While residents of Bowie appreciate the beauty, privacy and shade provided by trees, the City’s tree rebate program yielded only 50 trees planted during the inaugural year (FY14). That number dropped to 27 in FY15 and just 9 in FY16. Similarly, after a 2010 tree pruning and clearing project by the local utility, replacement tree vouchers provided by the company were redeemed for only 20% of the approximately 3,000 eligible trees (greater than 8” dbh). We conducted a barriers and benefits analysis (Phase I), and took that information to create outreach materials aimed at increasing the number of tree rebates redeemed. Our Positioning Statement was: We want Bowie homeowners in areas of low-to-medium UTC to see planting trees on their property as an easy, low-time commitment, valuable action they can take for themselves and for their community, and be moticated to and take the action of planting trees on their property.

Through the Clean Lawn Care program development, WSA worked with both lawn care companies and Certified Master Watershed Stewards to collaboratively create a Clean Lawn Care regime aiming to reduce fertilizer and pesticide use on lawns that are maintained by contractors. We also developed a number of tools to assist both target audiences: Lawn Care Companies and Homeowners who use lawn care companies to maintain their yards for services beyond mowing. Once the regime and tools were developed, we conducted additional research with both of our target audiences, revised tools and recruited companies to offer clean lawn care services. In preparation for the mini-pilot, we trained 7 lawn care companies in the Clean Lawn Care protocols and solidified their partnership with WSA to offer Clean Lawn Care through a Company User Agreement.

The goal of this project was to change the littering behavior of residents in Forest Heights, Maryland and the surrounding communities to create a Trash Free Community. Utilizing extensive research, AFF has developed a littler prevention campaign which consists of a compelling message, visuals, and outreach tools to trigger behavior change and encourage engagement of residents. Through experiences in Deanwood in the District of Columbia, AFF has learned that it is necessary to engage residents through activities they are already participating in, specifically by finding a central location in the community where many residents are already participating in activities. Other key lessons learned were to listen to the issues of the community, have large visuals on display, and have ways for engaged citizens to get involved.