W3 Seminar: Translating science and data into policy and programs

Details

Eliana Bardi, Senior Planner, Water Resources Program, Alachua County Environmental Protection Department

Stacie Greco, Water Resources Program Manager, Alachua County Environmental Protection Department

Alachua County Environmental Protection Department (EPD) strives to translate science and data into effective policy and programs for protecting water, land, and living resources. The Water Resources Division focuses on improving water quality and reducing water use to protect our springs, rivers, lakes, and creeks. Current efforts are largely focused on influencing urban landscaping practices, since this is within the prevue of local government. Water use data clearly shows that landscape irrigation drives water use in Gainesville Regional Utilities’ service area. EPD uses a suite of regulatory and educational tools to reduce outdoor use with the goal of shifting our landscaping paradigm to one that can also support healthy springs. Highly manicured landscapes can also contribute to water quality issues through fertilizer use. EPD has the most protective fertilizer ordinance in the state of Florida and has committed significant resources to a social marketing behavior change campaign to decrease fertilizer use. The ordinance and campaign have resulted in an estimated 20% reduction in annual nitrogen loading at a removal cost of $1.35 to $8.28 per pound.