Polk Forever

08/31/2026

Want to learn more about native plants but dont know where to start? This one's for you! Mark your calendars and share.

08/28/2026

08/25/2026

Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP) is hosting the Southwest Florida Resiliency Summit
Sept 22nd, Charlotte Harbor Conference Center Punta Gorda, FL

Join CHNEP for this free public event.

Polk County is part of this estuary partnership that plays a vital role in enhancing community resiliency by bringing federal, state, and local governments together to share resiliency knowledge and technologies, as well as to implement resiliency projects across jurisdictional boundaries.

For registration and more information, visit: https://www.chnep.org/swfl-resiliency-summit

08/24/2026

Environmental Impacts
Habitat and Species Disruption: The proposed toll road routes cross and border sensitive Lake Wales Ridge ecosystems, threatening wildlife and imperiled scrub areas, complicating prescribed burn management and hindering land conservation.

Wetlands and Floodplains: The development impact of wetlands and floodplains raise concerns over stormwater storage for flood protection.

Rural and Wildlife Fragmentation: Bisecting our natural and working lands disconnects vital green connectors of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Water Resources: Destruction of our upland sandy soils that provide essential recharge for the Floridan Aquifer impacts our drinking water supply.

In-person meetings are an informal open house format and registration is not required.

To register for virtual meeting and to learn more about this project visit:
https://floridasturnpike.com/turnpike-projects/featured-projects/central-polk-parkway-east-451419-3-455878-1-and-455879-1/

08/18/2026

Why Contribute?
Pollinators are precious and powerful. Over 90% of our flowering plants, including many crops, rely on their hard work. Capturing scientific data on pollinator diversity, seasonality, and geographical location are critical in education and conservation efforts.

The Great Southeast Pollinator Census is a project aimed at creating a head count of all the creepy crawly critters that help keep Florida’s plants in bloom.

Learn more at:
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2026/08/10/uf-ifas-invites-floridians-of-all-ages-to-join-the-great-southeast-pollinator-census-aug-21-22/

08/18/2026

🐝🦋 YOUR BACKYARD CAN BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENCE STATION! 🌼🔬

The 2026 Great Southeast Pollinator Census is happening August 21 & 22, and we want to see how many people across our community we can get counting this year!

And the best part? You only need 15 minutes. ⏱️

Citizen science projects gives everyday people the opportunity to help collect information that can contribute to our understanding of the world around us. For the Pollinator Census, that means finding a blooming plant, watching it for 15 minutes, and recording the pollinators that stop by.

🐝 Bees
🦋 Butterflies and moths
🪲 Beetles
🪰 Flies
🐦 Hummingbirds
…and all the other busy little visitors helping our landscapes function!

📋 Need a 2026 Count Sheet? Come see us or request an electronic copy!
Stop by the UF/IFAS Extension Indian River County office and pick up a copy of the 2026 Great Southeast Pollinator Census Count Sheet at:
📍County Administration Building B- 2nd Floor
1800 27th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960
📧[email protected]

Then choose your counting spot- your backyard, community garden, neighborhood landscape, school, park, or anywhere else you can find blooming plants.

🌸 We especially want Indian River County counting!

How many people can we get participating this year? And what will we discover about the pollinators visiting our part of Florida?

The more observations we collect, the better picture we can build of the pollinators active in our area. That information can also help inform how we educate our community about creating landscapes that provide the plants, habitat, and resources pollinators need to thrive.

This is science you can do right where you live- no lab coat required. 😄🔬🌻

📅 August 21–22, 2026
⏱️ Count for just 15 minutes
📋 Record what you see
🌎 Contribute to citizen science

Let's find out who's buzzing, fluttering, crawling, and flying around Indian River County! 🐝🦋🌼

08/15/2026

08/15/2026

The 1,300 acre Charlie Creek Marsh conservation project through Rural & Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) is located in the Peace River Valley.
These working lands of ranches and groves help provide environmental importance for wildlife habitats and connection to the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
The Charlie Creek marsh system of natural wetlands and forested uplands stores floodwater during heavy rain events, filters pollutants from stormwater runoff improving water quality that flows into the Charlotte Harbor estuary and the Gulf.

Listen to Ned Hancock’s interview at
www.wgcu.org/environment/2026-07-30/florida-rural-and-family-lands-program-keeping-sprawl-out-of-peace-river-valley

08/13/2026