Polk Parks and Natural Resources Receives Environmental Stewardship Award

The Polk County Parks and Natural Resources Division has received the 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award from the Southwest District of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The award recognizes local governments for their efforts to protect and enhance the region's natural environment.

"This recognition is a testament to the hard work, innovation and passion that the Parks and Natural Resources team brings everyday to protect Polk County's water, wildlife and wild spaces," said Tabitha Biehl, Land and Water Natural Areas Manager for Polk County Parks and Natural Resources. "We are proud to lead efforts to ensure a healthier environment for future generations.

Courtesy Polk County Parks and Natural Resources

Director Kelley Boatwright of the Southwest District of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, second from left, gathered with staff of the Polk County Parks and Natural Resources, including (L to R) Craig Johnson, Brooke Moherek, Eric Eversole, Shayla Bradford, and Greg Knothe, to celebrate the recognition the work received from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Key accomplishments of the Parks and Natural Resources division include:

• Implementing a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, which minimizes and prevents water pollution through both regulatory action and public outreach.

• Maintaining a water quality database, in coordination with the University of South Florida Water Institute, City of Lakeland and the City of Winter Haven.

• Leading a successful land acquisition and stormwater restoration program, which has conserved more than 2,300 acres of land in Polk County since 2022.

Courtesy Polk County Parks and Natural Resources

A framed plaque recognizes the efforts of Polk County staff in the areas of natural resource protection.

• Development of management programs that use innovative technologies, such as drone-assisted invasive species control, "waste sharks" for stormwater and pond cleanup and remote sensing to detect and treat harmful algal blooms.

• An environmental education program that reached more than 3,000 students in 2024, providing hands on environmental experiences for kids at places such as Circle B Bar Reserve.