ENVIRONMENT
INDIAN RIVER LAGOON NATIONAL
ESTUARY PROGRAM GRANTS FOR CITIZEN
Fresh...
Healthy...
Tasty Choices for You!
16 Port St. Lucie Magazine
ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION
1. Oxbow Eco-Center: Water Champions Initiative. Grant:
$28,026. Local matching in-kind funding: $33,410. Total
project cost: $61,436.
2. Florida Oceanographic Society in Stuart with an oyster
restoration education plan. Grant: $19,751. Matching local
contribution: $18,083. Total project cost: $37,834.
3. Pelican Island Audubon Society in Indian River County
for a plan to teach people to change their behavior to improve
the habitat of the lagoon. Grant: $25,000. Matching
local contribution: $88,284. Total project cost: $113,284.
Collaborative effort with other organizations is helping to
develop the program.
The Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves office in Fort
Pierce is offering some ideas for the training course and for
special topics, such as how people can reduce their use of
disposable plastics. “The Water Champions program is an
example of how collaboration can create a robust learning opportunity
for the community,” says Emily Dark, an environmental
specialist in the preserves office.
First comes a day-long free Water Champions 101 training
course that ends with a certificate. Providing an overview of
the waterways in the county, it teaches participants about the
challenges faced and how they can make a real difference.
Their efforts count: by keeping the water clean, they help
protect the health of all who depend on it, including humans,
wildlife, fish, birds and mammals such as dolphins and
manatees.
Along the Downtown Waterfront
at Marina Square
8 a.m. until noon
www.fortpiercefarmersmarket.com
>>
A lovely swamp lily blooms in Becker Preserve.
/www.fortpiercefarmersmarket.com
/www.mikerice.net
/www.fortpiercefarmersmarket.com