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Task Force Floats Ideas About River

Jim Reed/Tampa Tribune

Jack Westberry points out items of interest on the Hillsborough River in Temple Terrace. Members of the all-volunteer Temple Terrace River Watch Task Force took a boat ride on the river Tuesday in an effort to see what improvements need to be made to increase water levels in the Temple Terrace community

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By PAUL CATALA, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 21, 2007

TEMPLE TERRACE - Since April, members of a new city committee have discussed issues affecting the Hillsborough River within the confines of a meeting room.

That all changed Nov. 13, when members of the Temple Terrace River Watch Task Force ventured out onto the waterway to get firsthand views of the Hillsborough, primarily to observe and discuss the river's health, particularly its "middle section," which includes Temple Terrace.

Departing from the Rotary Park boat launch, task force member Jack Westberry guided a pontoon boat on the 16-mile, round-trip excursion.

Among those onboard were Joe Gross, city code compliance director; Frank Chillura, city councilman and task force chairman; and Carl Avari-Cooper, Temple Terrace's marine patrol officer.

After heading north toward Trout Creek to see Structure 155, one of the primary water control structures for the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area, and a lunch break, the pontoon boat headed south from Florida College. As the boat glided along under clear skies, Chillura said the idea behind the trip was to give task force members better familiarity with the middle section of the river.

"It's good for everyone to get a visual of what we've been discussing. Although it's a beautiful day to enjoy the ride, this is also an educational field trip," he said.

In addition to Chillura, the task force consists of Avari-Cooper and Temple Terrace residents Terry McMahon, Ronald Smith, Robert Collins Jr. and Westberry. Also onboard was Sobeida LaBlanc, city clerk's office legislative secretary.

Chillura said one of the primary reasons for the task force is to ensure that Temple Terrace has a voice in the management of the river in areas that run through the city.

The boat continued south toward Harney Canal and to the Tampa Bypass Canal, a 14-mile-long waterway that is operated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. When heavy rains are expected, water from the river is directed into the canal and down to McKay Bay, protecting homes and businesses in Temple Terrace and Tampa from flooding.

Plans call for diverting water from the bypass canal to supplement Tampa's water supply. Tampa, which uses about 82 million gallons of river water per day, and Swiftmud are in the process of getting money approved for the project, slated to begin in 2013.

Chillura said the process would interrupt the river's natural flow.

"The river is a great asset to the city and we want to do all we can to preserve its natural state," he said.

From there, the pontoon boat headed toward the 56th Street bridge and the dam at Rowlett Park, downstream from Temple Terrace. The group had planned to look at water levels there, but a thick wall of water hyacinths prevented the boat from getting there.

As Westberry steered the boat back toward Florida College and Rotary Park, McMahon said the day on the river was time well-spent. He said it brought a lot of issues to light.

"We got to see things we've discussed. I had never seen the headwaters of the bypass canal, which I found enlightening," he said. "Hopefully, this will lead to preserving the natural qualities of the river."

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