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FYN Objectives The FYN' goal for this project is to improve the water quality of the Indian River Lagoon through homeowner participation in implementing FYN best management practices . The specific objectives for this project include : • Encourage adoption of environmental landscape maintenance (ELM) practices designed to reduce non-point source pollution; • Provide teelmical support to homeowners and landscapers that wish to install or retrofit landscapes using ELM best management practices to reduce non-point source pollution; • Enhancement of the FYN program for residents in this area that will teach ELM techniques that can reduce the impact of stormwater runoff, implicated as a significant source of non-point source pollution entering the Indian River Lagoon; • Training of local landscapers living in this area who provide landscape maintenance services to all county residents through the FYN Commercial Landscape Industry Program (FYN/CLIP) ; and • Evaluate the adoption of ELM practices by pre/post surveys of program participants and on-site inspection of practice adoption through a Florida Yard Certification process . Assessment of voluntary practice adoption patterns will allow the OF/IFAS Cooperative Extension Service and other educators to target ELM practices that have significant impacts on non-point source pollution. FYN Program Implementation in the East Gifford Area The local Indian River County Extension Service will provide educational seminars at the Gifford community center and other nearby community facilities to teach residents about the principles of FYN Program and the innovative BMP's that will reduce non-point source pollution entering the Indian River Lagoon from the East Gifford project area. Residents will be offered the opportunity to participate in the Florida Yard Certification program. A number of these local residents are involved as landscape maintenance professional that work throughout the county. These professionals will be provided training through the FYN Commercial Landscape Industry Program (FYN/CLIP) to reinforce practice adoption within and outside the East Gifford area, will be provided training to obtain or renew licenses and certifications common to the profession, and will be invited to be included on a list of service FYN service providers that is distributed to local property owners . Coordination with a local community gardening project conducted by Master Gardeners will also provide opportunities to teach local residents about FYN practices. According to the Indian River County Tax Assessor, there are currently 125 single-family homes in the East Gifford project area. With a limited amount of new growth, the projected maximum number of single-family homes in the area will be approximately 150 residences upon build out. Additionally, 9+ acres of commercial property will eventually be developed. The IFAS office will supply FYN Handbooks and FYN Workbooks for use by these residents. Additional localized fact sheets about the East Gifford project will be produced and appropriate teaching methods will be developed and used to teach FYN Best Management Practices in manners best suited to the local situation. ELM practices to be targeted in this project will focus on the following subjects : ( 1 ) irrigation efficiency, (2) yard waste minimization, (3) the appropriate application of mulch, (4) encouraging wildlife through habitat enhancements in the landscape, (5) use of integrated pest management as the appropriate method of pest control , (6) proper landscape plant selection and installation, (7) management of stormwater runoff on the landscape, (8) adoption of recommended University of Florida landscape fertilization practices, and (9) waterfront property management techniques . Forty ELM practices have been identified by the University of Florida ' s Environmental Horticulture Department as Best Management Practices suitable for Florida Yards. These practices are listed in the Florida Yardstick Workbook and FYN Handbook that will be distributed as an informational piece to program participants . Critical practices to be encouraged through the educational program that will address non-point source pollution (NPSP) reduction in the Indian River Lagoon include but are not limited to the following practices : REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK DEP Agreement No. WM836, Attachment A- I , Page 8 of 11