Water Quality Summit program details announced

Event set for afternoon of June 5 at Riverview High School in Sarasota

Image courtesy Sarasota County

More than 30 speakers and exhibitors from around Florida are scheduled for Sarasota County’s Water Quality Summit on June 5, “joining the discussion of how to protect one of our most important resources,” a county news release says.

Among the speakers will be representatives of the Florida Legislature, state agencies, Mote Marine Laboratory, the University of Florida, the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Sarasota County and local municipalities, the release notes.

The Water Quality Summit will be held from 1 to 6:30 p.m. in the Review High School auditorium, which is located at 1 Ram Way, off Proctor Road in Sarasota.

For a complete list of speakers, visit scgov.net/waterqualitysummit 

“On June 5, our community will come together in one place to learn, connect and engage with experts on this important issue,” said Lee-Hayes Byron, director of Sarasota County University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension and Sustainability Program, in the release. “The Water Quality Summit provides an opportunity to better understand the science, what has been done, what will be done and ways the community can positively impact water quality at home.”

The summit will be divided into four sessions, “each addressing vital components of this top board priority,” the release points out, with question-and-answer periods during each session.

Attendees also will have the opportunity to visit with more than 13 exhibitors, the release notes.

The welcome and opening remarks will begin promptly at 1 p.m., followed by these sessions, the release says:

  • The Science Behind Water Quality, 1:15 p.m. — a review of red tide, nutrients, landscape practices and wastewater conveyance systems.
  • What Has Already Been Done to Improve Water Quality, 2:10 p.m. — a look at past, current and future local government and nonprofit projects.
  • What You Can Do to Improve Water Quality, 3:50 p.m. — “Learn about actions businesses, neighborhoods and individuals can take.”
  • State policy update, 4:45 p.m. — discussion of policies, plans and results from the latest Florida legislative session.
  • Visit with exhibitors and speakers, 5:30 p.m.

Sessions are optional, the release notes, but registration is required, as seating may be limited.

To register, for more information about the Water Quality Summit, visit scgov.net/waterqualitysummit of call the county Contact Center at 861-5000.