2007 Annual Report on the Water-Wise Program - Tampa Bay Water

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1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Water-Wise Awards program was created by Tampa Bay Water, the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN) program, and member governments, including Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties as well as the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa. The Water-Wise Awards program is designed to recognize attractive, water-conserving landscapes in various water-use sectors (e.g., homes, businesses, industry and government) as well as interior features in new homes. The program also serves as a vehicle to promote water-use efficiency to the general public. The overall program consists of three unique segments—the Water-Wise Builders program, the Aurora Water-Wise Awards program, and the Community Water-Wise Awards program. WATER-WISE BUILDER PROGRAM The Water-Wise Builder program focuses primarily on working with and through the two builders associations in the Tampa Bay region to reach their constituents with water efficiency information and to promote the use of this information in their new home marketing programs. The objective of the Water-Wise Builder program is to demonstrate that water-efficient building and landscape features provide an effective marketing edge in an increasingly competitive industry. This initiative also creates a benchmarking opportunity to evaluate water-use differences between conventionally built new homes and new homes that incorporate water-wise features. Major changes to the Water-Wise Builder program in 2007 included:

Participating in the Tampa Bay Builders Association (TBBA) Showcase Spectacular Green Corner to highlight benefits of building water-wise homes and promote the Community Water-Wise Awards to local builders

Partnering with the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) to refine and promote the Florida Water Star program

Working with the TBBA to provide water-use efficiency guidelines for its Green Building Made Simple course

Participating in the Southeast Builders Conference (SEBC) Annual Expo AURORA AWARDS The Aurora Water-Wise Awards program is sponsored annually through the Florida Homebuilders Association (FHBA) and is open to builders across the state. The FHBA presents the Aurora Awards following the SEBC tradeshow held in Orlando each summer. It is generally considered to be the most prestigious competition for home builders in the southeastern United States. The Aurora Water-Wise Awards are open to all builders, but the majority of entrants are custom, upscale home builders. The prestige

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of winning an Aurora Award provides a powerful marketing tool for such upscale builders in a highly competitive building niche. As part of Tampa Bay Water’s sponsorship of the Aurora Award Gala, the FHBA promoted the Aurora Water-Wise Awards category to its members. Additionally, water-wise home building was featured in a special section on green building in Florida HomeBuilder Magazine in the month prior to the entry deadline. The promotion efforts resulted in the submission of three entries in the Water-Wise category. In evaluating all entries, the FYN program coordinators worked extensively to ensure that landscape and irrigation efficiency standards were correctly applied. This year, the Aurora Water-Wise Award was presented to Florida Look, Inc. for the Villa Danubio model at The Lakes of Deland in Deland, Florida. There were no major changes to the Aurora Water-Wise Awards program in 2007. COMMUNITY WATER-WISE AWARDS The Community Water-Wise Awards program recognizes homeowners, builders, multi-family complexes, industrial office complexes, government buildings, schools, businesses and others that have employed water-wise landscaping techniques in the design of an attractive landscape. In 2007, 30 entries were received and nine Community Water-Wise Awards were presented throughout the region. Entries ranged from landscapes that consisted of mostly Florida-friendly plants with little turfgrass, to landscapes having practical turfgrass areas with water-wise landscape beds. The awards program was promoted for three months to increase awareness and solicit entries. This year, the program promotion started in February and built up to an integrated advertising, marketing and public relations campaign in April, which continued through May until the May 31 deadline. Judging committees in each county, based on FYN boundaries, included staff from Tampa Bay Water, the FYN program, and member government representatives. As in years past, entrants were evaluated and rated on an objective point system for water-conserving features. Major changes to the Community Water-Wise Awards program in 2007 included:

Extending the entry deadline from May 15 to May 31 Creating a new call-for-entries ad concept to more clearly focus on the necessary

qualities of a water-wise landscape Developing door hangers for member governments to distribute Community

Water-Wise Awards information and applications to potential water-wise landscapes

Building a stand-alone Web site with more landscaping information and increased application functionality

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Partnering with professional associations, including the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA), and the Florida Irrigation Society (FIS) to reach more potential water-wise homes and businesses

Appealing to local landscaping businesses and contractors to nominate customers with potential water-wise landscapes

Scrubbing, refining and supplementing distribution lists for the application mailing

PROGRAM SUMMARY These program modules advanced the conservation goals of Tampa Bay Water by continuing the agency’s ongoing partnership with key segments of the community, including home builders and residents, business owners, government workers, gardening enthusiasts and landscape professionals. The program also provided coordination between Tampa Bay Water, its member governments and the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program in the three counties within the region. Additionally, the Water-Wise Awards program created opportunities for water-use benchmarking, which is useful for a variety of projects, including its application toward the development of consistent statewide water efficiency guidelines for new homes. This report provides highlights and summaries from each of the three program segments in 2007 as well as recommendations for program implementation in 2008. Program refinement and improvement continues based on information and recommendations presented in this annual report.

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2.0 WATER-WISE BUILDER PROGRAM History The Water-Wise Awards program was established in 1997 following a successful 1996 partnership between Tampa Bay Water (formerly the West Coast Regional Water Supply Authority), the Hillsborough County Extension Service and the TBBA. This partnership resulted in a showcase home that featured the principles of water-conserving, environmentally friendly landscaping. The home was well received by home builders and potential home buyers, and it garnered extensive media coverage. This success led Tampa Bay Water’s Conservation Coordination Consortium to search for new ways to expand on the partnership with the home building industry. Through additional cooperative efforts, the program was expanded in 1998 to include the Pasco Builders Association in addition to the TBBA. Both of these builders associations are located within Tampa Bay Water’s wholesale service area. Since then, Tampa Bay Water and the FYN program have worked closely with these two associations, as well as the FHBA, to advance the program’s reach and impact. In 2006, the TBBA received a grant from Tampa Bay Water for the installation of an attractive, water-efficient landscape for the Parade of Homes Showcase Home built by Nohl Crest. This outlet provided high visibility for the program and highlighted the fact that water-wise landscaping can be attractive and lush. As a result, Nohl Crest Homes became the first local home builder to landscape all of its new homes to a standard that would qualify the house for a Community Water-Wise Award and meet or exceed the Florida Green Building Coalition standards for landscape and irrigation. Builder Outreach Generating interest from builders has been a key issue since the Water-Wise Awards program was first created in 1997. Tampa Bay Water, its consultant and the home builder association staff have worked together to raise awareness among the builders since the program’s inception. In 2007, these efforts were augmented by the creation of collateral materials highlighting the marketing advantages of water-wise homes as well as water-use efficiency design building specifications, which were distributed during the TBBA Showcase Spectacular and other area builder events. While presenting the Water-Wise Awards as part of the Parade of Homes events offers significant advantages in terms of turnkey awards presentations, with high levels of interest from builders wanting to participate in the Parade, it is still difficult to reach builders due to their focus on short-term sales and marketing. In 2007, as in previous years, a builder segment was included in the Community Water-Wise Awards, eliminating the need for additional marketing, scoring and award presentation of a unique award segment for builders. As a result of historically low response rates from builders, incorporating a builder segment into the existing community award program proved to be the most efficient method of creating an award opportunity for interested builders.

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In 2007, the Water-Wise Builder program evolved to include participation in two builder tradeshows—the TBBA Showcase Spectacular and the SEBC Expo. This created the opportunity to establish one-on-one contact directly with builders, allowing greater interaction and the ability to focus on each builder’s questions and unique needs. Builder Tradeshows – Tampa Bay Builders Association Showcase Spectacular The TBBA Showcase Spectacular was held on Thursday, March 22, 2007 at the A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa. This was the first year that the TBBA created a separate section for “green” exhibitors, and the Water-Wise Builder program was represented in the “Green Corner” of the expo, along with other green building exhibitors. Unfortunately, because the Green Corner was held in a different exhibit hall than the main show, there was low traffic flow at the booth. FYN program directors staffed the exhibit booth where the Community Water Wise Awards were promoted along with a list of contacts and resources available in the region. Builder Tradeshows – Southeast Builders Conference Annual Expo The SEBC annual expo was held in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center from Thursday, July 12 through Saturday, July 14, 2007. Through the Water-Wise Builder program, Tampa Bay Water partnered with the SJRWMD’s Florida Water Star Program to create a shared exhibit at the expo. Both organizations contributed to the planning, development, construction and staffing of the booth, which featured a mock water-wise landscape, sample irrigation systems, two graphic displays and a high-efficiency toilet (HET). Like the TBBA, the SEBC created a special section to house all of the green exhibitors. However, unlike the TBBA event, the SEBC located the green section within the main exhibit hall, and they thoroughly promoted the green section both prior to and during the expo. This resulted in a high volume of traffic to the booth and the opportunity to discuss the issues pertaining to water-wise building with a number of interested builders from Florida and across the southeast. Various informational materials were created and distributed at the SEBC booth. The materials created by Tampa Bay Water included builder specs for water-use design efficiency, a sample water-wise landscape plan and a list of certified HETs. Builders Water-Wise Program Recommendations The following are recommendations for the 2008 Builders Water-Wise Awards program.

