TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

City Backs Delay On River Rule

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOYCE McKENZIE

jmckenzie@tampatrib.com

Published: March 25, 2009

TEMPLE TERRACE - No matter how small its numbers or its relative strength, the Temple Terrace River Watch Task Force isn't willing to concede to the wishes of the Southwest Florida Water Management District's governing board.

The board had accepted a one-month delay in voting on a rule change that would set no minimum water level in the middle part of the Hillsborough River. On March 17, task force Chairman Ron Smith went before the Temple Terrace City Council to ask for another extension, this time for six months. The city council approved Smith's proposal and asked City Manager Kim Leinbach to send a letter to Swiftmud director David Moore requesting the board's approval.

The part of the river in question is a segment Swiftmud defines as the area from Tampa Dam north about 12 miles to the bridge at Fletcher Avenue. It includes portions of the Harney Canal and Cow House Creek in Temple Terrace. Until recently, Swiftmud generally referred to it as a reservoir, much to the chagrin of the task force members.

Swiftmud's proposed rule revision came as a result of its findings during a seven-month study of the middle river. That data was compiled into a 256-page document distributed at a Feb. 16 task force meeting. The governing board will meet again Tuesday.
Swiftmud said the study aided district officials to determine that the middle river should not be subject to a minimum water level. They contend it is similar to other bodies of water in the state where water is held for supply purposes and that the rise and fall of water levels simply reflect rainfall patterns. State law prohibits setting a minimum level in all its reservoirs.

"The study is a 1-inch-thick draft of data, graphs and verbiage. It's very complicated," Smith said. "We feel we need that extra time to fully digest the information in the study, and our attorney Dan Fernandez is in agreement with us.

"We asked for a study, and as a result of that study, the rules are even harsher than they were before," he said.

Smith said the task force has no intention of suing Swiftmud about the issue.

"I don't want to stand before you and ask for a six-figure dollar amount to use for litigation," he said.

"Why not?" said Councilman Mark Knapp.

The river "is the most important natural asset in the city of Temple Terrace," he said. "I just want them to take us serious. And if they don't take us serious, we are willing to go into litigation. It is not acceptable."

Mayor Joe Affronti said there were several people at last month's meeting who supported the rule change.

"The big concern they have is that if we get into a drought situation they don't want to jeopardize Tampa getting water from the river," he said. "I was thinking about asking them if they could set a minimum level unless it reached a stage 3 or stage 4, serious drought situations."

Smith acknowledged the task force discussed that as an option if Swiftmud opposes the delay request and moves forward during the Tuesday governing board meeting to approve the proposed rule change.

"If they don't grant us the extension, we probably will not pursue the minimum flow approach," he said. "Instead, we'd probably go more toward reclaimed water."

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT