The Southwest Florida Water Management District is announcing the recipients of the 2005 Community Education Grant Program. The grants, which are up to $5,000 each, will help fund projects that provide communities the opportunity to learn about water resources.
This year the District awarded 29 grants Districtwide for a total of $107,667.
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 water protection through various activities and educational formats.
This is the ninth year community education grants have been available.
Here are the Pinellas County recipients in the Pinellas-Anclote Basin:
The Pier Aquarium, Inc. will receive $3,500 for the “Protecting Our Habitats” Education Program. Through this program approximately 750 workshop participants will learn about the importance of water quality, water conservation, habitat conservation and water pollution through hands-on activities. The Enviroscape model will be used to demonstrate pollution and stormwater runoff. To encourage future action at home, participants will receive retrofit kits, hand-held sprayers, rain gauges and literature.
The Pinellas County Park Department will receive $3,980 for the Philippe Park Habitat Restoration and Interpretation project. Volunteers will participate in a hands-on workday to remove invasive exotic plants along a stormwater creek, followed by an
educational presentation. Participants will learn about the importance of native plants for pollution filtration and improving water quality. Interpretive signage will be installed to educate the estimated 900,000 annual visitors to the northeastern Pinellas County park.
The City of Dunedin/Water Division will receive $3,300 to pay for the postage on the “Do You Conserve Water?” brochure. Approximately 11,000 city water customers will receive the brochure, which explains the importance of water conservation. The brochure also includes a self-evaluation. A program containing the same information will also air on the city government access cable television channel.
The Florida Lake Management Society will receive $5,000 for “A Weekend in My Watershed: A Citizens’ Forum on Water Resources Management.” This program will be held at the Brooker Creek and Weedon Island preserves. Approximately 150 participants will learn about watershed management, water quality, flood protection and habitat diversity. Participants will also learn how to reduce negative impacts on their watershed.
The Pinellas County Highway Department will receive $3,580 for educational signage to be replaced along the Alligator Creek and Channel H stormwater retention pond. The signs, which explain how the pond supports flood control, water quality and wildlife, will replace signs that have faded or been vandalized.
The City of St. Pete Beach will receive $433 to pay for postage and posters promoting the St. Pete Beach Public Works Day. Residents will receive a letter informing them about the city’s reclaimed water system and its benefits. In addition, the city will host a public outreach event, which will include displays and printed material by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Yards & Neighborhoods.
The Pinellas Chapter of Florida Native Plant Society will receive $5,000 for the Pinellas Point Park Restoration Project. The group will coordinate volunteers in the removal of invasive exotic plants and the restoration of this 15-acre, city-owned park located on the bay next to the Skyway Bridge. Workshops will be held prior to each planting to teach volunteers about the plants and their relationship to bay habitats. Educational signage will be placed at the park entrances explaining the restoration process.
Funding for these projects comes from the Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board. The Pinellas-Anclote River Basin includes all of Pinellas County and a portion of Pasco County.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 2006 Community Education Grant Program will begin its application process in August of this year if funding is approved by the Basin Boards. The deadline for applications is tentatively scheduled for October. To be added to the mailing list to receive the 2006 application, call the District’s Communications Department at 800-423-1476 or 352-796-7211, ext. 4757.