Moving forward, it is recommended that the Builders Water-Wise Program not be a stand-alone module since numerous other organizations already focus on promoting water-wise principles to builders.

The Community Water Wise Awards should continue to be open to builders as an award element.

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AURORA WATER-WISE AWARDS History In 1998, Tampa Bay Water approached the Florida Home Builders Association to develop requirements for the Aurora Water-Wise Awards program (Aurora Awards) for water conservation. Statewide awards, like those offered by electric utilities, were typically valued at $10,000 and sponsored by multiple agencies. The FHBA, however, agreed to offer an award sponsorship to Tampa Bay Water for a $5,000 sponsorship fee. This fee covers all advertising, promotional and related expenses, including a four-color call for entries. Historically, the program has successfully garnered numerous entries that are excellent examples of water-use efficiency and high-end design. As a condition of Tampa Bay Water’s sponsorship of the Aurora Awards, the FHBA promotes the water-wise award segment to its builders. E-mails, direct mailings and Web marketing are typically used to create awareness of the Aurora Awards among builders across the state. Each year, applications are accepted from builders throughout the state. Since applicants pay an entry fee for the Aurora Awards, the quality of the water conserving features in these homes is generally quite high. Additionally, many custom home builders are not limited by small landscape and irrigation budgets, and they often are able to employ the latest water conservation technology available. Overview After more than 25 years, the nationally recognized Aurora Awards program remains the premiere event held by the SEBC. The program honors builders, designers, architects and other home-building industry professionals from Texas to Virginia. The Aurora Award is designed to symbolize tremendous achievement, honor and distinction among building industry professionals for their creative achievements in architectural design, interior detailing and land-use planning for residential, commercial and industrial projects. For the water-wise segment, only Florida builders are eligible. Multiple Aurora Awards may be awarded if numerous builders meet the criteria. Additionally, a Grand Aurora Award is provided if there is an entry that significantly exceeds the criteria for the Aurora. The Aurora Awards program is not a marketing competition. Although relevance to the marketplace is considered, aesthetic merit, innovation and effectiveness in design and planning are the key criteria. The Aurora Awards program differs from the builder segment of the Community Water-Wise Awards in that it is open to all FHBA member home builders statewide. The builder segment of the Community Water-Wise Awards is open only to builders within the Tampa Bay Water member government service areas. Additionally, there is a significant entry fee for the Aurora Awards program. Many outstanding builders, particularly small firms or those specializing in custom homes, focus on the Aurora Awards program due to its attention to detail and lack of

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specific requirement or timing for model home construction. The Aurora Awards focus on homes that have been created as models in a development or for a private residence. A separate entry fee is required for each category the builders enter in the Water-Wise Awards. The FHBA presents the Aurora Awards annually at a formal banquet during the SEBC held in Orlando each summer. In an effort to promote water-efficient building techniques among high-end builders, Tampa Bay Water has sponsored the Aurora Awards program. As part of the sponsorship, Tampa Bay Water and members of the Conservation Coordination Consortium created consistent, quantifiable judging criteria to evaluate Aurora Awards entrants. A team of Conservation Coordination Consortium members, led by Tampa Bay Water, created the criteria that can be used to evaluate the homes independently to determine eligibility for an Aurora Award. In 2007, as part of Tampa Bay Water’s sponsorship of the Aurora Awards, the FHBA promoted the Aurora Award among its members. This year, only three entries were submitted for the Aurora Award. While this number is lower than in previous years, it mirrors an overall decline in Aurora Award entries across all categories. FHBA officials point to the current slump in the housing market and correspondingly low rates of new homes being built as the primary cause of the decline in entries. Since the Aurora Awards only recognize new homes, the number of entries should be expected to generally reflect the new home market. In 2007, there were three complete, valid entries for the Aurora Awards. These homes were built in Sarasota (1), Orlando (1) and Deland (1). Of the three entries received, one received more than the minimum points necessary to be eligible for an Aurora Award. The ninth annual Aurora Award for a water-efficient home was presented to Florida Look, Inc. for the Villa Danuibo model at the Lakes of Deland in Deland, Florida (see appendix A). Judging Process The judging committee for the Aurora Awards is comprised of representatives from the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program, member governments and Tampa Bay Water. The 2007 Aurora Award judging committee consisted of the following individuals:

Chris Claus, City of St. Petersburg Water Resources Department Dale Armstrong, Pinellas County Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Dave Bracciano, Tampa Bay Water Angela Polo Maraj, Sarasota County Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Teresa Watkins, Sarasota County Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Deborah Green, Water Authority of Volusia County

On-site judging of the entries took place in June. The judges evaluated each home based on standardized criteria developed specifically for the Aurora Awards (see appendix B). These criteria were designed to optimize objectivity with the major focus on discretionary

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water use inside and outside the home. As defined in the criteria, the majority of points are available in the landscape and irrigation system design and installation. Points are generally not available for elements required by local, state or national codes—only for those that have no requirements or exceed them Aurora Awards Outreach and Program Promotion FHBA staff developed application materials for the entire Aurora Awards application program. These materials are distributed to builders through Web links and promotional mailings. Tampa Bay Water’s consultant worked with the FHBA to develop electronic marketing initiatives sent to all builders on the FHBA mailing list. This marketing piece provided builders with pertinent information about the Water-Wise award category, encouraging a focus on water-use efficiency in design and installation practices. Awards Presentation The Aurora Awards were presented at a gala during the largest event in the Florida home building industry—the SEBC annual expo. More than 500 builders from the southeastern United States attended the Aurora Awards event, which was the culmination of a weeklong conference coordinated by the FHBA. In 2007, the FHBA played a 60-second promotional spot for Tampa Bay Water during the awards gala as part of the sponsorship agreement. The video spot focuses on Tampa Bay Water’s mission to provide a sustainable water supply to the Tampa Bay region in an environmentally sensitive manner (see appendix C). Aurora Awards Recommendations The following are recommendations for the 2008 Aurora Awards program.

Work with FHBA to ensure the Aurora Awards program is incorporated as part of the “Green Award” segment

Promote the winning properties heavily as examples of water-use efficiency after the award(s) is presented

Include Aurora Award winners on the TampaBayWaterWise.com Web site

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COMMUNITY WATER-WISE AWARDS History The Water-Wise Awards program was expanded in 1999 to include entries from current homeowners in Tampa Bay Water’s tri-county service area (Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, and the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and New Port Richey). The initial impetus for the expansion was a comment from the City of St. Petersburg’s water conservation representative noting that none of the Parade of Homes entries were in the city of St. Petersburg. The City suggested that a community award be included as part of its Homecoming Parade of Neighborhoods, which would be expanded to include a tour of the water-wise landscapes. This would allow existing communities the opportunity to showcase water-conserving landscapes. Because of changes incorporated into St. Petersburg’s water conservation program, the tour of water-wise landscapes was not included in its Homecoming event. Instead, a Water-Wise Award was presented by the Mayor in 1999 as part of the Mayor’s City Beautiful Awards presentation in October. The Community Water-Wise Awards program was created in 1999 to recognize landscapes that are attractive and water-efficient. The program considers landscapes and their associated irrigation systems in awarding points. The actual landscape maintenance and management practices are not evaluated in the process. This is due to potential liability and coordination issues. In 2000, the Community Water-Wise Awards program was expanded to include not only single-family residences, but also multi-family residences and office complexes. In 2002, the program again expanded to include government buildings, schools, builders, developers and others. In the past, the kickoff for the program was historically held in conjunction with Earth Day events in April. This allowed for the Community Water-Wise Awards brochure to be mailed early in the summer with advertisements placed at the end of July. The historical entry deadline for applications was set on August 31 annually. In 2006, the program timeline was readjusted, changing the entry deadline to the spring. The program kickoff was then in January, with supplemental mailing of the entry brochures taking place on February 19 and 20. This change was made so the program coincided with the spring planting season, when many residents make landscape improvements. In 2007, the spring deadline was extended from the middle of May to the end of May to allow for promotion during the numerous landscaping and gardening events taking place during the month. Under the revised timeline, the deadline for entries was moved to May 31. The main advertising and publicity push for the program took place during the last week of April and the first two weeks of May 2007.

