The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has activated the Tampa Bypass Canal System due to anticipated heavy rains from Hurricane Milton to help protect the cities of Temple Terrace and Tampa from river flooding.

The District is preemptively closing S-155 on the Hillsborough River before Hurricane Milton makes landfall to decrease freshwater discharge from the river into Tampa Bay during the forecasted historic storm surge and to minimize flood risks from the heavy rainfall predicted to occur during the storm. 

The Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (HFDA) has been activated, and the empty reservoir will begin to fill with floodwaters. This action stops all or part of the flow of the Hillsborough River before it reaches the cities of Temple Terrace and Tampa and that water will be stored in the HFDA. The stored water can then be safely moved down to McKay Bay using the Tampa Bypass Canal. The Hillsborough River will still receive a significant amount of water from downstream tributary Cypress Creek and local runoff. 

Earlier today, boat barriers were put in place around the S-155 water control structure, which is located where I-75 crosses the Hillsborough River, restricting navigation in that area. The water control structure is located north of Morris Bridge Road and east of I-75. It can be seen from I-75 as you cross the Hillsborough River.

The Tampa Bypass Canal System, constructed in response to massive flooding caused by Hurricane Donna in 1960, and is made up of three elements: the Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (HFDA) or reservoir, the Tampa Bypass Canal and the Harney Canal. Floodwaters from the Hillsborough River are impounded into the 16,000-acre HFDA. As the reservoir fills with floodwaters from the river and the surrounding 450-square-mile watershed, the flows then enter the 15.7-mile Tampa Bypass Canal, which has five flood control structures located along the canal. The flows are then safely diverted to McKay Bay, protecting the cities of Temple Terrace and Tampa from river flooding.

In addition to providing flood control, the Tampa Bypass Canal also serves as a water supply source to help meet the drinking water needs of the Tampa Bay area. 

For more information on the Tampa Bypass Canal System, visit WaterMatters.org/projects/tampa-bypass-canal-system.

Emergency Operations Center at Level 1 Activation

Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials have raised the activation level of the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 1 as they continue to monitor Hurricane Milton. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities during an emergency weather event. 

The District is evaluating potential impacts from the storm that could occur throughout its 16-county region. District structure operations staff continue to monitor water levels and operate all of the agency’s water-control structures around the clock.

Level 1 activation is utilized when a specific weather situation has developed into an emergency. Level 1 is full activation, and the EOC will:

• Mobilize appropriate District emergency personnel to participate in emergency operations.
• Suspend normal departmental functions throughout the District that might interfere with emergency operations — all others continue.
• Monitor water levels and operate water control structures on water bodies throughout the District’s 16-county area as needed.
• Present daily (or as-needed) situation reports to the state EOC and maintain direct communications with the state and affected county EOCs.
• Ensure current event information is distributed to all District staff.

The EOC also directs District field crews, responds to requests from the state EOC, and provides water resource updates to state and local emergency management agencies, the media and the general public. The District EOC will expand to include additional emergency personnel as the situation demands.

For the most updated information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org.

All Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) offices will close at noon Tuesday, Oct. 8 and will remain closed Wednesday, Oct. 9 and Thursday Oct. 10 due to potential impacts from Hurricane Milton. 

The District anticipates reopening offices Friday, Oct. 11, but will continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Milton to determine if future closings are necessary.

District structure operations staff will continue to monitor water levels and operate all of the agency’s water-control structures around the clock.

For the most updated information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org. 

As a reminder, you can follow along for immediate updates on social media at X.com/SWFWMD.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will close all District-managed campgrounds and properties to include trails and day use areas throughout its 16-county region at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, in anticipation of impacts from Hurricane Milton

For the most updated information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org. 

As a reminder, you can follow along for immediate updates on social media at X.com/SWFWMD.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is releasing as much water out of Lake Tarpon as possible, however anticipated storm surge from Hurricane Milton is expected to overtop the structure. Hurricane Milton is also forecasted to bring heavy rainfall to the region, which Hurricane Helene did not. The storm surge combined with the excessive rain could cause catastrophic flooding all around the lake and the outfall canal. Residents who live in and around Lake Tarpon and the outfall canal should follow local government guidance closely and evacuate if ordered to do so.

District structure operations staff cannot prevent saltwater from the storm surge from entering the freshwater lake and cannot release water from the lake until the storm surge recedes. Once the water levels from the storm surge fall below the lake level, water discharge from the lake will be maximized to return Lake Tarpon to its normal level as soon as possible.

The Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal is one of 84 water-control structures throughout the District’s 16-county area. The three-mile canal extends from the south end of Lake Tarpon and empties into Old Tampa Bay. The structure is designed to prevent salt water from entering Lake Tarpon during under normal conditions and protects the lake’s freshwater ecology.

District structure operations staff will continue to monitor water levels and operate all of the agency’s water-control structures around the clock.

Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) land management staff have completed evaluations of all District-managed campgrounds and properties after Hurricane Helene and all trails and day use areas and the majority of campgrounds throughout its 16-county region are now open to the public. 

However, several campgrounds will remain closed until further notice, including Hampton Tract in Polk County, McNeil primitive campground in Pasco County and the Hooty Point campground in Potts Preserve, located near Inverness. 

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board approved the purchase of the Mattaniah Property, in partnership with Hillsborough County, in the Alafia River Watershed. This 629-acre parcel of land adjoins the Alafia River Reserve, which is in existing District ownership and managed by Polk County, and contains portions of English Creek, Thirty-mile Creek, and the North Prong of the Alafia River in Hillsborough County.

This is the first joint acquisition project with Hillsborough County in approximately 20 years. The county has agreed to assume the management and maintenance costs associated with the Mattaniah Property and the property will be managed consistent with the county’s management plan for the Alafia River Corridor River Preserve.

The Mattaniah Property is approximately 43% uplands with the balance being wetlands. This acquisition meets all four of the District’s Areas of Responsibility, which are water supply, water quality, flood protection and natural systems, and will protect portions of English Creek, Thirty-mile Creek, and the North Prong of the Alafia River. The property contributes to the completion of the Alafia River Corridor project within the District’s Florida Forever Workplan.

The parcel is being purchased for approximately $6.7 million, and will be split equally with Hillsborough County, with funds from the Florida Forever Trust Fund. 

The Mattaniah Property is located on the west side of Carey Road, roughly one mile south of State Road 60 and three-quarters of a mile north of Nichols Road.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Highlands County. 

The District will provide a virtual public comment period now through Nov. 11 at WaterMatters.org/Floodplain for the public to view preliminary data for flood prone areas within the Highlands Hammock watershed. The website will present preliminary data for flood prone areas and the public will have the opportunity to submit comments.

After addressing the public comments, information will be finalized and presented to the District’s Governing Board for approval to use the data for regulatory purposes. This information is not currently being incorporated into the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs); however, it may be used in future DFIRM updates. 

The information, which identifies areas prone to flooding, can be used by local governments for land use and zoning decisions, to help manage development in and around floodplains and wetlands, to reduce flood risks, to preserve land and water resources, and for emergency planning. It will also provide valuable information to the public for decisions about purchasing and protecting property.

For more information or to find out which watershed you live in, please visit WaterMatters.org/Floodplain or call the District at (352) 415-0974.