1. “ To provide leadership to help people conserve, improve, and sustain the natural resources and environment of Highlands County”

7. We are located within the boundaries of the largest environmental restoration project ever undertaken by mankind. The Everglades Restoration Project

8. Highlands County is unique. Because of our hydrology we have the opportunities to partner with many governmental agencies. Florida has created water management districts that generate and enforce water regulations. Many Florida Soil and Water Conservation Districts have become stewards for the environment and serve in an administrative and educational capacity.

9. Our office administers contracts for the Florida Department of Agriculture to implement best management practices to control the amount of nutrients entering the water bodies in the area.

10. Our first grant through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) was the fertilizer spreader retrofit – variable rate technology. The organization partnered with Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District to administer that grant for 5% of $200,000. Since that time, we have administered over ten million dollars in FDACS grants.

11. Over the years, our district has formed relationships and partnered with: Highlands County Board of County Commissioners Natural Resources Conservation Service South Florida Water Management District Southwest Florida Water Management District World Wildlife Fund Florida’s Heartland Rural Development Initiative The Tourist Development Council Highlands County Lakes Association City of Sebring Florida Lakes Management Society

12. Another unique feature of our district is that it has a Lakes Management Department. This benefits us in many ways: We obtain projects through the water management districts Ad-Valorem taxes collected by the water management districts are utilized for projects in Highlands County The Lakes Association gets 10% of the tourist development tax Lake Watch volunteers collect samples saving the county $1.8 million.

13. Lake Jackson Shoreline Restoration project

14. HSWCD is the grass roots conduit for many governmental agencies such as NRCS, FDACS, and the Water Management Districts to help the producers get conservation planning on the ground.

15. Administrative fees collected and partnerships allow us the opportunity to educate our citizens to become better stewards of the natural resources in Highlands County. Conservation Connection Ag Venture

16. Educational Partnerships: HC Extension 4-H HC Lakes Assoc Master Gardeners HC Homeowners Assoc HC Parks and Recreation Friends of Istokpoga Highlands Hammock State Park South Florida Community College HC Aquatic Weed Control HC School Board Okeechobee SWCD NRCS South Dade SWCD Florida DEP Fish and Wildlife HC Citrus Growers Forestry Ridge Rangers SWFWMD FDACS SFWMD Archbold Biological Station HC Recycling Riverwoods Field Laboratory Keep Highlands County Beautiful HC Board of County Commissioners

17. Florida Ranchlands Environmental Services Project (FRESP). FRESP is a collaboration between 8 ranchers, environmental groups, state and federal agencies and researchers to design a program that will pay ranchers to provide documented environmental services of water retention and phosphorus load reduction in order to improve water delivery and quality to Lake Okeechobee and the coastal estuaries. This model project is designed to analyze the feasibility of paying ranchers to retain water on their land for the purpose of storage and or treatment.

18. Thank you for allowing me to share our ideas on creating opportunities in challenging times. Please feel free to contact our office at (863) 402-6545 Or visit our website at www.highlansswcd.org