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This segment of the awards program is differentiated by the involvement of the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods programs and member governments. These groups are actively involved in development of communications materials and award promotion to customers, master gardeners and certified yard groups/participants. The program is also promoted as part of each utility’s conservation efforts through billing, newsletters, Web sites and various other promotions. Outreach Information/Application Brochure In 2007, direct mail distribution of the application brochure continued to be the primary outreach activity for the Community Water-Wise Awards program. This mailing is a large, direct marketing tactic, reaching approximately 3,000 households in Tampa Bay Water’s tri-county wholesale service region. The brochure is reviewed annually by a committee to ensure scoring consistency and to correct any field evaluation issues. Each year the revised brochure is reprinted for distribution (see appendix D). Because the primary FYN mailing lists used have not changed significantly over the past several years, a major effort was undertaken in 2007 to update the lists of recipients by removing names that appeared on the list for three or more consecutive years. Additionally, efforts were made to supplement FYN mailing lists with additional potential water-wise homes and businesses. Through partnerships with the local chapters of the FNGLA and FIS, Tampa Bay Water reached out to landscape and irrigation professionals and local nurseries to promote the Community Water-Wise Awards program. Brochures were mailed by Roberts Communications to a newly scrubbed and enhanced mailing list. This list reduced the overall number of mailings, resulting in a reduction in mailhouse charges and postage costs that have continued to increase over the past few years. Also, by more specifically targeting potential water-wise homes and reaching out to local professionals, the program reached a higher number of interested individuals and businesses on a smaller budget. The revised mailing list included:

An updated Master Gardener list provided by the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program

Horticulture homeowner mailing lists provided by the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program

Members of the local chapters of the FNGLA and FIS Participants in Xeriscape workshops or those requesting information on Xeriscape Residents that called the County Extension as a result of the utility bill stuffer Participants in member governments’ irrigation evaluation programs

Additional entry brochures were distributed through FYN representatives, Tampa Bay Water member governments and the consultant. These brochures were distributed at landscaping, gardening and home expos as well as during Florida Yards & Neighborhoods landscaping seminars and workshops.

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Utility Bill Messaging Standard text was created to announce the Community Water-Wise Awards as part of utility bill messaging for the member governments. This messaging was distributed in January to target the March/April billing cycles to give potential participants time to review their landscape and complete applications prior to the May 31 deadline. Members of the Conservation Coordination Consortium were asked to work with their respective governments to secure placement on their utility bills, if possible. Two versions of the text were provided to fit various space parameters (see appendix E). Media Relations Two news releases were distributed to announce the launch of the Community Water-Wise Awards. The first release was distributed on March 29 to announce the launch of the program (see appendix F). As news coverage of the existing drought conditions picked up through April and May, another release was distributed on May 1 to highlight the approaching deadline and the fact that entries were still being accepted (see appendix G). Both releases were distributed to regional media contacts consisting of natural resource reporters, editors and calendar/events coordinators at daily and weekly newspapers and television stations across the region. Media coverage earned as a result of these efforts has been included in this report (see appendix H). Paid Advertising In past years, the Southwest Florida Water Management District provided funds to advertise the Community Water-Wise Awards in local weekly publications and daily regional newspapers. In 2007, however, funding was not provided by the District. Because paid advertising is a crucial component of the Community Water-Wise Awards public awareness campaign, Tampa Bay Water included funding for this program in the conservation budget. The goal of the advertising campaign was to increase awareness of the program to the general public, generating interest and driving entries. In 2007, the advertising strategy was revised to include larger color advertisements strategically placed in targeted locations (e.g., home and garden sections of daily newspapers). While this resulted in fewer overall insertions than in previous years, the overall impact of the advertising was greater as a result of the new, larger, more noticeable ads (see appendix I). Web Content/Online Entry Form Given the continued trend toward Web-based content for social marketing and the high level of online entry submission in previous years, Tampa Bay Water placed a renewed emphasis on Web content for the 2007 Community Water-Wise Awards. This included the creation of a stand-alone Web site (tampabaywaterwise.com) that provides information about water-wise landscaping, the Community Water-Wise Awards and designing a Florida-friendly, water-wise landscape (see appendix J). The revised Web page also included an updated online entry form with increased functionality based on feedback from Conservation Coordination Consortium members, Tampa Bay Water staff and Roberts Communications. The major additions to the online

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entry form in 2007 included a text box for the entry of a written description of the landscape and the ability to upload a photo of the landscape. These new features streamlined the process of entry collection, allowing entrants to provide the same information online as they would if they were to submit an application entry. This facilitated the judging process, providing judges with a visual or written description of the landscape to pre-qualify entries for on-site evaluation. Given the updated, stand-alone Web site, all program communications drove traffic to the new Web site for additional information. As a result of promotion of the new Web site, 22 of the 30 entries for the Community Water-Wise Awards program were submitted via the Web site in 2007. This high rate of online submission confirms that individuals prefer the simplicity and convenience of an online entry format. In future years, even more emphasis should be placed on Web-based communications. Grassroots Marketing Grassroots outreach methods were also undertaken to drive awareness of the Community Water-Wise Program among groups with a psychographic composition that had a high propensity to engage in landscaping and/or conservation activities. These groups included local garden clubs and environmental/conservation groups as well as professional organizations with access to individuals and businesses with potential water-wise landscapes. These groups were provided with application brochures and water-wise content for newsletters and Web sites. In 2007, Roberts Communications created a door hanger/flyer with information about the Community Water-Wise Awards program. This element was created based on member feedback. The piece was conceived as a method for member governments to provide an application and program information directly to homes and businesses that appeared to have water-wise landscapes. Each member government was responsible for implementing this element of the awards promotion if interested. In order to allow a customizable message from each member government, the existing entry brochures were used with an insert and placed in a clear plastic bag that could fit over a door handle. A recommended flyer insert was created for each of the member governments (see appendix K). When placed inside an application brochure, the top of the flyer would remain exposed, showing the headline “Your Landscape Caught Our Eyes.” At the same time, the full brochure cover was exposed, increasing program recognition. These materials were provided to each member government to use at its discretion based on its local ordinances. Initial feedback by members of the Conservation Coordination Consortium highlighted the desire to create an additional printed piece in the future to serve as a door hanger. Specifically, members recommended developing a printed piece similar in look to the application brochure with a hanger-style die cut. When examined more closely, however, several factors made the chosen design the best possible option for 2007. Namely, the plastic bag protected its contents from the elements, allowed customization of the inserted message, utilized the additional brochures that had already been printed, and minimized cost for this experimental initiative.

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Judging Process As in years past, entrants were required to use the brochure or online entry form as a self-scoring and official entry mechanism. Judges were then able to quickly use the entry form as a pre-screening method to judge homes not meeting minimum requirements. This year, however, the judging committee visited all entries in person for an on-site evaluation. FYN professionals conducted the field judging with representatives from Tampa Bay Water’s member governments. Since criteria included only exterior features, residents were not required to be at home for the visit, but access to the applicants’ irrigation system controller was required. Review of Entries 2007 proved to be the most successful year to date in terms of the number of entries submitted and the wide variety of landscape styles that applied. Moreover, the overall quality of the Community Water-Wise Award entries in 2007 was excellent. Most of the entries were outstanding demonstrations of how—with planning and maintenance—landscapes can be aesthetically pleasing and water-efficient. The following is a list of the entries for each county in 2007:

Hillsborough County/City of Tampa received ten (10) single-family residential entries and one (1) commercial entry.

