Hernando County to benefit from two Community Education Grants

Two Hernando County projects expected to reach up to 5,700 people were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. These grants offer up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.

This year Swiftmud, as the district is commonly called, awarded 35 grants district-wide for a total of $144,052. This is the 13th year Community Education Grants have been available.

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 watershed protection through various educational activities.

Funding for the following two projects is provided by the district's Coastal Rivers, Hillsborough River, Manasota and Pinellas-Anclote River basin boards. The Coastal Rivers Basin includes portions of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties. The Hillsborough River Basin includes portions of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties. The Manasota Basin includes Manatee and Sarasota counties.

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church received a $4,600 grant to teach staff, church members, visitors and other Spring Hill faith-based communities the importance of Florida-friendly landscaping to conserving our water supply. Volunteers will coordinate workshops and continue to transform the current church grounds into a Florida-friendly campus. Through education at two workshops and tours of the church campus, residents and other churches will realize the importance of Florida-Friendly Landscaping to our water resources.

Kayak Nature Adventures received a $5,000 grant to organize manatee habitat "spring cleaning" at six locations: two at Weeki Wachee, two at Terra Ceia, one at Clam Bayou and one at Bear Creek. Volunteers will be provided free access to kayaks, a guide, trash bags and equipment needed to collect the trash. This project will educate the public about the damage household waste and polluted runoff have on their quality of life and manatee habitat. For more information and participant registration, visit http://kayaknature.com.

Swiftmud's 2011 Community Education Grant program will begin its application process in June 2010. For more information, call the district's communications department at 1-800-423-1476 or 352-796-7211, Ext. 4757.