Grantee Research Project Results

Final Report: Water Awareness, Research and Education in East Tampa (WARE East Tampa): A pilot collaboration involving USF, Young Magnet Middle School and the East Tampa Community

EPA Grant Number: SU833946
Title: Water Awareness, Research and Education in East Tampa (WARE East Tampa): A pilot collaboration involving USF, Young Magnet Middle School and the East Tampa Community
Investigators: Trotz, Maya , Howard, Joniqua A , Thomas, Ken D , Stuart, Amy L. , Omisca, Erlande , Akiwumi, Fenda , Green, Trent
Institution: University of South Florida
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: August 15, 2008 through August 14, 2009
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2008) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , Sustainable and Healthy Communities

Objective:

Stormwater retention ponds play a vital role in flood and pollution control in communities throughout Florida and volunteer community programs have been successful at reducing local pollutant loads and maintaining pond health. Community funded revitalization programs in East Tampa, an economically disadvantaged urban area, include beautification efforts of stormwater ponds, but do not address water quality, maintenance or potential impacts on the pond and community members (from fish consumption) posed by increased accessibility and use of the ponds. This initial Phase I P3 award established a collaborative mechanism involving the University of South Florida, Young Middle Magnet School and East Tampa community members that effectively raised environmental awareness in East Tampa using stormwater ponds as an initial focal point. Through community education and awareness, local pollutant inputs to storm water can be reduced; an activity that not only impacts local pond water quality, but also water quality in the Tampa Bay, hence the incentive for continuation of this project in Phase II.

The objectives for this initial P3 award were to:

1. Develop curriculum for K6-8 that integrates testing of water quality in local retention ponds.
2. Establish a sustainable, water quality monitoring program for the redeveloped retention ponds in East Tampa.
3. Collect baseline data on heavy metal (Hg, Pb, As, Cu) sediment concentrations in the three ponds targeted for redevelopment.
4. Engage East Tampa community members in WARE activities.
5. Prepare a report on potential project expansion activities.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

Outputs from Phase I of this project were: a) curriculum developed for students at Young Middle Magnet; b) stormwater retention pond demonstration modules; c) baseline water quality data collection for three retention ponds in East Tampa and establishment of a sustainable water monitoring program; d) preliminary assessment of sediment heavy metal concentrations; e) a report with proposed activities needed to advance this project.

Conclusions:

Phase I of this project has led to a heightened awareness of stormwater ponds - with respect to their function and water quality – in East Tampa for students of Young Middle Magnet, in a formal capacity, as well as the general population through both the East Tampa Community Survival Day and USF Engineering Expo. Skills attained through the management of this phase of the project have led ESW to think that they are capable of expanding the program to Lockhart Elementary School and Middleton High School.

Proposed Phase II Objectives and Strategies: P3 concepts were weaved into WARE’s educational program for USF College of Engineering students, Young Magnet’s middle school students and East Tampa community members the results of which have made a Phase II of the project lucrative. In the proposed Phase II of the project it is expected that Lockhart Elementary School as well as Middleton High School be brought on board to work with Young Middle Magnet on monitoring the three target ponds as well as making the community more aware of their findings. This is expected to be done through the construction of kiosks at the ponds as well appearances at USF’s Engineering Expo and the East Tampa Community Survival Day.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 2 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

ecosystem protection, environmental analysis, monitoring, sustainable environment, community based, surface water,

Relevant Websites:

www.eng.usf.edu/~matrotz
www.eswusf.org

P3 Phase II:

Water Awareness, Research and Education in East Tampa (WARE East Tampa): A pilot collaboration involving USF, Young Magnet Middle School and the East Tampa Community  | Final Report