Pinellas County/City of St. Petersburg received four (4) commercial entries, one (1) multi-family residential entry and eleven (11) single-family residential entries.

Pasco County/City of New Port Richey received two (2) single-family residential entries and one (1) multi-family residential entry.

Field judging generally occurred from mid-June through early July. Entrants were judged by FYN and/or member government representatives in each municipality. All judges evaluated the entrants based on the same objective—standardized criteria developed specifically for the Community Water-Wise Awards by the Conservation Coordination Consortium (see appendix L). These criteria were designed to optimize objectivity with the focus being on landscape and irrigation system design. After on-site evaluations were performed for each entry, judges pulled historical water-use data to verify the water efficiency of those entries that met the minimum requirements for a Community Water-Wise Award. Entrants with more than 30 points out of a potential 40 on the standardized scoring criteria were eligible for a Community Water-Wise Award. These landscapes were considered to be exemplary for their use of attractive, Water-Wise, Florida-friendly yards (see appendix M).

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The winners were: Hillsborough County

Joseph and Maryanne Velez

City of Tampa Josephine Black Pinellas County

Ray Crnkovic and Monica Hale of Dunedin (single-family residential) Paul and Gail Carroll of Belleair (single-family residential) Q of Dunedin (commercial)

City of St. Petersburg Sue Stanczyk (single-family residential) The Craftsman House (commercial) The Front Porch Community Development Association (other)

Pasco County

Patricia Harvey-Maines (single-family residential) City of New Port Richey No entries Awards Presentations Award presentations/ceremonies were scheduled independently by each member government. The awards were presented to the winners at City Council and Board of County Commissioner meetings. Each member government representative coordinates with the consultant on the number of awards needed and the presentation date. Awards for single-family homes consist of a round 14-inch landscape stepping stone with stained glass imbedded into the stone recognizing the homeowner’s efforts (see appendix N). If a government, school, home builder or commercial site wins a Community Water-Wise Award, a plaque is provided so it can be displayed by the winner at their place of business. Recognition plaques are also provided by each member government, if requested, to those that have exceeded the minimum criteria but did not win awards. No certificates were presented in 2007. Community Water-Wise Recommendations In 2007, the Community Water-Wise Awards program should enhance its focus by:

Developing an email “newsletter” template that can be distributed to various audiences, directing them to the Web entry form

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Encouraging Conservation Coordination Consortium members to begin collecting e-mail addresses of interested parties as shift toward online media becomes more prominent

Test email notification piece with any available email lists Refine mailing database for entry brochure mailing to minimize the number of

wasted mailings Expand content on TampaBayWaterWise.com to include more information on

water-wise landscaping and photos of wining entries Update TampaBayWaterWise.com look to match the Community Water-Wise

Award brochure look Test sending entry brochure mass mailing at the end of March—later in the

season, when individuals are more likely to be thinking about landscaping Enhance publicity efforts to highlight winning landscapes after the awards are

given Include builders and other non-residential properties on entry brochure

distribution list to increase participation in the non-residential sector

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5.0 APPENDICES

A. Aurora Water-Wise Award Winner B. Aurora Award Scoring Criteria C. TBW Promotional Video Storyboard D. 2007 Community Water-Wise Awards Brochure E. Recommended Text for Utility Bills F. March 29 Media Release G. May 1 Media Release H. Media Coverage of Community Water-Wise Awards I. 2007 Community Water-Wise Awards Newspaper Ad J. Community Water-Wise Awards Web Site K. Door Hanger L. Community Water-Wise Awards Scoring Criteria M. Photos of Winning Landscapes N. 2007 Community Water-Wise Award Stone

Appendix A

Appendix B

2007 WATER WISE AWARDS Landscape Conservation Judging Criteria

NAME ADDRESS DATE RETENTION OF EXISTING TREES AND VEGETATION

Criteria Point Value

Points Awarded

No invasive exotic plant species on site (i.e. Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, melaleuca, Chinese tallow, air potato and carrotwood, or specific to geographic location) 1

Drought-tolerant, trees and/or plants are retained, protected or planted 1

Self-mulching areas are located under trees 1

Total Points

LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND PLANT SELECTION


Points Awarded

No grass or minimal and/or practical use of grass (for play, entertainment, pets, etc.) 1

Plants selected are appropriate to site conditions (drainage, sun, shade, etc.) 2

Plants with similar maintenance and water requirements are grouped together 2

Organic mulch (e.g. shredded wood, leaves) is applied 2-3 inches deep throughout plant beds 1

Use of alternative mulch (e.g. pine straw or bark, melaleuca, eucalyptus or recycled materials, instead of cypress) 2

No narrow strips of grass (less than 4’ wide) 1

Total Points

STORMWATER RUNOFF PREVENTION


Points Awarded

Swales, retention ponds (on the property), berms, terracing and other landscape features which retain runoff on the property 1

Gutter downspouts and roof runoff directed onto mulched/planted areas 1

Pervious materials for paths, walks, and driveways or play areas such as mulch, wood decking, brick, gravel and stone are used 1

Rain collection devices such as rain barrels and/or cisterns are used 1

No bare areas in the lawn or landscape which are subject to erosion 1

Total Points

EFFICIENT IRRIGATION

Criteria (choose only one) Point Value Points Awarded ~ ~

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Landscape exists primarily on rainfall - No irrigation system - Existing irrigation system (go to checklist below) 5

5

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Landscape watered as needed once established - By hose-end sprinkler - By in-ground system (go to checklist below) 0

Landscape watered routinely (go to checklist below) 0 0

Low-Volume System Only Point Value

Points Awarded

(CIRCLE ONE) Low-Volume and Traditional Irrigation Systems Combined OR Traditional Irrigation Only

Point Value

Points Awarded

6 Turf & plants irrigated by

separate zones no turf 3

2 Rotors/sprays/micro in separate

zones 3

2 Matched precipitation rates

(includes emitter selection & placement)

3

Manual controller

- OR - Automatic controller - Multiple program time clock

- Time clock set appropriately

- Functioning rain shut-off device 2

Multiple program time clock Rainbird ESP-6 1

Landscape beds only irrigated with micro 3

Time clock set appropriately Four zones- 50 min. each; Sunday 2

System/emitters not broken or misdirected 3

Functioning rain shut-off device Located in poor area that does not receive rainfall

1

Proper emitter selection and placement 3

Rotors/sprays/micro emitters not broken or misdirected 1

Plants or structures do not interfere with spray patterns 1

Total Points

Total Points

Overall Aesthetic Appeal (circle one): Poor (-3 points) Average (0 points) Good (3 points)

TOTAL (out of 40 points): ____ + Aesthetic Points ____ = ____

Appendix C

Tampa Bay WaterAurora Awards Public Service Announcement

Slide one:

Audio: All across our region

Slide two:

Audio: people enjoy the amenities

Slide three:

Audio: this area has to offer.

Slide four:

Audio: To sustain this

Slide five:

Audio: quality of life,

Slide six:

Audio: growing needs are met

Slide seven:

Audio: with a focus on

Slide eight:

Audio: environmental sustainability.

Slide nine:

Audio: We’re Tampa Bay Water —

Slide ten:

Audio: supplying water to the region.

Appendix D

Application

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re conserving water and protecting the environment as important to you as havinga beautiful yard? If so, here’s your yard’sopportunity to shine.

The Community Water-Wise Awardswere created to recognize those who havecommitted to conserving our waterresources and protecting the environment byusing attractive Florida-friendly landscaping.

What makes a yard Water-Wise?

Right plant – right place. Florida-friendlyplants are better adapted to our climate andrequire less water and maintenance. They arealso more likely to thrive without frequentfertilizer and pesticide application.

Stormwater runoff prevention. Addingfeatures to your landscape that retain rainwater on your property reduces the amountof pollutants that reach our waterways andminimizes the need for additional irrigation.

Efficient irrigation. Inspecting your irrigationsystem each season helps ensure efficientoperation. Even well-designed systems shouldbe inspected for leaks, broken parts, andproper adjustment of controllers.

Think your yard has what it takes? Fill out the attached application and checklist today!Water-Wise judging is done on-site, duringregular business hours. Applicants need notbe present during judging, but judges willneed access to the irrigation systemcontroller. Pets must be secured during the process.

