Stormwater Public Education Task Force. July 15, 2015

Transcription

1 Stormwater Public Education Task Force July 15, 2015

2 Agenda 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Texas SmartScape 3. Doo the Right Thing Calendar 4. Cooperative Purchase 5. FY15 Project Update 6. Leave It a Lawn/Leave It on the Lawn 7. Other Business 8. Roundtable 9. Next Meeting Date

3 Texas SmartScape Recap of July 8 Plant Sales Wrap-Up Meeting Who was there: Representatives from Allen, Carrollton, Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, Frisco, Grand Prairie, Irving, Plano, Prairielands, Richardson, Tarrant Regional Water District, Texas A&M AgriLife, and Weatherford Talked about how the sales went (mostly Home Depot) --More attendance later in the morning --Some inconsistencies seen from event to event, year to year --Potential for improvement --Desire for better communication with stores, more partnership Future: --Potential meeting with Home Depot district and territorial managers --Formalize the group a bit: steering committee --Adjust messaging: water conservation to water efficiency, ease of maintenance (less pesticides, fertilizers), etc. --Adjust the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding if necessary Plant sales postponed due to weather to be held in October Status of the Plant List Update Revving up again

4 Doo the Right Thing Calendar Deadline for the calendar entry is today! We ll take the form down for a period of time (two weeks?), then put it up again for next year s calendar/pledge. More than 150 pledges (last year: less than 50). In the next couple of weeks, I ll send the submissions to the PETF to vote on. We re also working on the calendar redesign. Deliverables: Editable EPS files, PDF for print, Regular PDF anything else?

5 Cooperative Purchase I ll send last year s order form with some suggested changes, additions, etc., and request feedback by mid-august. Potential updates Pet waste yard sign suggestions? Dispenser for dog waste bags: dog-shaped or new? Possible additions: IDDE posters, koozies, soil moisture sensors, Doo the Right Thing pet bandanas, grease pan scrapers, others? If you can only have one color choice for items like tote bags, what would it be? Suggested timeline/deadline Order form posted online in early September (with notification). Order deadline October 16, 2015?

6 FY2015 Project Discussion Description: The PETF s FY2015 top-ranked project is to develop outreach materials to satisfy fertilizer, herbicide, and pesticide application permit requirements. The specific requirement: A program element to promote, publicize, and facilitate the proper use, application, and disposal of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers by public, commercial, and private applicators and distributors.

7 FY2015 Project Discussion (cont.) Target audience: Residential, smaller landscape companies Selected topics taking it beyond proper application to relevant BMPs (from Frisco WaterWise, Texas A&M AgriLife, Take Care of Texas, EPA, etc.) Pesticides and fertilizers: the connection to water pollution Proper application of pesticides (general advice, read the label first) Effective pest control without chemical pesticides Tips related to fleas and ticks, mosquitoes, and common Texas yard pests Beneficial insects General lawncare Dealing with invasives Soil/dirt, mulch, compost, vermicomposting/earthworms, and soil aeration Rose Rosette Disease Template document with review group (Frisco, Plano, AgriLife) Comments due July 31

8 Leave It a Lawn, Leave It on the Lawn What do you already do for this campaign? This fall, could we do something as a group? Sample press release, newsletter blurb, web tile? Preferred timing? What we already have: Don t Bag It Lawn Care and Leaf Management plans for mowing, mulching, soil improvement, and composting Yard waste brochures

9 Other Business Educator s Toolbox (a list of helpful links for environmental educators related to stormwater issues): Any resources you ve come across lately? SmartScape Related Events webpage: Remember to add your events by ing info@txsmartscape.com. Certified Public Communicator Program, TCU Extended Education: The 2015 admissions are closed, but 2016 info should be posted this fall. Holiday Grease Roundup Upcoming Events Water Words That Work webinar, July 23 (10 a.m. ET) and July 29 (1 p.m. ET) StormCon, August 2-6, Austin CAST 2015, November 12-14, Fort Worth

10 Roundtable What have you been up to?

11 Next Meeting Date Wednesday, October 14, :30 a.m. Tejas Conference Room

12 Stormwater PETF Contact Nalani Jay Environment and Development Planner