Five Polk County projects expected to reach up to 104,000 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 project received funding from the District's Green Swamp Basin, which is administered by the District's "Governing Board(Governing Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard. The "Green Swamp Basin(Green Swamp Basin)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/data/map/greenswampmap.html includes portions of Lake, Sumter, Pasco and Polk counties.
"*Colt Creek State Park*(Colt Creek State Park)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/greenswamp-colt_creek_st… received a $4,700 grant to install interpretive signs around new facilities. The park is an area within the "Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve(Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/greenswamp.html that is owned by the District and managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Plans to develop new facilities at Colt Creek State Park have been approved, which include a 1.8-mile main park drive and day-use features located around the 25-acre lake. The Informational Highway of Colt Creek project will install 21 interpretive signs along the new park drive, the existing lakefront area and the new interpretive trail. The interpretive signage will educate visitors about the important roles of the floodplain and swamp areas located in the Green Swamp.
The following two projects received funding from the District's "Peace River Basin Board(Peace River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/peace.php. The Peace River Basin includes Hardee, DeSoto, and portions of Charlotte, Highlands and Polk counties.
*Haines City* received a $3,200 grant for Spring Fest 2010, a community celebration designed to teach local residents about water conservation practices. The Health Chic House will present water conservation exhibits and offer workshops on Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, rain barrels and composting. Spring Fest 2010 is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 1 at Railroad Park in Haines City, and at Health Chic House, 12 N. 5th Street.
The city of *Winter Haven* received a $5,000 grant to install plant identification signs on Florida-friendly trails located in downtown Winter Haven and Lake Hartridge and Lake Howard nature parks. The project will also produce a listing of these plants and trees and their location for a utility bill insert, and create a trail guide for local distribution. From 8 to 11 a.m. May 8, drought-tolerant plants will be given to visitors who hike all three trails. Please contact the Sustainability Team at (863) 291-5600 for more information. The project will educate citizens and visitors on water conservation, water quality, flood protection, aquifer recharge, wildlife habitat and watersheds.
The following project received funding from the District's "Alafia River(Alafia River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/alafia.php, "Hillsborough River(Hillsborough River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/hillsborough.php, and *Peace River basin boards*. The Alafia River Basin includes the southern half of Hillsborough County and the southwestern portion of Polk County. The Hillsborough River Basin includes portions of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties.
The *Polk County Extension office* received a $4,600 grant to educate homeowners on Florida-Friendly Landscaping™. Through five workshops and educational materials, residents will learn to reduce their water, pesticide and fertilizer use and find out which plants require minimal maintenance in Polk County. If you are interested in attending a workshop, please call the Extension office at (863) 519-8677, ext. 121.
The following project received funding from the District's *Alafia River*, "Manasota(Manasota Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/manasota.php, and *Peace River basin boards*. The Manasota Basin includes Manatee and Sarasota counties.
The *Range Cattle Research and Education Center* received a $5,000 grant to offer free soil and tissue testing and educational materials to regional beef and forage producers. Reductions in the amount of fertilizer applied to pastures could decrease pollution of surface and groundwater resources in ecologically sensitive areas in west-central Florida. If you are a rancher who would like to participate in the project, please contact Reyna Speckman, range cattle station Extension specialist, at (863) 735-1314.
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 project received funding from the District's Green Swamp Basin, which is administered by the District's "Governing Board(Governing Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard. The "Green Swamp Basin(Green Swamp Basin)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/data/map/greenswampmap.html includes portions of Lake, Sumter, Pasco and Polk counties.
"*Colt Creek State Park*(Colt Creek State Park)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/greenswamp-colt_creek_st… received a $4,700 grant to install interpretive signs around new facilities. The park is an area within the "Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve(Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/greenswamp.html that is owned by the District and managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Plans to develop new facilities at Colt Creek State Park have been approved, which include a 1.8-mile main park drive and day-use features located around the 25-acre lake. The Informational Highway of Colt Creek project will install 21 interpretive signs along the new park drive, the existing lakefront area and the new interpretive trail. The interpretive signage will educate visitors about the important roles of the floodplain and swamp areas located in the Green Swamp.
The following two projects received funding from the District's "Peace River Basin Board(Peace River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/peace.php. The Peace River Basin includes Hardee, DeSoto, and portions of Charlotte, Highlands and Polk counties.
*Haines City* received a $3,200 grant for Spring Fest 2010, a community celebration designed to teach local residents about water conservation practices. The Health Chic House will present water conservation exhibits and offer workshops on Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, rain barrels and composting. Spring Fest 2010 is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 1 at Railroad Park in Haines City, and at Health Chic House, 12 N. 5th Street.
The city of *Winter Haven* received a $5,000 grant to install plant identification signs on Florida-friendly trails located in downtown Winter Haven and Lake Hartridge and Lake Howard nature parks. The project will also produce a listing of these plants and trees and their location for a utility bill insert, and create a trail guide for local distribution. From 8 to 11 a.m. May 8, drought-tolerant plants will be given to visitors who hike all three trails. Please contact the Sustainability Team at (863) 291-5600 for more information. The project will educate citizens and visitors on water conservation, water quality, flood protection, aquifer recharge, wildlife habitat and watersheds.
The following project received funding from the District's "Alafia River(Alafia River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/alafia.php, "Hillsborough River(Hillsborough River Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/hillsborough.php, and *Peace River basin boards*. The Alafia River Basin includes the southern half of Hillsborough County and the southwestern portion of Polk County. The Hillsborough River Basin includes portions of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties.
The *Polk County Extension office* received a $4,600 grant to educate homeowners on Florida-Friendly Landscaping™. Through five workshops and educational materials, residents will learn to reduce their water, pesticide and fertilizer use and find out which plants require minimal maintenance in Polk County. If you are interested in attending a workshop, please call the Extension office at (863) 519-8677, ext. 121.
The following project received funding from the District's *Alafia River*, "Manasota(Manasota Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/manasota.php, and *Peace River basin boards*. The Manasota Basin includes Manatee and Sarasota counties.
The *Range Cattle Research and Education Center* received a $5,000 grant to offer free soil and tissue testing and educational materials to regional beef and forage producers. Reductions in the amount of fertilizer applied to pastures could decrease pollution of surface and groundwater resources in ecologically sensitive areas in west-central Florida. If you are a rancher who would like to participate in the project, please contact Reyna Speckman, range cattle station Extension specialist, at (863) 735-1314.
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.