Agencies Clear Path For River Cleanup

By MIKE SALINERO The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jun 13, 2007

TAMPA - State and local governments now have a plan to clean up bacterial pollution in the lower Hillsborough River and five creek segments in northern and eastern Hillsborough County.

Called a basin management action plan, the cleanup blueprint has been more than a year in the making. It lists concrete actions to slow the flow of fecal coliform bacteria, which comes from human and animal waste, into local waters.

The plan includes dozens of projects, including stormwater treatment, septic system upgrades and repairs to Tampa's aging sewer system. Farms and ranches in the drainage areas around the six water bodies are signing agreements to keep cattle away from the streams and to limit animal waste runoff.

Local governments will have to agree to the projects by September, after which the plan will be adopted by the state Department of Environmental Protection. Once that happens, the plan assumes the force of law, and local governments will be held responsible for slowing the pollution flow.

The Hillsborough River is considered impaired because it is polluted with bacteria and nutrients and is low on dissolved oxygen. The current plan addresses only the bacteria.

The river's watershed is one of the first areas in the state to get a basin management plan. Phil Compton of the Friends of the River environmental group said he welcomes the plan but thinks more needs to be done.

"It affects only one aspect of impairment," Compton said, "but that's the one that directly affects the public safety and health. If we can make our rivers and streams safer, that's a great thing to do."

A few of the projects could be delayed by property tax rollback plans being contemplated by the state Legislature. Chuck Walter, Tampa's stormwater director, said drastic revenue cuts probably would cancel planned projects to clean runoff into the Hillsborough River from downtown Tampa.

"They will all be on the chopping block," Walter said.

Revenue Cuts Would Be A Factor

Some Hillsborough County stormwater treatment projects also would be delayed if there are deep revenue cuts, said David Glicksberg, head of environmental planning for the county stormwater department.

Tom Singleton, head of basin management for DEP's southwest district, said most of the projects to manage fecal coliform pollution already are funded. For instance, Tampa is repairing its sewer system to prevent overflows that end up in the river. Those repairs, which are included in the plan, are funded by stormwater fees, not property taxes.

Projects in the plan that are to be funded by future property taxes could be delayed without penalty, Singleton said.

The waters slated for cleanup are in the Hillsborough River's watershed. In addition to the lower 10 miles of the river, the plan addresses Blackwater Creek in northern Hillsborough County, New River in southern Pasco and northern Hillsborough counties, Baker Creek in north-central Hillsborough County, Spartman Branch in north-central Hillsborough County and Plant City and Flint Creek in north-central Hillsborough County.

The six streams are among hundreds the DEP has listed as impaired. The agency is required by federal law to set pollution limits for every impaired water body in Florida. The limits are the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can absorb and remain healthy enough to support recreation and wildlife.

In addition to fecal coliform, the six segments are impaired by nutrients and other pollutants as well as low in oxygen levels. Action plans to address other pollutants and additional streams are being developed. Some will be adopted next year, Singleton said.

Plan Was Year In The Making

The basin management plan was developed during the past year by an 89-member work group that includes representatives from government agencies and private groups in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Pasco counties. Group members can suggest further changes to the document through August before they sign letters committing to the cleanup projects in September. The document then goes to the secretary of the state DEP for final approval, probably late this year.

The projects will be included in the city and counties' state stormwater and wastewater discharge permits, which are regulated by the DEP.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com.