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 Polk County recipients in the Peace River Basin:
The City of Winter Haven will receive $2,800 for the South Lake Howard Nature Park Natural Interpretive Displays. Two interactive displays will be installed at the park, around Lake Howard, and will educate the public about storm water and how stormwater runoff can be managed. In addition, local radio stations and news stations will be asked to run public service announcements providing stormwater education and encouraging the public to visit the park. The water quality messages on the displays will reach approximately 200 people per day.
Florida Citrus Mutual will receive $3,410 for Enhanced Water Management Education. Approximately 4,500 citrus growers will be provided with informational inserts about water conservation methods and other water-related issues. These inserts will be distributed in Florida Citrus Mutuals weekly newsletter, the Triangle. The goal of the educational inserts is for citrus growers to become better stewards of the water resources.
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods/Polk County Extension Service will receive $5,000 for the Florida-Friendly Landscape Demonstration Garden at the Polk County Utilities Building. Demonstration gardens reaching an estimated 15,000 people will be installed at the Polk County Utilities Building and maintained according to the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods principles. The gardens will demonstrate how proper landscaping has an impact on water-related concerns such as water conservation, water quality and flood protection. Signage will be posted throughout the gardens to inform visitors about the benefits of Florida-friendly landscaping and handouts will be available for visitors to take home.
The Polk County BOCC Utilities Technical Services Division will receive $5,000 for the Polk County Utilities Water Conservation Public Education Program. Polk County Utilities (PCU) expects to reach 4,000 people by conducting a public outreach program to educate their customers on water conservation. At public events, participants will receive water conservation kits that include low-flow faucet aerators, leak detection tablets, rain gauges and instructions on how to install water-saving devices. PCU also created a water conservation room in their main office to display the water conservation program inventory. Water conservation videos are also available for viewing.
The Garden Grove Oaks Homeowners’ Association of Winter Haven will receive $5,000 for a pond health maintenance workshop. Approximately 450 residents are expected to attend a workshop about invasive and aquatic plants. Educational materials will be provided by the University of Floridas Center for Aquatic & Invasive Plants and the District. Participants will then rehabilitate their neighborhood pond with native aquatic plants. Nine educational signs with information about stormwater systems will be posted.
The Florida Southern College will receive $3,790 for the Southern Landing Educational Program. The District, the City of Lakeland and Florida Southern College created a stormwater treatment wetlands on Lake Hollingsworth. Florida Southern College faculty and students will now create displays educating the community about this stormwater filtration program and the value of wetlands. The displays will be placed on the north shore of the lake and will be seen by more than 18,000 people annually.
Funding for these projects comes from the Peace River Basin Board. The Peace River Basin includes portions of Charlotte, Hardee, Desoto, Highlands, and Polk counties.
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.