The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored Susan Kelly, director of the Sumter County Extension, for her role in promoting water resources education through the Lake Panasoffkee Celebration. A total of 26 projects were recognized Wednesday during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel.
Through a 2007 Community Education Grant, the Sumter County Extension held this one-day community event that focused on the preservation and conservation of water resources, specifically Lake Panasoffkee. More than 600 people attended the celebration.
Sumter County projects are funded by the District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board, which also includes portions of Citrus, Hernando, Marion, Pasco, Levy and Sumter counties.
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.