To enter, judge your own landscape using thecriteria in this brochure. Mark the items thatapply to your yard, and return the entirebrochure to your County Extension office byMay 31, 2007. Applications may also besubmitted online at www.tampabaywater.org.

NameAddressCityState ZIPDay PhoneE-mail Address

What agency sends you your water bill?

Please indicate the category of your landscape:Resident/Homeowner BuilderMulti-Family Property SchoolCommercial Property OtherGovernmental Property

Please attach a photo and/or a briefdescription of your landscape with thisapplication.

Hillsborough County Extension5339 County Road 579 • Seffner, FL 33584(813)744-5519, Ext. 144http://hillsborough_fyn.ifas.ufl.edu

Pasco County Extension 36702 State Road 52 • Dade City, FL 33525(352)521-4288 or (727)847-8177http://pasco.ifas.ufl.edu

Pinellas County Extension12520 Ulmerton Road • Largo, FL 33774(727)582-2124http://coop.co.pinellas.fl.us/fyn/yard.html

Employees of project sponsors are not eligible for theCommunity Water-Wise Awards.

A

What type of system(s) do you use? (checkall that apply to your irrigation system)

Hose-end sprinkler/hand watering

Drip/low-volume/micro-irrigation(evaluate your system below)

Conventional in-ground system withsprays and/or rotors (evaluate yoursystem on next page)

Drip/low-volume/micro-irrigation systemevaluation (check all that apply)

The system irrigates landscape plantsonly, not grass.

A multiple-program controller runs the system.

The controller is set to prevent over-watering.

Emitters are working properly anddirected correctly.

The irrigation controller is equipped with a functioning automatic rain shut-off device.

Conventional in-ground irrigation systemevaluation (check all that apply)

Sprays and rotors are in separate zones.

There is uniform water application withineach irrigation zone.

Controller is set appropriately (sprays15–20 minutes, rotors 45–60 minutes;correct day(s) and times as required bymunicipal restrictions).

There is minimal runoff and overspray(e.g., no watering of paved surfaces).

Spray patterns are not obstructed byplants or structures.

Irrigation system is properly calibrated toapply no more than 3/4"–1'' of water per application.

LandscapeConservation

Criteria

Retention of Existing Trees and Vegetation

Native plants are best adapted to a site andusually do not need additional irrigation.Retaining or restoring natural areas provideswildlife habitats and reduces upkeep.

Drought-tolerant trees and plants areretained, protected and planted.

Self-mulching areas are located under trees.

Site is free of invasive, exotic plants (e.g.,Brazilian pepper, melaleuca, Australianpine, Chinese tallow, air potato orcarrotwood).

Landscape Design and Plant Selection

Plants that are appropriate for a site need lesswater and maintenance, and they minimizethe need for fertilizers and pesticides.

There is minimal and/or practical use ofgrass (for play, entertainment, pets, etc.).

Plants selected are appropriate to siteconditions (drainage, sun, shade, etc.).

Plants with similar maintenance andwater requirements are groupedtogether in well-defined beds.

Two to three inches of organic mulch(e.g., shredded wood, leaves) existthroughout plant beds.

Alternative mulches like pine straw/bark,melaleuca, eucalyptus and/or recycledmaterial are used instead of cypress.

Grass areas are functional and easy toirrigate and mow.

All strips of grass are at least 4’ wide.

Landscape has overall aesthetic appealand is free of debris and litter.

Stormwater Runoff Prevention

When rainfall is retained and used by plants on-site, the need for irrigation is minimized andpollution from stormwater runoff is reduced.

Swales, retention ponds, berms, terracing and other landscape features retain runoff on the property.

Roof runoff and gutter downspouts are directed onto mulched or planted areas.

Pervious materials such as mulch, wooddecking, brick, gravel and stone are used for paths, walks, driveways or play areas.

Rain collection devices like rain barrels andcisterns are used.

There are no bare areas that may be subject to erosion.

Efficient Irrigation

Properly designed and installed irrigationsystems use water more efficiently and savemoney. Regular inspections and maintenanceensure efficient operation. Seasonal wateringschedules adjust to changing irrigation needsthroughout the year.

(continue to irrigation checklist on next page)

Check (�) all items that apply to your landscape.

Sponsored by:

Sprays and rotor heads are workingproperly and directed correctly.

The deadline for entries is May 31, 2007.

Please mail the entire application and checklistto your local County Extension office.

Which of the following best describes yourapproach to irrigation? (check one)

Landscape exists primarily on rainfall.

Landscape is watered only as needed,once established.

Landscape is watered routinely accordingto water restrictions.

ApplicationTam

pa Bay Water

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Appendix E

Recommended Water-Wise Text for Billing Statements/Inserts Version A Word count = 31 Character count = 226 Does your landscaping turn heads and protect Florida’s unique environment? If so, you could win a 2007 Community Water-Wise Award. For more information, or to enter your landscape online, visit tampabaywater.org/conservation. Version B Word count = 44 Character count = 329 The Tampa Bay Water Community Water-Wise Awards recognize those who have created attractive, Florida-friendly, water conserving landscapes. We want to honor your hard work and dedication to conserving water and protecting the environment. Visit tampabaywater.org/conservation for more information and to submit your entry online.

Appendix F

2575 Enterprise Road, Clearwater, FL 33763-1102 Phone: 727.796.2355 / Fax: 727.791.2388 / SunCom: 513.7010 www.tampabaywater.org

NEWS RELEASE

FOR RELEASE: March 29, 2007 CONTACT: Dave Bracciano 727.796.2355

Water-Wise Awards to Recognize Attractive Landscapes that Save Water Residents, businesses encouraged to enter their water-efficient landscapes

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Tampa Bay Water has begun accepting entries for

the 2007 Community Water-Wise Awards. The awards, which recognize attractive,

water-efficient landscapes in a variety of categories, will be presented to recipients

during City Council and County Commission meetings.

Entries are judged on multiple criteria. Positive factors include the use of

drought-tolerant plants and trees, plants that are appropriate for site conditions, the

inclusion of elements to prevent stormwater runoff, efficient use of irrigation and

overall aesthetic appeal. Landscapes that include such water-wise, Florida-friendly

features not only help reduce the amount of water used for irrigation—they also help

protect the fragile Florida environment by minimizing the use of potentially harmful

chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers.

Individuals who would like to learn more about the Community Water-Wise

Awards are encouraged to visit www.TampaBayWaterWise.com or contact their local

Florida Yards and Neighborhoods representative through the local Cooperative

Extension. Interested individuals and businesses are also encouraged to enter their

landscape online at www.TampaBayWaterWise.com.

The deadline for entries is 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, 2007. Landscapes in

the following categories are eligible for a Community Water Wise Award:

• Residents/Homeowners • Multi-Family Properties • Commercial Properties • Government Properties • Builders (new homes) • Schools • Other

### ### ### ###

Appendix G

2575 Enterprise Road, Clearwater, FL 33763-1102 Phone: 727.796.2355 / Fax: 727.791.2388 / SunCom: 513.7010 www.tampabaywater.org

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dave Bracciano May 1, 2007 727.796.2355

Water-Wise Awards to Recognize Landscapes that Shine--Even in a Drought Residents, businesses encouraged to enter their water-efficient landscapes

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Entries for the 2007 Community Water-Wise

Awards are now being accepted at www.TampaBayWaterWise.com. The awards will be

presented to individuals and businesses whose landscapes exhibit the best in landscape

design and use of water-conserving features. Water-Wise landscaping is particularly

important given the current regional drought, as it helps reduce the need for irrigation

and helps conserve water.


drought-tolerant plants and trees, plants that are appropriate for site conditions, the

inclusion of elements to prevent stormwater runoff, efficient use of irrigation and

overall aesthetic appeal. Landscapes that include such water-wise, Florida-friendly

features not only help reduce the amount of water used for irrigation, they also help

protect the fragile Florida environment by minimizing the use of potentially harmful

chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers.

Tampa Bay Water, the region’s wholesale water supplier, is working with its six

member governments (the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and New Port Richey,

along with Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties) and the Florida Yards and

Neighborhoods program to implement this annual award program for water-

conserving landscapes.

