Parties agree on plan to save river

Tampa and Swiftmud will spend millions to add water to lower Hillsborough River.

By JANET ZINK, Times Staff Writer
Published August 22, 2007

TAMPA - Environmental advocates began fighting more than seven years ago to bring fresh water to the ailing lower Hillsborough River.

Now, their battle may be over, and they are hailing the new proposal as the river's deliverance.

"The river has been saved from death," said John Ovink, a founder of Friends of the River, which sued to bolster the river's fresh water supply in the part that flows through urban Tampa.

A plan for adding more fresh water to the river has been agreed upon by the city of Tampa and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, commonly known as Swiftmud.

The district has also addressed concerns of Tampa Bay Water, the region's water supplier, which worried that plans to help the river would hurt its ability to provide drinking water to customers. The utility's board on Monday voted unanimously in favor of the new strategy.

"After years of studies, after months and months of working through with all the stakeholders, it appears that all the parties are going to be supportive of staff's recommendation to the board," said Dave Moore, executive director of Swiftmud.

Swiftmud's board is scheduled to vote on the proposal at its meeting Tuesday.

Plans call for first taking water from the Tampa Bypass Canal and Sulphur Springs and adding it to the lower river.

Next, water will be pumped from springs in north Tampa and around Morris Bridge Road and using it to supplement the river.

And finally, if necessary, a pipe will be built from the Tampa Bypass Canal to the Hillsborough River to save water lost to evaporation and leaks in the current system.

The total cost for all the projects could reach $46-million, Moore said. But the pipeline, which will cost $26-million, might not be necessary because the other options may provide all the water necessary.

Times staff writer Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or 813 226-3401.

[Last modified August 22, 2007, 00:10:54]