Northpinellas: Veto won't stop dredge plan

CLEARWATER -- Lorraine Basore used to go down to her dock on Stevenson Creek estuary and see mussels lining the banks, water plants waving in the tide and boats skimming by.

But smelly muck has invaded Stevenson Creek estuary over the years, as rainwater carries silt, oil and other pollutants into the creek and on downstream.

The estuary's mussels and plants are gone, and boats can maneuver only at high tide.

The most remarkable thing Basore has seen in the estuary lately is her husband. Sinking.

Basore said that her husband, William, walked into the estuary about a year ago to collect some of the muck to show to local officials.

"At first I thought he was kidding," Lorraine Basore said. "When he turned around to walk out, he started to sink, and sank up almost up to his chest."

William Basore had to be rescued by firefighters. The episode further cemented the Basores' belief that the estuary needs high-tech help as well.

Last week, Gov. Jeb Bush vetoed $1-million of state money that would have helped fund the city's $11-million plan to dredge the estuary and cut down on flooding, erosion and pollution in the watershed that drains into it.

The move left residents worried about whether help will ever come.

"I think I need to send (Bush) a bucket of muck," Lorraine Basore joked. "I've been on the creek for 10 years, and it's gotten worse every year."

But city officials say that, while they're disappointed by the veto, they're moving ahead with the overall plan.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is continuing to work on plans to dredge the estuary. The corps hopes to start that work sometime next year, said project manager Stan Kinmonth.

The corps has $2-million budgeted for the dredging, and the city must match that with about $1-million. The state money could have been used for the match, but the city will apply for the money again, and will use other funds if it needs to, said city engineer Mike Quillen.

Kinmonth said he doesn't expect the veto to slow down the dredging.

"The loss could slow down their efforts on some other projects (in the watershed)," Kinmonth said.

But Quillen hopes that won't happen. The city will ask the state for the $1-million again next year, and officials hope it will escape the veto pen then.

"We don't think we got hurt too bad if the money comes the year after this," Quillen said.

The 6,000-acre creek watershed runs from Largo through Clearwater and into Dunedin. Creek branches flow into the 45-acre estuary, which drains into Clearwater Harbor.

If the city can't get the money from the state, city officials will apply for other grants, or delay some watershed work until the city can pay for it.

The city has received about $4.5-million in state and federal funds, including the $2-million from the corps, and has approved over $2-million of city money to work on the project. Next month, commissioners are expected to approve another $1.5-million.

In August, the city expects to complete a plan that gives priority rankings and cost estimates for specific watershed projects. Those include stopping erosion on the upper creek banks, building retention ponds in the southern end of the watershed to control flooding and creating wetlands to improve water quality.

On the south side of the estuary, 70-year-old Abraham Miller stood in his back yard, hot even under the shade of his oak trees, and pointed out how high estuary floodwaters have climbed into his yard. Although officials say dredging the estuary won't lessen the risk of tidal floods, Miller still thinks it would lessen the risk to his home.

His yard sloped gently into the estuary, where a few egrets waded in the shallow water. Long mud flats rose out of the water, curving around the banks.

"It needs to be dredged out," Miller sighed. "It's disheartening."

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