University of South Florida (Tampa)
PAE-19: Community Sustainability Partnerships

USF partnered with Engineers for a Sustainable World, Young Magnet Middle School, and the East Tampa Community to win an EPA P3 Phase 1 grant titled “Water Awareness, Research and Education in East Tampa (WARE East Tampa).” 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. This award will establish a collaborative mechanism involving the University of South Florida, Young Middle Magnet School and East Tampa community members that effectively raises environmental awareness in East Tampa using stormwater ponds as an initial focal point. Outputs from this project are: •a) curriculum developed for students at Young Middle Magnet •b) stormwater retention pond demonstration modules and tour •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. Participant surveys will be conducted at various times over the course of the project to evaluate its effectiveness. The USF Office of Sustainability is now working with the Moses House (http://www.themoseshouse.org), a grassroots, not-for-profit community-based organization in a residential neighborhood adjacent to USF, to help them build and manage a community garden. The work of the garden is integrated into one or more undergraduate courses in anthropology at the university.