Individuals who would like to learn more about the Community Water-Wise

Awards are encouraged to visit www.TampaBayWaterWise.com or contact their local

Florida Yards and Neighborhoods representative through the local Cooperative

--MORE--

Water-Wise Awards Recognize Landscapes that Shine – 2

Extension. Interested individuals and businesses are also encouraged to enter their

landscape online at www.TampaBayWaterWise.com.

The deadline for entries is 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, 2007. Landscapes in the

following categories are eligible for a Community Water Wise Award:

• Residents/Homeowners • Multi-Family Properties • Commercial Properties • Government Properties • Builders (new homes) • Schools • Other

### ### ### ### ###

About Tampa Bay Water

Tampa Bay Water, the state’s largest wholesale water supply authority, provides wholesale water to the public utility systems of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties as well as the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa. For more information on water conservation, contact your local County Extension Office or visit Tampa Bay Water’s web site at www.tampabaywater.org.

Tampa Bay Water supports the efforts of local water officials in encouraging water conservation and adherence to existing irrigation restrictions. When you conserve water, you are contributing to the overall quality of our environment and ensuring enough water for everyone.

http://www.tampabaywater.org/

Appendix H

A BETTER HANDLE ON DIGGING IN YOUR GARDEN [STATE Edition] St. Petersburg Times - St. Petersburg, Fla.

Document Text

The curvy handle of the Plus Hand Trowel from Vigoro offers multiple gripping positions and even lets you use two hands, if necessary, to dig out a stubborn root or rock. The cushioned knob is a good place to push or pull while you dig. It's 14 inches long; $9.97 at Home Depot.

Spread it around

Five reasons to mulch your containers, from the May/June issue of Cottage Living magazine: It keeps plants healthy by limiting the splash of mud, which can carry soil-borne diseases onto leaves. It makes cleaning simple: It's easier to pick dead leaves out of mulch than out of mud. It deters slugs and snails. Mulches with strong scents (such as eucalyptus) or sharp edges (crushed shells) discourage digging pets. And mulch enhances the appearance of even a modestly priced container.

Rare, not forbidden

Try something rare and exotic. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, visit the annual rare fruit and herb sale at the Manatee Civic Center, sponsored by the Manatee Rare Fruit Council. Here's your chance to see and buy unusual tropical and subtropical fruiting trees and plants: guava, macadamia nut, pomegranate, soursop, lychee and many more, and to talk to growers and enthusiasts. Fruitalizer (fertilizer for fruit trees), cookbooks, jams, teas and other plant- related items will be for sale too. The civic center is at Haben Boulevard and U.S. 41/301 in Palmetto. Details are at mrfc.org.

Something new

Here comes the bride: It's Blushing Bride, a new hydrangea from Endless Summer. It starts out pure white and matures to a faint pink blush. It blooms on old and new growth, so you'll have blooms all season long. Blushing Bride likes partial shade and moist soil and grows upright, 3 to 6 feet tall. A nice idea for an evening garden. Look for it at garden centers.

On a water diet

Think your landscaping is waterwise and Florida-friendly? Tampa Bay Water wants to hear from you for its annual water-wise awards. Visit the Web site (tampabaywaterwise.com) to fill in the application and upload a photo of your landscaping. Get busy; the deadline is 5 p.m. May 31. The application provides a good checklist of smart planting and irrigation techniques for the rest of us to follow in these days of drought.

Cover your tracks

Keep your shoes on: Stash plastic grocery bags by the door to cover your muddy shoes in case you have to go inside before you are through gardening for the day, suggests Scott Meyer, editor of Organic Gardening magazine.

Compiled by Homes & Garden editor Judy Stark

PLANT AN IDEA

Date: May 19, 2007Start Page: 3.FSection: HOMESText Word Count: 499

Meyer Lemon Tree - 35.96Everything On How To Grow, With A 3-year Guarantee & Price Guarantee meyerlemontree.com

Mantis Garden TillerFree shipping. 1 yr risk free trial Includes Border Edger, Kickstand www.mantis.com

Free Plants - No StringsFree $20 Worth Of Plants. Just Pay S&H. Put Us To The Test! www.SpringHillNursery.com

Page 1 of 2A BETTER HANDLE ON DIGGING IN YOUR GARDEN - Newspaper Archives | tamp...

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Workers' idea generation, creative performance and problem- solving skills improve substantially in workplace environments that include flowers and plants, a study at Texas A&M showed. Men generated 15 percent more ideas and women generated more creative, flexible solutions when flowers and plants were present. So pick up a bouquet on the way to work Monday.

Credit: GARDEN; BACKYARD CUTTINGS

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.

Abstract (Document Summary)

Try something rare and exotic. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, visit the annual rare fruit and herb sale at the Manatee Civic Center, sponsored by the Manatee Rare Fruit Council. Here's your chance to see and buy unusual tropical and subtropical fruiting trees and plants: guava, macadamia nut, pomegranate, soursop, lychee and many more, and to talk to growers and enthusiasts. Fruitalizer (fertilizer for fruit trees), cookbooks, jams, teas and other plant- related items will be for sale too. The civic center is at Haben Boulevard and U.S. 41/301 in Palmetto. Details are at mrfc.org.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.

Medford Garden CareNeed a local landscaper? Total lawn, tree & shrub care. dexonline.com/aaaaffordable-land

Dwarf Fruit TreesGet All Your Queries Answered On Dwarf Fruit Trees. Check Out! Blurtit.com

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Water-Wise Awards to Recognize Attractive Landscapes that Save Water

Return to Home Page

Return to Current Edition

Contact us

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Tampa Bay Water has begun accepting entries for the 2007 Community Water-Wise Awards. The awards, which recognize attractive, water-efficient landscapes in a variety of categories, will be presented to the recipients during City Council and County Commission meetings.


drought-tolerant or native plants and trees, use of plants that are appropriate for site conditions, inclusion of elements that prevent stormwater runoff, efficient use of irrigation and overall aesthetic appeal. Landscapes that include such water-wise, Florida-friendly features not only help reduce the amount of drinking water used for irrigation-they also help protect the fragile Florida environment by minimizing the use of potentially harmful chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers.

Interested individuals and businesses are encouraged to learn more about the Community Water-Wise Awards and to enter their landscape online by visiting http://www.TampaBayWaterWise.com. The deadline for entries is 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, 2007. Landscapes in the following categories are eligible for a Community Water Wise Award:

Residents/Homeowners Multi-Family Properties Commercial Properties Governmental Properties Builders (new homes) Schools Other

Page 1 of 1Clearwater Gazette and Beach Views

6/17/2008http://www.clearwatergazette.com/20070503/water.html

Media Hit Report Summary: Total Hits: 16 Total Audience Impressions: 209,318 Total Publicity Value: $9,475.75

1) Market: Tampa-St. Petersburg [TS] [12] HUT: 1,710,400 DMA%: 1.55 Date: 04/29/2007 Time: 11:30pm Aired On: BAY NEWS 9 Affiliate: IND Show: BN9 News at Night at 11 Estimated Audience Number: 8,618 | Estimated Publicity Value: $390.13

23:34:52.78 Theres nothing less exciting than waiting for your grass to grow So do something about it. Giving your yard a landscaping makeover aimed at conserving water could win you an award. Its called the community water- wise award contest. It recognizes residents who create attractive, water-efficient landscapes (TRT=01:09)

2) Market: Tampa-St. Petersburg [TS] [12] HUT: 1,710,400 DMA%: 1.55 Date: 04/29/2007 Time: 10:00pm Aired On: BAY NEWS 9 Affiliate: IND Show: BN9 Primetime News at 10 Estimated Audience Number: 12,719 | Estimated Publicity Value: $575.78






5) Market: Tampa-St. Petersburg [TS] [12] HUT: 1,710,400 DMA%: 1.55 Date: 04/29/2007 Time: 7:00pm Aired On: BAY NEWS 9 Affiliate: IND Show: BN9 7 O'Clock News Estimated Audience Number: 15,004 | Estimated Publicity Value: $679.23


6) Market: Tampa-St. Petersburg [TS] [12] HUT: 1,710,400 DMA%: 1.55 Date: 04/29/2007 Time: 6:00pm Aired On: BAY NEWS 9 Affiliate: IND Show: BN9 Evening News at 6 Estimated Audience Number: 13,978 | Estimated Publicity Value: $632.78


