Northern Region - Southwest Florida Water Management District

N421
Know your Watershed
Project Type
AORs
Water Quality
Cooperative Funding
Strategic Initiatives
Water Quality Maintenance and Improvement
Hernando County
Cooperator(s)
Project Manager Virginia Singer
Task Manager(s)
Status
Proposed Coop. Funding Application
Recommendation
Not Recommended for funding. In order to streamline regional watershed education and avoid duplication, District staff is
redesigning public education efforts, planning to fund region-specific water quality education projects that are closely aligned with
District strategic initiatives through the Community Education Grant program in the future. Additionally, as proposed, this project's
goal is to achieve behavior change but it is designed as an awareness campaign. If behavior change is to be achieved, identifying
and overcoming barriers to that change through stronger education and community involvement will be necessary. In addition, the
project will need a clear evaluation method to measure if behavior change was achieved. Staff has offered to work with the
cooperator and suggest program improvements that may be considered for an FY2013 Community Education Grant.
Description
This Cooperative Funding Initiative project seeks to inform Hernando County residents of what a watershed is, what watershed
they live in and how to protect it. Specific watershed topics to be addressed in this awareness campaign include: surface water
runoff, local karst drainage features and how they connect to the aquifer, water quality and individual responsibility and
stewardship. This will be accomplished through direct mail, brochures, signage, a watershed website and Facebook. Evaluation
will be based on website hits and duration of visit, follow up with participants and pre- and post survey to Hernando County Utilities'
customers. This project is expected to reach approximately 69,000 Hernando County residents, plus an additional 20,388
residents per day for roadside signage.
Benefits
If funded, the project will work cooperatively with the Hernando County Utilities Department and the Hernando County Extension
office to directly reach a projected 69,000 residents. These departments will be used as resources and as distribution points for
project materials. The program's effectiveness will be enhanced through use of District educational publications and scientific data
and maps.
Costs
The total proposed cost of the FY2013 program is $12,000, with the District requested to contribute $6,000. District funds are being
requested for the creation and distribution of direct mail, brochures, signage and a watershed webpage. This project is expected to
reach approximately 69,000 Hernando County residents at a cost to the District of $.09 per resident. These costs are well below
average when compared to other proposed FY2013 CFI education projects. Hernando County's match is its own in-kind
administrative and technical services.
Additional Information
Prior
Funding
Cumulative
Transfer or
Lapsed Funding
FY2012
Funding
FY2013
Funding
Future
Funding
Total
Funding
District Budgeted - Ad Valorem
Based Revenue
015 Coastal Rivers Basin 0 0 0 5,040
0
5,040
019 Withlacoochee River Basin 0 0 0 960
0
960
Project Funds Not Budgeted by the
District
Hernando County 0 0 0 6,000
0
6,000
Total
$12,000
Critical Project Milestones
Projected
October 2012 to September 2013
see educational addendum 09/30/2013
Status As Of
Amended
Actual
23