A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Water Quality Education in Florida. (4045)
Authors:
T.A. Obreza* - Univ. of Florida M.W. Clark - Univ. of Florida C.A. Jacoby - Univ. of Florida S. Shukla - Univ. of Florida P.C. Wilson - Univ. of Florida
Abstract:
Florida’s population is 16 million, and 700 new residents arrive each day. The conversion of rural to urban land is projected to be 52,000 ha per yr during the next 20 yr. At the same time, Florida's diverse and competitive agriculture is expected to remain strong. The UF-IFAS interdisciplinary “Watershed Education Team” was formed by five extension specialists with expertise in Soil and Water Science, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences to address new water resource management and water quality protection challenges presented by urban development encroachment into agricultural areas. The team has conducted three training workshops since 2002: "Managing Water Quality at the Agriculture-Urban Interface," "Watershed Management: Reducing Non-Point Source Pollution," and "TMDLs in a Watershed Context." The team trained a wide variety of agents (agriculture, urban, natural resources, Sea Grant) who were taught in the classroom, took part in demonstrations, and went to the field to see water quality problems and solutions first-hand. The team evaluated knowledge gain about point and non-point source pollution, TMDLs, BMPs, wetland function, and estuaries. Pre and post test comparison measured an average knowledge gain of 30%, and attendees used their new knowledge to augment their own educational programs and to aid client decision-making.
Speaker Information: Thomas Obreza, Univ. of Florida, Soil and Water Science Dept.
P O Box 110290, Gainesville, FL 32611-0290; Phone: 352-392-1951 x243; E-mail:
Session Information: Wednesday, November 3, 2004, 1:25 PM-3:00 PM Presentation Start: 1:25 PM
