The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized eight Pinellas 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 Pinellas County recipients. Pinellas County is in the Pinellas-Anclote Basin, which also includes a portion of Pasco County.
Pinellas County Arts Council and Pinellas County Utilities, Water: Educate to Conserve Through the Arts
The water conservation theater presentation program consists of professional artists performing interactive water resource presentations using the disciplines of music, creative dance, dramatic theater and storytelling. This is the third year Pinellas County schools have participated in this program, involving more than 21,000 students and teachers from 34 elementary schools.
John Hopkins Middle, “Lights Camera, ActionThe water story”
Students learned about the vital importance of conserving and protecting fresh water and the local watershed. In addition, the students participated in several hands-on lessons including water testing, porosity of soils and water flow.
Heather Judkins, Seminole High School, Aquaponics Project
As an expansion of a project started in 2001, students conducted an aquaponics study that involved several disciplines including science, math and English. Fifty tilapia were raised in a 500-gallon tank with water from the tank diverted into a hydroponics system. The hydroponics system provided nutrients for several types of plants and helped reduce the frequency of changing the tank water. Students monitored the fish, tested the water quality, observed plant growth and completed journals.
Largo Middle School, “More Than a Drop a Comprehensive Water Science Program”
This project directly involved 185 8th-graders and 60 7th- and 6th-graders. It is designed to help regular and low achieving students develop a better understanding of Florida’s ecosystem by taking an active role in their learning. This extensive project is applicable to all subject areas and involves all levels of middle school students through a variety of lab activities that essentially incorporate water resources education into the classroom.
Pinellas County Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program
The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program (FYN) in Pinellas County educates homeowners and students on Florida-friendly landscaping and how by following the nin – principles, residents can act in ways that protect the watershed in which they live.
Pinellas County Park Department, Lake Seminole Park Ecosystem Restoration and Interpretation Project
Pinellas County Park Department produced interpretive signage, a kiosk and brochures for Lake Seminole Park. The signage was designed to help park visitors learn how native plants filter pollution, how the removal of invasives helps restore natural ecosystems and how fertilizers and pesticides impact Lake Seminole’s water quality. The parks department also held a volunteer lake cleanup event.
The Southwest Chapter of the Florida Lake Management Society
Florida Lake Management Society Lake and Pond Education Program
The Florida Lake Management Society produced a series of eight workshops designed to educate homeowners on water supply, water quality, lake and pond health improvement, stormwater runoff, nuisance vegetation and erosion. The group also held a weekend event that offered attendees the opportunity to stay at the Starkey Environmental Preserve as well as to attend the workshop sessions. Sessions included a “Frog Listening” walk, aquatic plant management, plant identification and lake and pond restoration demonstrations.
Mary Kindinger, Seminole High School, Water Use, Pesticide Use and Fertilizer Use in Traditional and Non-traditional Plant Growth
Students grew native plants and vegetables in both traditional outdoor gardens and in 3 indoor hydroponic systems. They collected data on the growth and health of plants and monitored the use of fertilizers and pesticides. In addition, the students studied water sources, the biochemistry of water molecules and organic verses non-organic fertilizers.