Environmental Initiatives
|
| |
| Q. |
Name of your program and year implemented? |
| |
Pelican Cove Condominiums Brookhouse Ponds Project was first implemented in September of 2007; it is an on-going project.
|
| |
| Q. |
What are the goals and objectives of the program(s) undertaken by your community to preserve and protect the environment? |
| |
Pelican Cove is a community of 731 condominium units, with a population of approximately 1200, one of the largest associations in the state of Florida. The
Association property includes 82 buildings situated on 75 acres in the Little Sarasota Bay Watershed in Sarasota County. We have several drainage basins on our property, one of which is the Brookhouse Ponds area that has two ponds that help provide flood protection to our resident buildings by collecting stormwater runoff. This runoff flows into Clower Creek which is on the list of impaired waterways and runs through our property to little Sarasota Bay. As we have about 3600 feet of shoreline, it became imperative that our goal be to implement and maintain a program to protect the health of Little Sarasota Bay and beyond. Thus, the Brookhouse ponds Project was implemented as part of this goal.
Our objectives support our main goal of protecting Little Sarasota Bay and beyond:
" To improve the quality of the water that flows into Clower Creek and Little Sarasota Bay by planting aquatic plants in our ponds.
" To use upland plantings to minimize erosion around the ponds.
" To establish a natural plants border to reduce the amount of chemicals leaching into the ponds.
" To install inlet skimmer boxes in storm drains to capture sediment, foliage, litter and hydrocarbons in order to reduce the amount of polluting materials and chemicals entering the bay.
" To reduce stormwater runoff that carries pollutants to the bay.
" To reduce chemical use in and around our ponds, the bay, and Clower Creek.
" To create low maintenance zones around the ponds through proper plant selections.
" To mark stormwater drains indicating that the water flows into the bay.
" To attract more birds and butterflies to the project area.
The methods to achieve our objectives were threefold:
I. Bring policies and procedures to Pelican Cove Management that would improve the quality of Little Sarasota Bay for consideration of implementation: (Abbreviated version. See attachment for full policy.)
" Fertilizer - Pelican Cove will meet or exceed all Sarasota County and State of Florida codes and/or regulations regarding the use of fertilizer.
" Landscaping Principles - Pelican Cove will continue to use, whenever possible, Florida native and friendly trees, plants, shrubs and grasses that require reduced fertilization and watering.
" Landscaping Management Pelican Cove will meet or exceed all other County and/or State guidelines to keep grass clippings and other landscape debris off of hard surfaces and out of bodies of water and to reduce fertilizer runoff to all bodies of water.
" Pest Management Services Pelican Cove will continue to limit all applications of pesticides.
" Staff Education and Implementation All Landscape Maintenance employees will be briefed on this policy on an annual basis. Employees will be licensed or certified as appropriate by the County and/or State.
The full policy was approved by the board of Directors on April 21, 2008. (See attachment.)
II. Educate residents of the relationship of land use to the water quality of Little Sarasota Bay and how the Sarasota County Stormwater Program and Sarasota Bay Estuary Program address this relationship.
" To explain the delicate relationship of land and water; how what is put on the land affects the health of the ponds, Clower Creek, and Little Sarasota Bay.
" To raise community awareness about how our actions regarding water can affect the environmental health of not only our community, but also of Little Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
" To educate residents that our storm drains are not connected to the sewage system but cause stormwater to drain into the bay, creek, and ponds.
" To become a model for other communities to visit and follow.
" To educate residents about Florida-friendly landscaping, watershed Best Management Practices (BMP), and the advantages of native plantings.
III. Seek funding to help implement our Landscape Management Policy and procedures through grants from Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), from Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP), and from private donations including the Pelican Cove Fund to preserve Little Sarasota Bay.
" Resident volunteers applied for and received grants from Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD).
" Resident volunteers applied for and received grants from Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP).
" Residents donated tax deductible gifts for landscaping projects through the newly established Pelican Cove Fund to Preserve Little Sarasota Bay, a 501(c)3 designation which was created in partnership with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, one of the leading philanthropic organizations in the area.
|
| |
| Q. |
How have you been able to evaluate the impact of your environmental initiative(s) within your community? Please provide examples where appropriate. |
| |
Perhaps the most telling perception of the impact of our program was revealed by the organization SBEP, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. They stated, The Brookhouse Ponds Improvement Project is a great project that decreases the quantity and improves the quality of the stormwater entering Clower Creek and Little Sarasota Bay.
Volunteers conducted bird surveys, observed county water testing procedures and investigated other water testing possibilities. Volunteers photographed and recorded the original conditions of the ponds and the changes as they occurred. Russ Hoffman, owner/manager of Beautiful Ponds, a lake management company, took Secchi depth readings (for clarity of water) and found the ponds readings had doubled from about one foot to about two feet. Hoffman also wrote, The new plantings are helping settle the extremely fine sand and organic sediments. Dissolved oxygen in the pond is consistently high enough to support an appropriate fish population. We observe hundreds of small fish every time we inspect the pond. This is the best indicator of healthy dissolved oxygen. Butterflies (another indicator species) show trend is in the right direction.
Other observers evaluated the impact of our initiatives as well. In July of 2008, we invited other Neighborhood Environmental Stewardship Team (NEST) communities and representatives from Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP), Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), Sarasota officials, and local media (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, The Longboat Observer, and The Siesta Key Pelican Press) to attend tours of our ponds project. Emails from attendees praised the event saying, Kudos to all of you who created a laboratory for other communities, and We hope to emulate your accomplishments&. At a second event, a brown bag luncheon to present the project, we answered questions from other NEST communities about project design and how to apply for grants. The participation from NEST communities and their positive feedback were evidence that we had achieved a goal of serving as a model for other communities.
