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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SHOW-ME YARDS AND NEIGHBORHOODS PHASE II
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project is the second phase of the Watershed Committee of the Ozark Show-Me Yard and Neighborhoods program, which will target lawn care professionals. This project will implement an educational program to better inform the citizens of southwest Missouri, particularly the Springfield urban area, about the cause and effects of nonpoint source pollution created by lawn care practices. The project will increase public awareness of the negative impacts that lawn care practices can have on surface and ground water quality while demonstrating alternative practices that can help to protect the watershed. Through the use of informative education seminars and a motivational rewards program, citizens will be empowered to take actions that will help protect and improve water quality and the long-term health of the watershed. Because of the increase in participation and need for more one on one communication, a Project Coordinator will be hired to promote the program. The coordinator will be responsible for scheduling and coordinating workshops, providing sustained communication to homeowner and lawn care professionals, working with the media on outreach and promotion and attending community events like garden Show and Lawn Care Fields days to share information about the program.
OBJECTIVES
The primary objective is to continue the successful, well recognized Show-Yard and Neighborhoods educational/promotional program to improve citizens' environmental awareness and actions taken when making choices concerning lawn care practices. The targeted groups will include homeowners, businesses and lawn care professionals. By focusing more effort on lawncare professionals, the objective is magnify the effectiveness of the program and obtain measurable decrease in the amount of yard chemicals entering the waterways. Citizens who have successfully completed the program and established yard care practices by the program criteria will receive a Show-Me Yards and Neighborhoods sign, recognizing their efforts. Success of the project will be measure by the number of yard care professionals who become certified and through measure of chemical reduction through the ongoing water quality monitoring in Pierson Creek and the Southern Hills neighborhood.
PRODUCTS
1. Show-Me Yards and Neighborhoods lawn care guides and brochures will be produced
2. An award program will be developed that include different activities that must be completed by participant to obtain a yard sign award that indicated their achievements.
3. Three homeowners workshops will be conducted to focus on proper lawn care practices
4. 2 Lawn Care Field Days
5. Homeowner workshops
6. Yard Recognition Signs will be produced
7. Home Tour with Master Gardeners
PROJECT SPONSORS
City of Springfield Public Works
Watershed Committee of the Ozarks
Springfield-Greene County Choose Environmental Excellence
COOPERATING AGENCIES
Springfield-Greene County Choose Environmental Excellence, James River Basin Partnership, City of Springfield, Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Ozark Greenways, Inc., Springfield Discovery Center, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Conservation, Natural Resources Conservation Service, University Outreach and Extension, Greene County Government, Springfield/Greene Health Department, Master Gardeners, Southwest Missouri Resource Conservation and Development, City of Springfield Department of Public Works
CONTACT
Loring Bullard,
Watershed Committee of the Ozarks
320 North Main
Springfield , MO 65806
417-866-1127
Barbara Lucks
Springfield/Greene County Choose Environmental Excellence
P.O. Box 8368
Springfield, MO 65802
417-864-2005
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