Science fair educates on stormy waterways

EAST COUNTY — Ryan Heise acknowledges that not everyone is excited by the words “stormwater retention pond.”

But the subject doesn’t have to be boring, he says. Ponds are more important than some area residents realize.

University of Florida researchers Emily Ott and Dr. Paul Monaghan found in a survey conducted last year that some residents don’t fully understand the purpose and importance of retention ponds and keeping them healthy. Heise has also been striving to change residents’ perceptions, starting with calling the water “ponds,” rather than “lakes.”

“We want to drive home the fact that ponds affect people in many ways,” said Heise, the Lakewood Ranch director of operations. “There are reasons people should care about their ponds, not just environmentally.”

Those reasons include catching stormwater runoff and neutralizing pollutants.

To educate the public on the water in their backyards in an interactive way, Heise, UF representatives and members of the Protect Our Ponds community taskforce are hosting an event called Protect Our Ponds Science Café.

From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, Lakewood Ranch Town Hall will house the event Ott hopes will better inform residents on the purpose of ponds. Light refreshments will be served.

Should the event receive positive feedback and a successful turnout, Heise isn’t ruling out another café in the future.

The Protect Our Ponds Science Café will feature a range of resource management professionals, such as Heise, Ott, Ross Peterson, of the Manatee County Extension Office, and UF Associate Professor in Environmental Horticulture Dr. Gail Hansen.

Topics include landscape best practice in conjunction with Florida Friendly Landscaping guidelines, landscape architecture, stormwater pond functions and other environmentally-focused issues.

Charlie Nealis, a Ph.D candidate, will also reveal some of the results of his three-stage project on stormwater ponds in Lakewood Ranch. Nealis studied 36 ponds in Lakewood Ranch once a month for four months, and from those 36, he chose 12 to study for an additional eight months.

Nealis evaluated the nutrients and algae content in the ponds, followed by a survey he sent out to Ranch residents to gauge knowledge and understanding of stormwater pond purposes.

Nealis’ survey also contained visual samples of different algae found in local ponds, to give residents a better understanding of pond conditions.

But, listening to Nealis and other field experts regurgitate data and studies isn’t what the event is about.
Presenters will discuss issues with the audience in an interactive way to ensure participants understand which fertilizers harm ponds. Heise and Ott promise there will be no lectures, just conversations.

“There will be different styles of presentation to be efficient with people’s time and to encourage mingling,” Ott said. “This event is more participatory.”

Two Town Hall salons housing the science fair for adults will also have a spread of booths, which will have posters, handouts and other informational materials for attendees to take home.

“Stormwater ponds aren’t the sexiest of topics,” Ott said. “But we’re trying to make it more interesting and want people to understand the issues.”

To register for the event, visit whoozin.com/P6X-TWX-CPMP.

STORMWATER ROUTE
Stormwater runoff sends pollutants and pesticides into East County retention ponds that work to help clean the water

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].

IF YOU GO
When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8

Where: Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch

Cost: Free

Parking: Lakewood Ranch Town Hall or the back lot behind Lakewood Ranch Main Street

Info: The event will feature presentations on landscape best practices, ponds and other environmental issues by agriculture leaders and enthusiasts, such as Dr. Gail Hansen, Ross Peterson and Ryan Heise. Only the first 50 responders to the event will be admitted. Space is limited. Call 907-0202 or email [email protected].