The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday concurred with an executive order issued earlier this month allowing Tampa Bay Water to augment the Hillsborough River Reservoir with water from the middle pool of the Tampa Bypass Canal.
The Hillsborough River Reservoir is the City of Tampa’s main resource for providing potable water to approximately 520,000 residents. As of May 4, the reservoir was at 18.5 feet, a level that is normally not reached until late May.
Tampa Bay Water officials requested emergency action to allow the agency to continue to supply Tampa with water from the canal to meet the city’s anticipated needs from May through July.
In response to Tampa Bay Water’s request, the District’s Executive Director David Moore issued the executive order on May 11. The order authorizes Tampa Bay Water to draw down the middle pool to 10 feet. Under normal conditions, the District is required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to maintain the middle pool at or above 12 feet. The corps approved this temporary change.
This emergency action is similar to relief provided in 2000 during a critical drought event. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the District is experiencing abnormally dry conditions.
The executive order shall remain in effect until July 31.