Subject: USF Engineering student seeking USDA Grant for Aquarium Study- - ERRWeaver

Subject: USF Engineering student seeking USDA Grant for Aquarium Study- - ERRWeaver

This is complete disclosure, as the grant is due July 16^th and I welcome your insight, directions, suggestions, or comments to complete this. Mahmood H. Nachabe is my Major Professor and has agreed to be the PI, as he has previously been funded by this USDA Program.

In 1989, after the Aquarium was built, a Nonpoint Source Management Program grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) funded the Stormwater/Nonpoint Source Management Section of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Water Management District to complete the detailed data collection of stormwater from the parking lot. Data collection continued until 2005.

My dissertation work is compiling this data into the EPA Stormwater Management Model to simulate similar applications leading to support Urban Agriculture (UA). When I contacted the Aquarium about this project, I met with the Horticulture Curator who helped with the original research. She is interested in restoring the original sampling equipment and associated weather station to collect new data from the parking lot to support further research and community education.

To support this, I am preparing an application to the National Institute of Food And Agriculture; U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants: Program Water for Agriculture Challenge Area (attached PDF). This work will include five primary efforts:

1. Establish new SWMM simulations science to define non-point pollution reductions through swale plantings and similar filtration BMP/LID technologies.
2. Install sampling equipment for small UA installation to use stormwater runoff resulting from established filtration technologies for food irrigation.
3. Collect and analyze food produce derived from UA installation to determine suitability for human consumption.
4. Conduct three community engagement workshops to present results and create community support to establish UA guidelines for non-point pollution reductions in Tampa Bay neighborhoods.
5. Prepare graduate course case study data to support a new course, possibly to add to Entrepreneurship MS or Global Sustainability MA degrees.

To support these numbered items above, these corresponding efforts are in process:

1. XP Solutions Inc. has provided a student license for their $14,000 XPSWMM software. The existing data has been compiled and I am completing the first simulations and sensitivity analysis now. A publication will be submitted for journal review this summer. This grant would include a request for license extension, as in-kind support.

2. Locher Environmental Technology provided an estimate for restoring the sampling equipment and weather station: $68,000. = 60-Water new event samples for analysis.

• Dr. Rama Raje Urs supportive partner - project plan and USDA requirements
• Florida Aquarium supportive partners - primary site location

3. Collect and analyze food produce derived from UA installation to determine suitability for human consumption = 60-Water and 54-tomatoes analysis samples

• Jill Roberts supportive partner - produce microbial analysis
• Marie Bourgeois supportive partner - produce toxicity analysis
• Zachary Atlas supportive partner - water toxicity analysis
• George Philippidis supportive partner - water nutrient analysis

4. Conduct three community engagement workshops to present results and create community support to establish UA guidelines for non-point pollution reductions in Tampa Bay neighborhoods.

• Jennifer Marshall supportive partner - workshops, stakeholder analysis
• Others participants include R. Craig Lefebvre

5. Prepare graduate course case study data to support for the The Social Entrepreneur pilot course new course, possibly to add to Entrepreneurship MS or Global Sustainability MA degrees.

• Dean Petersen, Joseph W. Dorsey supportive partners - graduate course development.

As noted above I welcome your guidance and recommendations for completing this process. I believe having the College’s of Engineering, Public Health, and Global Sustainability as collaborators with the Aquarium will be a significant partnership. Further, both Hillsborough County and The City of Tampa use SWMM for stormwater infrastructure analysis.

Thank you in advance for your time considering this. I welcome any suggestions, and will telephone you Tuesday morning to meet and discuss at your convenience.

Regards,

Eric

Eric R.R. Weaver
Civil Engineer Doctorate Candidate
PCGS Research Associate
 

http://eweaver.myweb.usf.edu/

(813) 974-8337

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,

committed citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. --Margaret Mead--

Making Tampa More Walkable

Subject: Florida Crossroads / The Estuary Project

Hi,

I saw this article about your interests in making Tampa More Walkable.  I was the geek behind the scenes that moved Deleney Creek for this Job years ago.  Now, I retired and went back to school, as a USF Student again.

The Tampa City Council reviewed $9 billion planned on the Tampa Bay Express project.  This is a waste of money and many community neighborhoods are fighting it, including The Heights and Old Seminole Heights.

What about a Moving Sidewalk?  Imagine if downtown was car free, and new parking towers near the interstate provided valets and direct access to a continuous walking loop around downtown.  Let’s propose to Hillsborough County to use the MOSI site as a Research Park.  Build a real recycling center (they need a new transfer station anyway) and test a real moving sidewalk system that recycles/cleans water by moving people.

WE CAN DO THIS NOW.  Put the MOSI Property into a 501c3 that owns all the Patent Rights we develop.  We lease land for USF for their new Stadium, add Sundome Inc. and Lightning Inc. to STARS USA Inc.  We build a tower parking garage for USF students and a moving sidewalk over Fowler.  It would be a perfect demonstration project before you build one downtown.  Temple Terrace will want a loop too.

