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Costs of dredging accumulate

Like the mucky brew that clogs the county's 61 miles of canals, who will pay the bill to clear them is murky.

By LETITIA STEIN
Published April 28, 2005

TAMPA - Backyard canals turn into sand shoals at low tide. Boat owners plan excursions around the few hours that water is deep enough to get beyond the dock.

All along Hillsborough County's waterfront, residents are complaining that accumulated muck is turning their canals into expensive sandbars. Still, commissioners are balking at the cost of a fix, with dredging countywide estimated to cost as much as $72-million.

And the problem is worsening rapidly.

"Within a year, I won't be living on the water anymore," said John Kuperus, 56. He has a two-hour window when the water is deep enough to take out the 21-foot powerboat docked behind his home on a canal in the Sweetwater subdivision in northwest Hillsborough.

Under pressure from residents, commissioners agreed on Wednesday to begin looking into a messy issue.

From Town 'N Country to Apollo Beach, the unincorporated county has 194 canals stretching for 61 miles. Stormwater drainage may be a factor, but county officials are reluctant to pick up the tab. Waterfront property owners don't want to pay extra taxes.

But no one can deny the problem.

"The quality of life in Hillsborough County is directly impacted by the quality of our canals," Commissioner Mark Sharpe said. "If this were to continue, we're going to see an impact on property values and that will impact the revenue that comes into our government."

None of the options on the table are likely to bring quick results. The county's staff has drafted a pilot project at the Master Canal in Apollo Beach. The staff estimates it would cost $820,000 to dredge 3,750 feet there. To fund the work, the staff has proposed that 74 property owners along the canal pay an additional $1,375 in taxes each year for 20 years.

Even if residents agree to the taxes, the shortest time line would see work finished in August 2007. In a worst-case scenario, work would not be completed until August 2009.

That's one canal in Apollo Beach. In a preliminary estimate, dredging countywide could cost as much as $72-million, said Scott Cottrell, the county's director of engineering services.

But those living on canals say they already pay a premium in property taxes - and this isn't just their problem.

"It's not just about having boats. It's about cleaning up our waterways," said Marianne Cufone, an environmental lawyer for Save Our Canals, an organization representing about 4,500 homes in northwest Hillsborough County. "Water pollution is a public problem."

Save Our Canals wants the county to look into funding the effort by selling the material dredged from the bottom of the canal as fill. The year-old group is willing to consider dredging on a rotating basis. But it wants the county to provide long-term maintenance.

The city of Tampa is dealing with similar problems in 27 canals near West Shore Boulevard and Davis Islands. The city expects to receive a $1.2-million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, but must come up with 45 percent in matching funds. Officials have not yet determined whether the money would come from special taxes or other sources.

Hillsborough commissioners were eager to look into grant opportunities. They discussed paying only for sediment buildup resulting from the county's stormwater drainage system. Ultimately, commissioners determined that they had more questions than answers, such as possible uses of the sediment removed from canals and the long-term financial burden.

They did not set a time line for a study or resolving the issue.

Letitia Stein can be reached at 813 661-2443 or lstein@sptimes.com

[Last modified April 28, 2005, 01:17:11]