Volunteers at Eagles Roost
eVIP Volunteers at the 2022 Eagles Roost Earth Day Project
Lend a Hand to make a difference in your Orange County environment and community.
September 2022
National Public Lands Day
Are you, your group or your company looking for a fun way to give back to your community? Join the Orange County Environmental Protection Division to celebrate National Public Lands Day this September. More details to be announced in the July issue!
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
In His Own Words
Khalid Meshmesh, Volunteer Intern
Photo of Intern
I began my volunteer internship with the Water Sciences Program at the Orange County Environmental Protection Division (EPD) in January 2022. My primary role was labeling the vials and containers used to collect local water samples. These samples were then tested for Total Suspended Solids (TSS), chlorophyll, and algae. I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to go out into the field to collect water samples. It was surreal to see how my role played an integral part to the whole Division. Seeing new and different areas around Central Florida was also great. I plan to graduate next summer with an environmental engineering degree from the University of Central Florida and hope to pursue a career in wastewater treatment. The time I have spent at EPD has helped me make huge strides in attaining my goals and I owe it all to my wonderful coworkers who made those trips to the office all the more exciting. I want to thank Marcia Anderson as well as the rest of the crew in the Water Sciences lab for giving me the opportunity to learn an exponential amount of information that will help me for years to come. 
31 Years of Pollution Prevention
Summer Yard Care for Clean Waterways
Thanks for skipping the fertilizer with otter image
Summer’s coming, so grab your umbrellas! Also, be sure to put away all bags of nitrogen fertilizer. Orange County has updated its ordinance to help protect our local water bodies from pollution and algae blooms. Here are some important things to know:

June 1 to September 30: Apply only fertilizer with zero nitrogen and zero phosphorus.

October 1 to May 31: Fertilizer containing nitrogen is permitted. However, it must contain at least 65% slow release nitrogen.

Always do the following:
  • Keep fertilizer at least 25 feet from natural water bodies.
  • Limit each application to 1 pound total nitrogen per 1,000 square feet (maximum 3 pounds per year).
  • Use zero phosphorus unless a soil test shows a deficiency.

There are lots of ways to have a healthy lawn year-round that do not harm the environment. Want to find out more? Visit Orange County’s Fertilize Responsibly webpage for news and updates.  
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Receive More News From EPD
Photo of EPD building
Would you like to learn more about the Orange County Environmental Protection Division (EPD)? EPD is excited to share a variety of information about events, sustainability, the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge, regulatory updates, lake management, water quality and more! If you would like to be included on the email list, please fill out this brief sign-up form.
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
Volunteers labeling storm drain inlet
Storm Drain Labeling
Spearhead a storm drain labeling project in your community. Orange County eVIP provides all the supplies, a one-hour training session and the support to create an enjoyable and meaningful service project for your group. Please help us keep our surface water clean and our storm drains functioning properly. This is a great project for scout groups! 
EnviroScape Training Workshop
Learn how to use the EnviroScape Model to provide fun, hands-on watershed education presentations to youth in Orange County. Are you an educator? Once trained, classroom teachers and youth group leaders can also "check out" our education materials. One-on-one trainings can be arranged to accommodate your schedule.
Internship Program
To learn more about the program, send an email stating your interest. Internships are competitive and applications are accepted year-round. Students can earn service hours, college credit and meaningful work experience. Interns who complete a three-month unpaid internship are eligible to apply for paid internships as available.
LAKEWATCH Logo
Orange County Water-Quality Monitoring
Orange County partners with the UF/IFAS LAKEWATCH program to provide volunteers with training and equipment for water-quality testing on local lakes. Volunteers need lake access, a few hours each month to collect samples, transportation to deliver samples, a canoe or watercraft and a one-year-plus commitment to sampling. 
In-School, After-School and Summer Camp Presentations
Teachers and youth group leaders interested in watershed education can request EnviroScape presentations for their students. Presentations are approximately 25 minutes long and are scheduled throughout the academic year and summer months as schedule permits.
Community
Cleanup Kit
Is your group looking for an environmental project? eVIP has a new kit that helps individuals lead a cleanup and assist in keeping Orange County free of pollution. eVIP provides the supplies, training and support. The project is a good fit for volunteers of all ages and groups of all sizes. Educational materials will be provided as requested. 
Thank you for your interest!
If you would like more information on any of the opportunities listed above,
please contact the Orange County Environmental Protection Division Volunteer Coordinator 
Carrie Mohanna at [email protected] or 321-689-8232.
Orange County Environmental Protection Division
407-836-1430 | Cell 321-689-8232 | Fax 407-836-1499
3165 McCrory Place, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32803

Serving our community by conserving, protecting and enhancing the environment for current and future generations.
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