MANASOTA & PEACE RIVER BBDs Meeting Notebook 10-21-09.docx

B136
Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) Data Dissemination
and Education
Project Type Basin Initiatives
AOR(s)
Water Supply, Water Quality
Basin(s) General Fund (District), Alafia River, Hillsborough River, Northwest Hillsborough, Coastal Rivers,
Pinellas-Anclote River, Withlacoochee River, Peace River, Manasota
Cooperator(s)
University of Florida
Project Manager COHEN, RON
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
Description
The FAWN project started in 1997 and the District's involvement with the project started in 2003. This project collects
and distributes weather and climatic data, and has an educational component to teach the public how to use the data
to conserve water. Funding for the project was distributed over several years and is needed to continue data collection
and dissemination. In FY2009 FAWN is planning additional weather schools, fact sheets and enhanced irrigation
management tools. These elements will help conserve water and reduce fertilizer leaching.
Benefits
Increase the growers' knowledge and provide climatic data to help them reduce water use. The amount of water saved
will be a function of the number of acres planted and their water use, which will change annually based on market and
climatic conditions. Estimated savings are in excess of one billion gallons of water and $500,000 per hour. Therefore
during a cold winter where growers could use cold protection five (5) to ten (10) nights, annual savings could be as
much as ten billion gallons of water and $5 million to producers. Few winters require no cold protection, and it would be
reasonable to assume this management tool would average saving five billion gallons of water and $2.5 million
annually. The key to realizing these water use savings is educating the public through schools, written material, trade
shows, etc. In addition to collecting the data, FAWN information is used for workshops and other public events to help
teach the public the significance of weather and climatic data for water conservation and how to use the data. An
in-depth weather school is held annually. FAWN has developed a youth training curriculum. In FY2008-2009 FAWN
will enhance its urban program, develop more educational components and add new weather tools.
Costs
The FY2008 budget includes $100,000 for the FAWN project. Half this funding ($50,000) will come from general
revenue and the remaining amount will be divided evenly between the eight Basin Boards with each budgeting $6,250.
Additional Information
The Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) has been a successful, on-going, multi Agency (IFAS, FDAC,
SFWMD, SJRWMD, and Industry) project with about a $500,000 annual budget. They are asking for continued
funding in FY2008. The other cooperators have not yet determined their level of continued support for FAWN.
FAWN's weather data has been used by local Emergency Management personal to supplement the District's and
other sources' climatic data. The project was first funded by the Peace River Basin Board and later expanded to the
Manasota Basin Board. This proposal is to expand the project into the Hillsborough River, Alafia and Withlacoochee
Basin Boards. FAWN has recently received new commitments for additional funds from FDACS, SFWMD and
SJRWMD. FAWN was created in 1997 with a legislative appropriation to the University of Florida, Institute of Food
and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). These funds were used to create infrastructure and to establish 11 weather sites
that were incorporated with a small UF/IFAS network of five sites in Central Florida. Over the next few years there is a
plan to expand FAWN's network to 33 sites. In 2002 additional funding was obtained from the Florida Division of
Emergency Management to complete the system and in 2003 the Peace River Basin Board recognized the
significance of FAWN and provided a $5,000 grant. A year later the Peace River and the Manasota Basin Boards
entered into a three-year agreement to provide FAWN with $15,000 per year. These funds were to help continue
FAWN's data collection efforts and to expand the program's educational components. That same year FDACS,
SJRWMD and SFWMD approved funds for FAWN. Currently there are 10 FAWN sites within the District located at:
Arcadia, Balm, Bradenton, Bronson, Brooksville, Dover, Frostproof, Lake Alfred, Ona and Sebring. In addition there
are several sites surrounding the District that provide useful information to the citizens of the District. Current and
historical climatic data from these sites, and FAWN irrigation tools, can be accessed on the web at:
http://fawn.ifas.ufl.edu/. The FAWN program was developed to provide real time weather information to help Florida
citizens make informed weather related decisions. This information is used to help conserve water and protect
Florida's natural systems. Irrigators use FAWN data to help determine when and how much to water. Also, FAWN
data is used to assist individuals to determine when to turn off irrigation systems used for cold protection. Urban and
agricultural chemical applicators use FAWN to help make decisions relative to the application of chemicals and
fertilizer. FAWN has been expanded to provide on-line water/irrigation management tools that require weather inputs.
Examples of these tools include insect and disease control, cold protection, irrigation, nutrient management and many
more. The District's Agricultural Advisory Committee has expressed their support for the FAWN program. In addition
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