7) Market: Tampa-St. Petersburg [TS] [12] HUT: 1,710,400 DMA%: 1.55 Date: 04/29/2007 Time: 5:00pm Aired On: BAY NEWS 9 Affiliate: IND Show: BN9 Evening News at 5 Estimated Audience Number: 13,609 | Estimated Publicity Value: $616.07


8) Market: Tampa-St. Petersburg [TS] [12] HUT: 1,710,400 DMA%: 1.55 Date: 04/29/2007 Time: 4:00pm Aired On: BAY NEWS 9 Affiliate: IND Show: BN9 Midday News at 4 Estimated Audience Number: 10,720 | Estimated Publicity Value: $485.29

16:33:54.03 Dry weather have you thinking about an extreme makeover for your parched yard? You may be eligible for a regional award. Its called the community water- wise contest. It recognizes people whove created water- efficient landscapes on their property (TRT=00:55)







12) Market: Tampa-St. Petersburg [TS] [12] HUT: 1,710,400 DMA%: 1.55 Date: 04/29/2007 Time: 12:00pm Aired On: BAY NEWS 9 Affiliate: IND Show: BN9 Midday News at Noon Estimated Audience Number: 10,872 | Estimated Publicity Value: $492.17


13) Market: Tampa-St. Petersburg [TS] [12] HUT: 1,710,400 DMA%: 1.55 Date: 04/29/2007 Time: 10:00am Aired On: BAY NEWS 9 Affiliate: IND Show: BN9 First News at 10 Estimated Audience Number: 14,157 | Estimated Publicity Value: $640.88


14) Market: Tampa-St. Petersburg [TS] [12] HUT: 1,710,400 DMA%: 1.55 Date: 04/29/2007 Time: 9:00am Aired On: BAY NEWS 9 Affiliate: IND Show: BN9

First News at 9 Estimated Audience Number: 16,566 | Estimated Publicity Value: $749.94


15) Market: Tampa-St. Petersburg [TS] [12] HUT: 1,710,400 DMA%: 1.55 Date: 04/29/2007 Time: 8:00am Aired On: BAY NEWS 9 Affiliate: IND Show: BN9 Morning at 8 Estimated Audience Number: 18,272 | Estimated Publicity Value: $827.17


16) Market: Tampa-St. Petersburg [TS] [12] HUT: 1,710,400 DMA%: 1.55 Date: 04/29/2007 Time: 7:00am Aired On: BAY NEWS 9 Affiliate: IND Show: BN9 Morning at 7 Estimated Audience Number: 22,972 | Estimated Publicity Value: $1,039.94


Appendix I

Is Your Yard Water-Wise?Some landscapes are more than attractive —they’re water-wise. These landscapes thrive in Florida's climate, and they help protect our environment.

The Community Water-Wise Awards were created to recognize attractive, water-conserving landscapes in a variety of categories.

If you think your yard might be water-wise, visit our web site at www.TampaBayWaterWise.com to fill out the online application and checklist. It’s quick, easy and free!


Please visit www.TampaBayWaterWise.com for more information, or call the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program in your county.

Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Phone Numbers:Hillsborough County (813) 744-5519, ext. 144Pasco County (352) 521-4288Pinellas County (727) 582-2108

Appendix J

Welcome to Tampa Bay Waterwise

How Smart Is Your Landscape?

Some landscapes are more than attractive - they're water-wise. These landscapes thrive in Florida's climate, and they help protect our environment. In fact, some landscapes are so smart they could be eligible for a Community Water-Wise Award. Click here for more information.


● Right plant - right place. A water-wise yard uses plants that are better adapted to our climate and require less water and maintenance. These "Florida-friendly" plants are also more likely to thrive without frequent fertilizer and pesticide application, which is a plus for the environments.

● Stormwater runoff prevention. Features that retain rainwater on your property reduce the amount of pollutants that reach our waterways and minimize the need for additional irrigation. This win-win situation really helps make a yard water-wise.

● Efficient irrigation. Since most water use takes place outdoors, it is important to make sure that you are irrigating wisely. Inspecting your irrigation system each season helps ensure efficient operation. Even a well-designed system should be inspected for leaks, broken parts and proper adjustment of controllers

Get more information on the Community Water-Wise Awards Program and enter your landscape online today!

Do you want more information on creating a Florida-friendly, water-wise landscape? Click here for more information.

Home | Designing Water-Wise Landscapes | Awards | Award Application

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http://www.tampabaywaterwise.com/default.aspx


Designing a Florida-Friendly, Water-Wise Landscape

From natural to highly-manicured, water-wise lawns cover the spectrum of design styles. That means you can create a Florida-friendly, water-wise landscape to fit in with almost any style preference.

Creating and maintaining a water-wise landscape will not only save water and money on your utility bill, but it can actually be quite easy. In fact, your lawn may already be water-wise.

Or, if it isn’t, you may need to make only a few simple changes to start saving water and money and protecting our environment. Click here for more information on creating a Florida-friendly, water-wise landscape

2007 Community Water-Wise Award Winners

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http://www.floridayards.org/








The Community Water-Wise Awards

The Community Water-Wise Awards were created to recognize those who have committed to conserving our water resources and protecting the environment by using attractive Florida-friendly landscaping.

Think your yard has what it takes? Fill out the online application and checklist today! It’s quick and easy! Or, click here if you prefer a printable version of the 2008 Community Water-Wise Award application and checklist.

How are landscapes judged?

Water-Wise judging is done on-site, during regular business hours. Applicants need not be present during judging, but judges will need access to the irrigation system controller. Pets must be secured during the process.

Who is eligible?

Residents and businesses in the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and New Port Richey as well as unincorporated areas of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties are eligible for a Community Water-Wise Award.

What types of landscapes are eligible?

Community Water-Wise Awards are given for the following categories of landscapes:

● Residents/homeowners ● Multi-family properties

http://www.tampabaywaterwise.com/awards.aspx (1 of 2)6/17/2008 5:57:57 PM


● Commercial properties ● Government properties ● Builders (new homes) ● Schools ● Other

Who sponsors the Community Water-Wise Awards?

The Community Water-Wise Awards are sponsored by Tampa Bay Water, its member governments (the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and New Port Richey, along with Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties) and the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program.





Application To enter, try to accurately judge your landscape using the guidelines on this website. Check the items that apply to your landscape, then click on the submit button at the bottom of this application. If you prefer, you can download and print the application out and mail it to the Extension Service in your county by May 31, 2008 by clicking this link: Community Water-Wise Application

Name:

Street Address:

City:

State: Zip:


Day Phone

E-mail Address

Please indicate the category of your landscape:

Resident/Homehowner Builder

Multi-Family Property School

Commercial Other

Governmental Property

Please describe your landscape:

Upload Photograph of Landscape:

Employees of project sponsors are not eligible for the Community Water-Wise Awards.

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Hillsborough County Extension 5339 County Road 579 • Seffner, FL 33584 (813)744-5519, Ext. 144 http://hillsborough_fyn.ifas.ufl.edu.

Pasco County Extension Service 36702 State Road 52 • Dade City, FL 33525 (352)521-4288 or (727)847-8177 http://pasco.ifas.ufl.edu

Pinellas County Extension Office 12175 125th Street North • Largo, FL 33774 (727)582-2124 http://www.pinellascountyextension.org

Landscape Conservation CriteriaCheck all items that apply to your landscape.

Retention of Existing Trees and Vegetation Native plants are adapted to the site and usually do not need additional irrigation. Retaining or restoring natural areas provides habitat for wildlife and minimizes maintenance requirements

Drought-tolerant trees and plants are retained, protected and planted.

Self-mulching areas are located under trees. Site is free of invasive, exotic plants (e.g., Brazilian

pepper, melaleuca, Australian pine, Chinese tallow, air potato or carrotwood).

Landscape Design and Plant Selection Plants that are appropriate for a site need less water and maintenance, and they minimize the need for fertilizers and pesticides.

There is minimal and/or practical use of grass (for play, entertainment, pets, etc.).

Plants selected are appropriate to site conditions (drainage, sun, shade, etc.).

Plants with similar maintenance and water requirements are grouped together in well-defined beds.

