The Southwest Florida Water Management District is working with the City of Safety Harbor on a project that will reduce erosion within the Harbor Woods Village subdivision and improve water quality in Tampa Bay.
During the last 25 years, Bishop Creek has eroded outside the established easement and is encroaching onto adjoining residential properties. Eroded sediment from the banks is being washed downstream and is eventually deposited into Tampa Bay.
The Harbor Woods Village Erosion Improvement project involves widening and restoring a portion of Bishop Creek within the existing easement using gabion walls and cellular concrete block with plantings. Gabion walls are heavy-duty wire baskets filled with stones. The basket size is usually 3 feet wide, 1 to 2 feet high and 6 feet long. Cellular concrete is cast concrete with a hole in it, like a large donut. The “donut hole” is filled with soil so grass can grow. These two installations will help reduce the velocity of the water in the creek. Reducing the velocity reduces the energy of the water, which lessens the opportunity for soil to erode. Constructing this project will also help stabilize adjoining pools, foundations, fences and trees.
This project is a cooperatively funded effort between the City of Safety Harbor and the Districts Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board. The total estimated cost of this project is $400,000, with each partner contributing up to $200,000.
The city will be responsible for hiring the contractors, with the District project manager’s approval on any agreements. The project is expected to be complete by December 2007.