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Statement Of Ronnie E. Duncan
Environmental Protection Agency
Aging Initiative Public Listening Session
Tampa, Florida
April 3, 2003
Ronnie E. Duncan
Chair
Southwest Florida Water Management District
Chair
Southwest Florida Water Management District
Thank you to USF and EPA for allowing me to participate today in this Informative event.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District is responsible for managing the water resources in a 16-county area of West Central Florida, including the Tampa Bay Area. We are challenged to meet current and future water needs. We also must protect the environment and the water resources.
Florida is one of the fastest growing states in the country. It's easy to see why. Our quality of life is second to none, making Florida an attractive spot for newcomers to call home. This expanding population places increasing demands on our water supplies. And much of this growing population is composed of older Americans, many of them retired.
Growth and development burden not only our water supplies, but also the quality of our natural resources. More lawns mean more pesticides and fertilizers to run off into our water bodies. Increased roads and parking lots and other impervious surfaces contribute pollutants to these same water bodies.
The Water Management District is, in part, a regulatory agency. And we do use our regulatory powers to protect these resources. But we recognize that regulations alone are not enough. We consider education and community involvement as the cornerstones for protecting and restoring these resources. An involved and informed community will make wise water resource decisions. What drives these outreach activities are volunteers. In fact, the District's Governing Board - the board that sets policy to protect these resources - is composed of volunteers.
We have developed many projects to solicit community involvement, but perhaps the most successful is our Community Education Grant Program. This program provides grants of up to $5,000 to individuals or organizations for projects that educate and involve the community in water resource issues. For example, one grant funded the development of a model water-wise garden to demonstrate ways of saving water. Another grant developed publications that explained proper care and maintenance of landscaping. Using too much fertilizer or pesticides is harming our springs and rivers. In fiscal year 2002, we spent 99 thousand dollars on 33 grants that impacted nearly 220 thousand people. This year, we approved 122 thousand dollars for 37 grants.
While these grants attract participants of all ages, a large portion of the applicants are older Americans. These older Americans may add to the stresses of growth and development - but they also bring with them a wealth of experience, knowledge and perspectives. By tapping these incredible human resources, in public/community partnerships, we have been able to spread the word about our water resources:
- How precious they are
- How fragile they are
- How they should be conserved and protected.