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Swiftmud Is Offering Community Grants

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 24, 2008

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is offering grants to encourage conservation and other responsible uses of water resources.

Community Education Grants up to $5,000 are available to engage adults in water-related issues such as conservation, protection and preservation, said Robyn Felix, spokeswoman for the agency commonly called Swiftmud.

The grants are awarded by the district's basin boards. Individuals and groups can apply.

The deadline is Aug. 22.

This year, Swiftmud has given out 38 grants totaling more than $136,000. Two of those went to Pasco County recipients.

The county's Parks and Recreation Department got $3,542 for a program at J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park's education center near New Port Richey.

A second grant of $4,329 went to Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park in Port Richey to fund research by high school seniors studying the quality of storm runoff entering the park from surrounding communities.

Potential projects should educate the public on any of these topics: water quality, water conservation, flood protection, natural systems or watersheds.

In the past, recipients have used grants to fund cleanups or to exchange outdated showerheads with low-flow models, Felix said.

The next round of grants will be awarded early next year. Projects must take place between March 1 and June 30.

For information, call Swiftmud's communications department at 1-800-423-1476.

To apply online, go to www. WaterMatters.org/community grants for an electronic form that allows applicants to save, review and change portions of their proposal before submitting it.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 948-4201 or

kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com.

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