Then Tampa and Hillsborough County would have the Community demanding the $9 Billions of transit funds build more mass transit instead of express lanes.

Regards,

Eric

Eric R.R. Weaver
Civil Engineer Doctorate Candidate
PCGS Research Associate

http://eweaver.myweb.usf.edu/

(813) 974-8337

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,

committed citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. --Margaret Mead--

RE: Fw: [Patel College] House Shopping

Now here's one I wouldn't miss: 3005 E Waters AveTampa, FL 33604.  It's for Sale by Owner and only has had the sign out front for a few days.  Maybe 3 miles from USF, as I pass it every day and ride about 5 miles total.  It's on the river, but a good 20 feet above the high water mark on a ridge.   A half-acre with a boat ramp and dock.   Big Oak trees and everything.

This one is owned by a bank and still empty:

2819 E Waters Ave Tampa, FL 33604, so nearly ½ price, just like this one:

7308 Park Dr Tampa, FL 33610, is in foreclosure, but look at the river view!

Opps, 10am time for me to get to work!

Enjoy

eric

House Shopping

I have received hundreds of questions about purchasing a house in Tampa.  While working for Hillsborough County I inspected a lot of them and reviewed construction plans for sub-division permitting.  The biggest issues I found:

1. Flooding
2. Cheap construction

For flooding in Florida, the design and permitting only REQUIRES that the road is “passible” during a flood.  This means that with the worst 100-year storm that there is a 20’ passing lane for fire trucks when the area floods.  Thus, never consider property where the front door step or yard is LOWER than the road.  Often this will occur when there is a wetland or conservation property behind the lot.  These areas are designed to retain the flood stage.  They do have a pop-off, however the permitting laws only require the flood stage is reduced within 24 hours, AFTER everything floods.

Cheap construction include composite materials off-gassing formaldehyde and Chinese wallboard.  Many subdivisions filled with the exact same houses are mass produced with inferior products.  This results in leaky roofs, defective appliances, and a multitude of repair costs.  Thus, when shopping in Florida, I personally would not look at any home less than 10 years old (1930-1980 is best).  I prefer the older construction since these homes were built by competent contractors, not minimum wage laborers found building today.  Either way be sure to hire a private inspector, beyond the inspections paid for by the mortgage company.

Searching for a house can be a challenge too.  Having the right tools can save hours:

1.       Start with Google maps

a.       Type in a street intersection: Waters Ave and 28^th Street https://maps.google.com/maps?q=waters+ave+and+28th+street+tampa&ie=UTF-8&ei=I5qfUbuTLo2m8ATFnYCADw&sqi=2&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAg

b.      Get into the street view and check out the house and neighborhood

2.       Go to the Zillow to get an idea about prices

a.       Start with the whole neighborhood here, by entering a zip code

b.      Then get a good look at the neighbors

c.       This works for finding rentals too

3.       Now you are ready to get to business with the County Property Appraisers, click the start link at bottom of the page

a.       This is great, the left margin allows you to look up addresses, the map tools on top gets into the GIS map

b.      Click on the property record on right and you can look at everything

c.       Including the previous sales price, the taxes paid

d.      Square foot for all rooms, construction materials, year built

e.      Key on this listing is the owner: FIRST MORTGAGE CORPORATION OF WINTER HAVEN

f.        THAT means this house is owned by a Bank, so only offer 50% of the asking price.

4.       Usually I open, 1-3 and go back and forth between them to get different views and ideas about a property before visiting it.

a.       IN Florida you can find the McManson next door to the Shack....  many neighbors will come and go.

b.      Buy and house based on actual construction, condition and the neighborhood = Location, Location, Location! 

c.       Be sure to check the schools too, put in an school and check the details

d.      Do you want a store down the street or 20 minutes through traffic?

e.      Neighbors can come and go, check No 3 above to see when they last sold.

Remember the house investment is only good if you can sell it later.  An easy bike ride to school or convenient shops and restaurants are important.  Avoid rental areas and busy streets.  Also know that home owners associations can restrict your property use.  Like Tampa Palms stopped a family from building a child's tree house, while the City of Tampa requires a permit to paint your house or put up a fence.  Course Tampa Palms and many places wont let you put up a fence and will limit the colors to paint your house!!!

If you have any other questions ask me.  I know a great inspector or two and would be happy to get you the flood maps!

Take Care

Eric R. Weaver
Research Associate
Patel College of Global Sustainability
University of South Florida
11710 USF Maple Drive
CGS0101 – Main PointCGS0210 - Location
Tampa, Florida 33620
(813) 974-8337 p
(813) 974-2522 f

http://patel.usf.edu/

http://eweaver.myweb.usf.edu/