SARASOTA COUNTY – Water is essential to our very existence, but we often overlook how important it is to protect and preserve our limited supplies.

Register now for the "Florida Waters Stewardship Program" to learn how you can help. Offered by Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability, this eight-session course uses expert presentations, hands-on learning, field training, and communications exercises to give participants the tools to become stewards of the area's water resources.

Water is a key driver of our health, environment and economy, and protecting our water resources is critical now and for the future. Water connects us all. We are connected to our streams and bays by our faucets and laundries, to our neighborhood ponds and lakes by our yards and streets, and to our regional and statewide neighbors by our surface and groundwater supplies.

Course participants will explore these connections and resources, learning about local water quality and quantity issues at locations around the county. Sessions include:

Sept. 13 — Watershed Basics and Stewardship (UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability);
Sept. 27 — Water, Then and Now (to be determined);
Oct. 11 — Stormwater in Sarasota County (Audubon Nature Center at Celery Fields);
Oct. 20 — Water Supply, Demand, and Groundwater (Carlton Water Treatment Plant);
Nov. 3 — Wastewater Management (Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility);
Nov. 15 — Water Issue Panel Discussion (to be determined);
Nov. 29 — Communicating Water Stewardship. South Venice Civic Association; and
Dec. 3 — Graduation and Guided Kayak Tour. Historic Spanish Point.

This $125 course is open to the public, though seating is limited. Scholarships and government employee discounts are available. Use the link below to learn more and register early to reserve your spot.

For more information about this course or available scholarships, contact Water Agent Abbey Tyrna at atyrna@ufl.edu or 941-861-9818.