Southern Region - Southwest Florida Water Management District

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Education - SEC Watershed Community Leadership and Education
Program
Project Type
AORs
Water Quality
Natural Systems
Water Supply
Cooperative Funding
Strategic Initiatives
Water Quality Maintenance and Improvement
Natural Systems Conservation and Restoration
Conservation
Science and Environment Council of Sarasota
Cooperator(s)
Project Manager Virginia Singer
Task Manager(s)
Status
Proposed Coop. Funding Application
Recommendation
Fund as a Medium priority. The cooperator has been a long-term, valued partner of the District, promoting watershed protection to
Sarasota residents and visitors. In FY2013, SEC plans to improve its evaluation measures by adding a pledge and follow-up
survey to reflect behavior change among program participants. There are several reasons for the medium ranking: (1) The SEC is
a consortium of more than 20 environmental organizations in Sarasota County, which together have a combined audience of nearly
300,000 people per year. The potential for reaching such a large audience has been one of the reasons staff has supported SEC
cooperative funding projects. This year's project, however, plans to reach only 6,000 people directly. An expanded reach would
provide greater return on investment. (2) Because scavenger hunts are included in the FY2012 project for the first time, staff will not
have evaluation data until the end of the fiscal year. Without this data, staff is unable to determine effectiveness that could justify
another year of funding. (3) This is the third year the cooperator has requested funds for audio phone messages. Staff has not
received adequate justification for the development of additional phone messages. Additionally, while information provided by the
cooperator confirms the messages are being accessed by site visitors, the cost per contact hour for this deliverable is much
higher than average when compared to other project deliverables.
Description
This Cooperative Funding Initiative project is a continuation of the SEC program designed to work collaboratively with its
20-member organizations to convene policy discussions and enhance public understanding about water and watershed
conservation based on science. The FY2013 program seeks to continue educating residents that their actions affect the health of
their watershed. Funds requested are for development and promotion of mobile phone audio messages and smart phone
scavenger hunts, and for developing and promoting outdoor and nature-based events hosted at consortium member sites.
Evaluation will be based on participation numbers, pledge cards, post-pledge email survey, audio tour and scavenger hunt
automated statistics and circulation for newspaper. Funding request is the same as FY2012.
Benefits
If funded, the SEC plans to build on previous initiatives created for the Watershed Community Leadership and Education Program
(2005-2012). The 6,000 residents that will be directly reached through the program's messages will learn about the ways in which
the health of a watershed is related to activities people enjoy every day, and how specific actions can help protect the water
resources. Education will be enhanced through the distribution of District publications at SEC member sites. Specific events will
occur on District property when feasible.
Costs
The total proposed cost of the FY2013 project is $90,000, with the District requested to contribute $45,000. Funds requested are for
development and promotion of mobile phone audio messages and smart phone scavenger hunts, and for developing and
promoting outdoor and nature-based events hosted at consortium member sites. The program is projected to reach 75,000
people indirectly. It will reach 6,000 residents directly at a cost to the District of $7.50 per person and $3.75 per contact hour. These
costs are average to below average when compared to other FY2013 CFI projects. SEC's match is its own and member
organizations' in-kind administrative and creative services.
Additional Information
This FY2012 Cooperative Funding Initiative project is a continuation of the SEC program designed to work collaboratively with its
20 member organizations to convene policy discussions and enhance public understanding about water and watershed
conservation based on science. The FY2012 program will use a variety of approaches to inform approximately 145,920 residents
and visitors and directly impact 7,500 residents about the ways in which the health of a watershed is related to activities people
enjoy every day and how people's actions can help protect the water resources. Project activities will include outdoor and
nature-based events, an outreach campaign, mobile phone messages, a scavenger hunt and an evaluation. The Explore
Sarasota's Waters Beyond the Beaches media campaign will be developed in cooperation with the Sarasota Convention and
Visitors Bureau. This campaign, scheduled to launch March 2012, will be an expansion of previous years' Water Opportunities
Week. For three months, it will promote nature-based events and activities for families to learn about natural systems and
watershed protection. Mandated Districtwide budget reductions have required staff to address funding limitations and to ensure
that education funding maintains its appropriate proportion of the overall District budget. In light of these new budget realities, the
project's budget has been reduced 25% from previous years' funding. The program is projected to reach 145,920 residents at a
cost to the District of $6 per contact hour and $.30 per person reached.
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