Two to three inches of organic mulch (e.g., shredded wood, leaves) exists throughout plant beds.

Alternative mulches like pine straw/bark, melaleuca, eucalyptus and/or recycled material are used instead of cypress.

Grass areas are functional and easy to irrigate and mow.

All strips of grass are at least 4' wide.


http://hillsborough_fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/

http://pasco.ifas.ufl.edu/

http://www.pinellascountyextension.org/


Landscape has overall aesthetic appeal and is free of debris and litter.

Stormwater Runoff Prevention When rainfall is retained and used by plants on-site, the need for irrigation is minimized and pollution from stormwater runoff is reduced.



Pervious materials such as mulch, wood decking, brick, gravel and stone are used for paths, walks, driveways or play areas.

Rain collection devices like rain barrels and cisterns are used.


Efficient Irrigation Properly designed and installed irrigation systems use water more efficiently and save money. Regular inspections and maintenance ensure efficient operation. Seasonal watering schedules adjust to changing irrigation needs throughout the year.

Inspect your sprinkler system when areas of your yard show stress and when the seasons change (e.g., winter dormancy, summer rainfall). Even well-designed systems should be inspected at least four times each year for leaks, broken parts and proper adjustment, including controllers/timers and rain shut-off devices.

Which of the following best describes your approach to irrigation? (check one)


Landscape is watered only as needed once established.

Landscape is watered routinely according to water restrictions.



What type of system(s) do you use? (check all that apply to your irrigation system)

Hose-end sprinkler/hand watering.

Drip/low-volume/micro-irrigation (evaluate your system below)

Conventional in-ground system with sprays and/or rotors (evaluate your system below)

Drip/low-volume/micro-irrigation system evaluation (check all that apply)

The system irrigates landscape plants only, not grass.

A multiple-program time clock controls the system.

The time clock is set to prevent over-watering.

Emitters are working properly and directed correctly.


Conventional in-ground irrigation system evaluation (check all that apply)


There is uniform water application within each irrigation zone.

Time clock is set appropriately (sprays 15-20 minutes, rotors 45-60 minutes; correct day(s) and times as required by municipal restrictions).

There is minimal runoff and overspray (e.g., no watering of paved surfaces).

Spray patterns are not obstructed by plants or structures.

Irrigation system is properly calibrated to apply no more than 3/4" - 1" of water per application.

Sprays and rotor heads are working properly and directed correctly.



Please fill out the application form and click the submit button below on or before May 31, 2008 to be considered for the 2008 Community Water Wise Awards.

Sponsored by:





The Community Water-Wise Awards

The Community Water-Wise Awards were created to recognize those who have committed to conserving our water resources and protecting the environment by using attractive Florida-friendly landscaping.

Think your yard has what it takes? Fill out the online application and checklist today! It’s quick and easy! Or, click here if you prefer a printable version of the 2008 Community Water-Wise Award application and checklist.

How are landscapes judged?

Water-Wise judging is done on-site, during regular business hours. Applicants need not be present during judging, but judges will need access to the irrigation system controller. Pets must be secured during the process.

Who is eligible?

Residents and businesses in the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and New Port Richey as well as unincorporated areas of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties are eligible for a Community Water-Wise Award.

What types of landscapes are eligible?

Community Water-Wise Awards are given for the following categories of landscapes:

● Residents/homeowners ● Multi-family properties



● Commercial properties ● Government properties ● Builders (new homes) ● Schools ● Other

Who sponsors the Community Water-Wise Awards?

The Community Water-Wise Awards are sponsored by Tampa Bay Water, its member governments (the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and New Port Richey, along with Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties) and the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program.




Appendix K

Your Landscape Caught Our Eyes!

We noticed that your landscape has some Florida-friendly, water-wise features. These features help protect Florida’s fragile environment and our water resources, and they may qualify for a Community Water-Wise Award. Every year, [insert government name], Tampa Bay Water and the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program present Water-Wise Awards to property owners who have created attractive, Florida-friendly, water-wise landscapes. Since your landscape looks like it might qualify, we have enclosed an informational brochure about the program. This brochure is also an entry form that can be mailed to the [insert county] extension. Or, if you prefer, you can enter online at: www.tampabaywater.org/conservation For more information about this and other water conservation programs, please contact [insert contact name] at [insert contact information] [insert water dept logo, if desired]

Your Landscape Caught Our Eyes!

We noticed that your landscape has some Florida-friendly, water-wise features. These features help protect Florida’s fragile environment and our water resources, and they may qualify for a Community Water-Wise Award. Every year, [insert government name], Tampa Bay Water and the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program present Water-Wise Awards to property owners who have created attractive, Florida-friendly, water-wise landscapes. Since your landscape looks like it might qualify, we have enclosed an informational brochure about the program. This brochure is also an entry form that can be mailed to the [insert county] extension. Or, if you prefer, you can enter online at: www.tampabaywater.org/conservation For more information about this and other water conservation programs, please contact [insert contact name] at [insert contact information] [insert water dept logo, if desired]

Appendix L

2007 COMMUNITY WATER WISE AWARDS Landscape Conservation Judging Criteria

NAME ADDRESS DATE RETENTION OF EXISTING TREES AND VEGETATION


Points Awarded

No invasive exotic plant species on site (i.e. Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, melaleuca, Chinese tallow, air potato and carrotwood, or specific to geographic location) 1

Drought-tolerant, trees and/or plants are retained, protected or planted 1

Self-mulching areas are located under trees 1

Total Points

LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND PLANT SELECTION


Points Awarded

No grass or minimal and/or practical use of grass (for play, entertainment, pets, etc.) 1

Plants selected are appropriate to site conditions (drainage, sun, shade, etc.) 2

Plants with similar maintenance and water requirements are grouped together 2

Organic mulch (e.g. shredded wood, leaves) is applied 2-3 inches deep throughout plant beds 1

Use of alternative mulch (e.g. pine straw or bark, melaleuca, eucalyptus or recycled materials, instead of cypress) 2

No narrow strips of grass (less than 4’ wide) 1

Total Points

STORMWATER RUNOFF PREVENTION


Points Awarded

Swales, retention ponds (on the property), berms, terracing and other landscape features which retain runoff on the property 1

Gutter downspouts and roof runoff directed onto mulched/planted areas 1

Pervious materials for paths, walks, and driveways or play areas such as mulch, wood decking, brick, gravel and stone are used 1

Rain collection devices such as rain barrels and/or cisterns are used 1

No bare areas in the lawn or landscape which are subject to erosion 1

Total Points

EFFICIENT IRRIGATION

Criteria (choose only one) Point Value Points Awarded ~ ~

20

Landscape exists primarily on rainfall - No irrigation system - Existing irrigation system (go to checklist below) 5

5

15

Landscape watered as needed once established - By hose-end sprinkler - By in-ground system (go to checklist below) 0

Landscape watered routinely (go to checklist below) 0 0

Low-Volume System Only Point Value

Points Awarded

(CIRCLE ONE) Low-Volume and Traditional Irrigation Systems Combined OR Traditional Irrigation Only

Point Value

Points Awarded

6 Turf & plants irrigated by

separate zones no turf 3

2 Rotors/sprays/micro in separate

zones 3

2 Matched precipitation rates

(includes emitter selection & placement)

3

Manual controller

- OR - Automatic controller - Multiple program time clock

- Time clock set appropriately

- Functioning rain shut-off device 2

Multiple program time clock Rainbird ESP-6 1

Landscape beds only irrigated with micro 3

Time clock set appropriately Four zones- 50 min. each; Sunday 2

System/emitters not broken or misdirected 3

Functioning rain shut-off device Located in poor area that does not receive rainfall

1

Proper emitter selection and placement 3

Rotors/sprays/micro emitters not broken or misdirected 1

Plants or structures do not interfere with spray patterns 1

Total Points

Total Points

Overall Aesthetic Appeal (circle one): Poor (-3 points) Average (0 points) Good (3 points)

TOTAL (out of 40 points): ____ + Aesthetic Points ____ = ____

Appendix M

Appendix N

2007 Annual Report on the Water-Wise Program - Tampa Bay Water

Education

waterwise category

various water

waterwise home building

waterwise landscape

theaurora waterwise

florida water star program

waterconserving features

waterconserving landscapes