To evaluate our efforts to educate and involve residents, we used a survey of ten questions to test participants knowledge of stormwater runoff and BMPs (Best Management Practices). We first administered the quiz in November of 2007 as we began to build support for the project and again in February of 2008 and at the two plantings in March and May of 2008.On the November 2007 survey, 29% of the respondents did not know that fertilizer is banned within ten feet of water bodies, but by May 2008, only one respondent answered incorrectly. Similarly, improved results were found for knowing the approximate percentage of rain water that runs off Pelican Cove due to impervious surfaces. Answers to two questions remained problematic throughout the time period. One addressed knowledge that our sixty storm drains empty into our ponds, Clower Creek, and the bay. One fifth of the respondents answered that the drains connect to our sewer system or irrigation system. The other question asked respondents how many gallons of water are produced by just one inch of rain on Pelican Cove. Only half guessed the correct answer of two million gallons. An article in the PC News in May of 2008 addressed these issues and educated the residents. Resident volunteers marked storm drains with decals supplied by Sarasota County within Pelican Cove and outside its perimeters as reminders that the drains connect to bodies of water. Residents are now more aware of our land-water connections. They are more knowledgeable in conversations and enthusiastically support our efforts at the Brookhouse Ponds.
|
| |
| Q. |
Please describe steps that were taken to involve community residents in the initiative. |
| |
We involved our residents in a number of ways:
" Flyers were posted on some 40 bulletin boards strategically positioned throughout the community to recruit volunteers and raise awareness of the projects. Events were also noted on our website, in our newspaper, and on our closed-circuit television channel.
" Five educational workshops were presented: The Pond Connection led by Julia Burch, Saving Our Gulf Coast: What To Do About Pollution and Red Tide presented by the Sierra Club, The Environmental Future of Sarasota County and How It Will Affect Pelican Cove presented by Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton, Florida Friendly Landscaping Benefits to Pelican Cove presented by U.F. Extension Services Annemarie Post, and Avian Trouble in Paradise? presented by Myakka State Parks senior volunteer bird interpreter, Owen Comora. These workshops raised awareness about our impact on the environment and steps we can take to have a positive impact.
" Two planting and education events were held at the ponds. Fifty-three volunteers helped with the plantings. Approximately 1600 aquatic and upland plants were planted. These plants will improve the water quality of the ponds and subsequently, the bay. The upland plants will reduce the amount of chemicals leaching into the ponds and help prevent erosion.
" Four articles were published in the Pelican Cove News about the project and its impact. The PC News is mailed to all residents and available to renters - approximately 1200 people.
" Project information was shared with 19 Neighborhood Environmental Stewardship Team (NEST) communities.
" Participants marked storm drains in Pelican Cove and our outside neighborhood.
" Two tours for residents and guests from NEST neighborhoods were conducted to view the results of the grant programs.
" An afternoon program centered on the DVD, Sarasota Bay: Celebrating Our Water Heritage, was presented for residents with discussion following.
" Volunteers applied for and received grants from Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and from Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP).
|
| |
| Q. |
Describe the most significant positive impact of the project. Consider the community's residents and the larger community in which you reside. |
| |
The following is from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) grant final report:
The project directly impacted the residents of Pelican Cove and other Neighborhood Environmental Stewardship Team (NEST) communities in Sarasota County who participated in the events. Other NEST communities and all communities on Little Sarasota Bay were positively affected in some respect. Our project has produced not just an immediate impact, but also a long-term impact on Pelican Cove and the community.
We began building support for the project in September 2007. From that time until January 2008, we began meeting with the Pelican Cove grounds coordinator to discuss the plans and share information about watershed BMPs and the use of Florida-friendly landscaping. An example of positive change is that the maintenance of the pond has been changed to an ecological approach using aquatic plants and Florida-friendly upland plants. Also, the residents and participating NEST communities are now more aware of the issues of stormwater runoff and how the environmental health of our property affects Little Sarasota Bay, and subsequently, the Gulf. We have created a beautiful pond that will serve as a model for other Pelican Cove projects and the Sarasota community. The enhanced habitat is already attracting birds, fish, and butterflies.
But perhaps the most significant impact of the project is in the buy-in by residents for ongoing future benefits. We are so pleased with the Brookhouse Pond Project results that we are moving now into other areas within our seventy-five acres that need governance.
|
| |
| Q. |
What were the challenges that had to be overcome in establishing the initiative? How was this accomplished? |
| |
Education of the residents was an important focus. With 731 condominiums with approximately 1200 residents, this was no small task. Most owners agree that they bought homes in Pelican Cove due to its lush environment and its location on Little Sarasota Bay. Although most residents are very protective of the foliage and strive to be good stewards of the bay, we still had to educate residents about the concerns surrounding stormwater runoff and convince them that the projects had merit.
The series of newspaper articles and workshops and the opportunity to be involved in hands-on activities were successful in doing so.
Acquiring funding for the initiatives was a huge challenge. Pelican Cove strives to be a protector of Little Sarasota Bay and includes money for environmental projects within its budget. However, to expedite the completion of these projects, outside funding was
needed. Resident volunteers applied for and received grants from Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP). These grants made it possible for the project to become a reality.
|
| |
| Q. |
You may include additional information about the community that you consider relevant to the topic. |
| |
As stated previously, our environmental initiatives are on-going. Not only do we hope to reduce stormwater runoff pollutants in Little Sarasota Bay, but we also hope to plan a strong program to conserve water usage. Scope (Sarasota Openly Plans for Excellence) is a local non-profit organization within the county which formed a Summit for Environmental Action. The Water Committee of the summit agreed to use Pelican Cove as one of its case studies. We shall be working with them to analyze our current water use and follow through on recommendations to reduce it. We plan to have a positive impact within Pelican Cove and beyond.
|
