The Southwest Florida Water Management District is joining forces with the Hillsborough River Watershed Alliance to celebrate the Hillsborough River and its watershed by declaring Nov. 15 through 22 as “Watershed Awareness Week.”
The District’s Hillsborough River Basin Board is co-sponsoring Watershed Awareness Week in an effort to foster good watershed stewardship.
The Hillsborough River Watershed Alliance is a public-private, non-profit organization that was formed in 1992 as an innovative partnership between federal, state and local governments and agencies, environmental and civic organizations, and numerous citizens dedicated to protecting the natural resources of the Hillsborough River watershed.
The Alliance and participating partners will recognize the week with several events planned within the watershed.
The watershed awareness events include:
- “A River Runs Through It” Environmental Fair, Nov. 15, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Hillsborough River State Park, 15402 U.S. Hwy. 301 N., Tampa. Canoe tours, guided tram tours, nature walks, kids’ fishing program and more. Admission fee to the state park is $4 for up to eight people per car.
- “Sustain It! Development and Urban Planning” workshop, Nov. 17, 6 to 8 p.m. at the University of South Florida Main Campus, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.,Tampa. The workshop will be held at the C.W. Bill Young Bldg., Room 107. For more information, call (813) 974-3133 or (813) 974-4031.
- “Creating and Maintaining a Florida Yard” workshop, Nov. 18, 7 to 8 p.m. at the Jimmie B. Keel Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa. For more information, please call (813) 273-3652.
- “Ground Covers as Environmental Alternatives” workshop, Nov. 18, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Temple Terrace Library, 202 Bullard Pkwy., Tampa. For more information, please call (813) 273-3652.
- “Water-Wise” workshop, Nov. 19, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Hillsborough County Extension office, 5339 County Rd. 579, Seffner. Pre-registration is required, call (813) 519-8677.
- “Butterfly Gardening” workshop, Nov. 19, 10 to 11 a.m., Quality Inn, 43824 Hwy. 27, Davenport. Pre-registration is required, call (813) 519-8677.
- Annual “Rollin’ On the River” Hillsborough Waterways Cleanup, Nov. 22, 8 a.m. at the Lowry Park Boat Ramp, Sligh Ave. on North Blvd., Tampa. For volunteer information, call (813) 221-8733, or email inquiries to volunteer@mbptree.org.
For more information about all of the Hillsborough River Watershed Awareness Week events, please contact the Hillsborough River Watershed Alliance at info@hrwa-fl.org.