As part of an intensive outreach program, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) recently met with Hispanic leaders to discuss ways to better communicate water conservation and other related topics to this fast-growing segment of the population.

The first in a series of roundtable meetings, this gathering was aimed at learning how familiar this community is with the water resource issues affecting our region and exploring ways of reaching out to them.

Vilma Quintana, Communications Director of myregion.org along with other business, government and institutional members of the Hispanic community in attendance, shared their views and provided feedback on the best venues to explore.

Bridgett Duckworth, Senior Intergovernmental and Outreach Specialist for the SFWMD, explained that the District has already printed educational materials in Spanish and is in the process of scheduling bilingual presentations to Hispanic residents enrolled in adult ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) education programs. With the help of this group, they plan to create business and nonprofit partnership events and will also promote activities designed to involve Hispanic youth in water conservation activities.

“With the 2000 Census figures showing significant growth in Central Florida’s Hispanic population, we recognize the need to extend our outreach efforts to this community,” said Bridgett Duckworth, coordinator of the Hispanic outreach program. “As we meet the water resources challenges of the new century, it’s critical that the Hispanic community be our partner,” she concluded.

Restoring the Everglades has widespread benefits impacting the entire ecosystem and wildlife. Urban and agricultural water users will benefit from enhanced water supplies and flood protection will be maintained and improved.

Almost 6 million people live within the South Florida Water Management District, which covers a total area of 17,930 square miles. The District encompasses all or part of 16 counties, including Osceola and parts of Orange and Polk counties. Its mission is to manage and protect the water resources of the region by balancing and improving water quality, flood control, natural systems and water supply.

For more information on this initiative, you may contact Bridgett Duckworth, Senior Intergovernmental and Outreach Specialist at the Central Florida office, at 407.858.6100 extension 3806 or via email at bduckwor@sfwmd.gov. You may reach José Alvarez at 407.834.7777 extension 208.

The South Florida Water Management District website, www.sfwmd.gov, also provides links to other Water Management Districts and resources serving the seven-county study area of myregion.org, including the Southwest Florida Water Management District www.swfwmd.state.fl.us, the St. Johns River Water Management District www.sjr.state.fl.us, and others in the state.

To view data collected on the environmental setting of the region, or how our region fits into the super regional ecosystems, visit www.myregion.org.