Join Us for a Milestone Event: Statewide Expansion Ribbon-Cutting of Adopt a Watergoat Program!

We are delighted to share a momentous achievement with our esteemed network—Water Warrior Alliance is expanding the Adopt a Watergoat Program statewide! This initiative, meticulously designed to combat marine debris and foster community engagement, has achieved remarkable success, and we owe it all to your unwavering support.

Program Overview:

The Adopt a Watergoat Program, led by Water Warrior Alliance, is a comprehensive initiative addressing the urgent issue of marine debris in our community's water bodies. This program involves strategic partnerships with key entities like Watergoat, Keep Florida Beautiful, Surfing Evolution, and Preservation Foundation, each playing a pivotal role in its success.

Watergoat, a specialized device manufacturer, collaborates to tailor solutions for specific locations, ensuring optimal effectiveness. Keep Florida Beautiful and its affiliates provide valuable support for adoption groups, while Surfing Evolution and Preservation Foundation contribute annual funding, bolstering the program's capacity for effective debris collection.

Water Warrior Alliance takes a hands-on role in facilitating comprehensive training programs for adoption groups. This training covers a range of aspects, from how to independently host, set up, and advertise for Cleanups to conducting an EPA Escaped Trash Analysis Protocol. The program emphasizes community engagement, actively teaching adoption groups how to run Cleanups efficiently and report their findings.

In addition to training, Water Warrior Alliance provides ongoing support for adoption groups. This support includes sustainable cleanup supplies sponsored by Green Poly Stream2Sea and Mother Kombucha. An online communal platform is established to foster resource-sharing among adoption groups and utilize a database for advertising their Cleanups, creating a collaborative community of environmental stewards.

This project serves as a community engagement initiative, with Water Warrior Alliance assisting in identifying locations. The organization conducts thorough evaluations, suggesting areas based on stormwater drain outfall schematics to identify the highest volume outfalls. This strategic approach ensures the ideal placement of adopted Watergoat devices, maximizing their impact on mitigating marine debris and actively involving the community in the process.

Moreover, each adoption group is bound by a two-year contract, adhering to specific guidelines. Groups must mention and tag all stakeholder sponsors and partners involved in the project in their email campaigns, press releases, and on social media. Utilizing platforms like PhotoCircle and the Adopt a Watergoat website is mandatory for resource sharing, while digital reporting of cleanup data, adherence to the EPA protocol, and monthly device cleaning are essential components that adoption groups must consistently follow, with non-compliance resulting in charges to their device. This contractual framework ensures a unified and responsible approach across all participating groups.

Statewide Expansion Ribbon-Cutting:

To commemorate this achievement, we invite you to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the statewide expansion of the Adopt a Watergoat Program. Join us at Bear Creek Park in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Thursday, January 18, at 4:30 PM. This event marks a pivotal moment in our collective efforts to preserve the environment and strengthen community bonds.

Event Details:

- Date: Thursday, January 18

- Time: 4:30 PM

- Location: Bear Creek Park, St. Petersburg, Florida

We are eager to celebrate this achievement with you and express our gratitude for your continuous support. Your presence at the ribbon-cutting would mean the world to us.

Please RSVP online at [adoptawatergoat.org](https://adoptawatergoat.org) if you plan to attend or have any questions. Let's come together to witness and celebrate the statewide expansion of the Adopt a Watergoat Program.

Thank you for being an integral part of our mission to create a cleaner, healthier environment.