The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized four Sarasota 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 Sarasota County recipients. Sarasota County is in the Manasota Basin, which also includes Manatee County.
Jesse White, Indian Beach/Sapphire Shores Association, Pocket Park and Community Water Awareness Garden Projects
The Pocket Park project involved removing exotic vegetation from an abandoned city right-of-way and replacing it with Florida-friendly landscaping, thereby improving the quality of water leaving the property. The Community Water Awareness Garden project involved the development of a new water retention area for a church parking lot. The group planted a Florida-friendly landscape and installed a water-saving irrigation system. In addition, an informational brochure was also produced and mailed to the community.
School in the Park
Approximately 500 fifth-grade science students were provided with a means to investigate and analyze local aquatic environments. Students learned how to take water measurements, analyze data, and participate in research collaborations with scientists around the globe. Students, parents and neighborhood residents also analyzed soil and groundwater samples collected from street drains and compare the data with water samples taken from nearby bay sites. The School in the Park is the onl – ydrology Outreach Program in Sarasota County.
Teresa Connors, Sarasota County Water Resources
Steve Suau, Sarasota County Stormwater Management, Integrated Watershed Management Workshops
The Sarasota County Integrated Watershed Resources Initiative, with the Florida House Institute (FHI) and other partners, developed a watershed story. The story provides a perspective about natural systems storm water and water supply tailored to each of the following watersheds: Myakka River/Charlotte Harbor, Lemon Bay, Dona and Robert Bay, Little Sarasota Bay and Sarasota Bay. Three meetings were held to build interest in watershed protection with community leaders, developers and institutional partners. The watershed workshop process is a continuing effort to bring awareness and community involvement into watershed management.
Sarasota County Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program
The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program (FYN) in Sarasota County provides builders/developers and irrigation and landscape professionals with information on Florida-friendly landscaping. The education shows how by following th – principles, new construction can use water efficiently on landscapes while not adversely affecting the business’s bottom line.