The Southwest Florida Water Management District recognized Stephanie Dunda, a Phoenix Academy teacher, for her outstanding water resources education program. A total of 26 projects were recognized Wednesday during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel.
Dunda’s eighth-grade class studied Florida-friendly gardens and created a hydroponics system for the school after conducting research at Selby Botanical Gardens and the Sarasota Garden Club.
Dunda also worked with Mote Marine Laboratory to implement a hands-on experience. Students conducted experiments and collected data on local watersheds surrounding Sarasota Bay and the Myakka River, performing water quality tests in these areas. Studies included macro and micro diversity analysis of plants and animals, as well as the human impact on estuarine ecosystems.
Sarasota County projects are funded by the District’s Manasota Basin Board, which also includes Manatee County.
To select the awardees, District staff reviewed school projects funded 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.