight projects is provided by the District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board. ThePinellas-Anclote River Basin includes Pinellas County and a portion of Pasco County.
Pinellas Living Green, Inc. will receive $5,000 for its 2009 Pinellas Living Green Expo, which is being held May 2–3 at the Harborview Center in Clearwater. The environmental education event provides attendees with ideas, resources and information that promote sustainable living through energy, water efficiency and environmental resource conservation. The goal is to motivate attendees to implement water and energy conservation practices, Florida-friendly landscaping practices and to use alternative energy. Last year the District funded the evaluation portion of the event, which showed a substantial increase in Florida-friendly knowledge and practices as a result of the information they participants obtained at the expo. Approximately 7,000 people are expected to attend the event.
TheAudubon Condominiums at Feather Sound will receive $2,500 for a series of community workshops to teach landscaping and grounds volunteers about water conservation, reuse, erosion, flood control and proper fertilizer usage. The goal of this project is to reduce water use in the area by 25 to 30 percent and to teach homeowners about the benefits of Florida-friendly landscaping. Volunteers will also contact nearby community associations to discuss project results. The success of the project will be measured by comparing water use from the prior year to the year after the project. This project is expected to reach approximately 1,000 people.
Green Florida will receive $3,250 for drip irrigation education signage and flyers. This project involves creating permanent educational signage at the Bartlett Park Community Garden. The signage will describe the garden’s drip irrigation system and overall benefits of water conservation. The goal is to educate garden volunteers, local residents and visitors about the benefits of drip irrigation. Printed flyers will be available to garden visitors and to booth visitors at the Saturday Morning Market in St. Petersburg. This project is expected to reach approximately 2,800 people.
ThePinellas County Extension Service will receive $3,538 for its McKay Creek Greenway Enhancement project, which will educate volunteers and visitors of the Florida Botanical Gardens and extension service complex about wetland native plants, invasive plants, natural systems and the impacts individuals have on water quality in freshwater systems. The project involves environmental signage and a volunteer community-based creek/bank trash and invasive plant removal event. The project will reach approximately 80 volunteers and has the potential to reach more than 257,000 annual visitors.
Nature Matters, Inc. will receive $5,000 to host ecotour cleanups of beaches, waterways and islands located in Pinellas County. Attendees will be provided with all supplies needed to go into debris-stricken areas. Conservation and preservation of natural resources will be discussed during the tour and cleanup. This is a continuation of the cooperator’s previous efforts. This project will potentially reach 5,000 people.
TheRiviera Bay Civic Association will receive $3,206 to continue its “Operation Healthy Water” project. The association is clearing away debris from the neighborhood canal system and posting signs at neighborhood storm drains and the boat ramp to inform residents how to protect the water resources. In addition to improving the water quality in the canals and adjacent bays, the project is educating residents on the effects of fertilizers, pesticides and pet waste as well as the amount of pollution that can accumulate over a one-year period. The association will also include an article about the project, as well as before and after pictures in its newsletter. This project is expected to reach approximately 1,000 people.
Schiller International University will receive $4,530 for its “Saving Water for the World” project, which will educate students and the Largo community about proper stewardship of our water resources. This will be accomplished by including a water conservation module into course instruction, installing rain sensors, flow reducers and toilet tank displacers on campus, and preparing and distributing informational brochures to students and campus visitors. This project has the potential to reach 10,000 people.
TheClearwater Parks and Recreation Department will receive $2,343 for its Glen Oaks Park environmental signage project. The city plans to enhance the educational value of the park by putting up 10 environmental signs about the park’s history, wetlands, watersheds, native animals, native aquatic plants and invasive species. This project has the potential to reach approximately 15,000 annual visitors.
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.