Florida Waters Stewardship Program

Waters Stewards at Mote Aquaculture Research Park — Mote Marine Laboratory is known to be a trailblazer in HAB mitigation research. Waters Stewards had to opportunity to learn about this cutting-edge research.

Water touches every part of our lives. Whether you’re an avid fisher, a weekend beachgoer, or just someone who enjoys a tall, cold glass of H₂O, your life depends on an ample supply of clean water.

Originally developed by UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County, the Florida Waters Stewardship Program is a multi-session workshop focused on the interconnection between water and people. For this year’s program, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County partnered with UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County. We took a deep dive into topics affecting our local water resources across the Sarasota-Manatee region.

Where We Went

Workshops took place at a new location each week. This gave attendees the opportunity to explore their own backyards through a new lens. Throughout the program we visited:

Water Stewards at the Mabry T. Carlton Water Treatment Facility — Sarasota County is home to one of the largest electrodialysis reversal water treatment facilities in the United States. Attendees of the Florida Waters Stewardship Program learned about how this process is used to purify local drinking water.

What We Learned

We heard from expert speakers about a variety of technical topics and placed a particular emphasis on developing communication and interpersonal skills. As a result, Waters Stewards not only learn the science behind issues affecting our water resources, but also foster the skills needed to use this information to cultivate positive change in our community.

Thirsty For More?

Contact your local Extension agent to learn about upcoming offerings of the Florida Waters Stewardship Program:

Florida Waters Stewards at Turtle Beach, Sarasota — Dunes and mangroves are some of our most important, yet most vulnerable, ecosystems. Attendees of the Florida Waters Stewardship Program traveled to Turtle Beach to learn about how local governments are protecting these assets.

Ready To Dive In?

Pinellas County will be offering the Florida Waters Stewardship Program Aug. 09 to Oct. 18, 2023! Learn more and register today at eventbrite.com/e/607650698597!