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Drainage Issue Studied

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By LAURA KINSLER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 5, 2007

NORTH TAMPA - When Hurricane Frances dumped 8 inches of rain in 2004, much of North Tampa was underwater. But it doesn't take a hurricane to flood the neighborhoods between Fowler Avenue and Busch Boulevard.

Any intense summer downpour, such as the one in July 2006 that dropped 6 inches of rain in an hour, can cause neighborhood ponds to overflow.

'They constantly have standing water in their yards and streets,' Tampa Stormwater Department Director Chuck Walter said. 'If we can take care of this problem, it will really improve the quality of life in these neighborhoods.'

The reason is one of simple geography. An old shoreline ridge, formed when much of Florida was still underwater, left a hill that extends along the entire area just north of Busch Boulevard. The hill prevents rainwater from draining into the Hillsborough River.

Instead, it collects in retention ponds. Most of the drainage ponds in North Tampa started out as natural sinkholes that fill with stormwater and eventually drain into the aquifer, Walter explained. But it takes six hours for water to filter south to the underground spring that eventually merges with the river.

The city has contracted with URS Corp. to study ways to improve drainage in the neighborhoods between Interstate 275 and 22nd Street. Tampa and Hillsborough County already are spending more than $8 million on upgrades to the Duck Pond system, which includes three city ponds between 22nd and 30th Streets.

The URS study also will look at ways to treat the stormwater to make it cleaner once it reaches the river. One option may be to connect the system to existing stormwater lines adjacent to Interstate 275. But engineers don't want to divert all the stormwater because they need to maintain enough water in the aquifer to continue feeding Sulphur Springs.

The study will cost $180,369 and should take about six months. There is no timeline for construction.

'The construction is going to be in the many millions of dollars,' Walter said. 'That's money we don't have. But once we do the study, we'll be eligible to apply for all kinds of state and federal grants.'

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 865-4844 or lkinsler@tampatrib.com.

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