The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has activated the Tampa Bypass Canal System in response to heavy rains from Tropical Storm Debby to help protect the cities of Temple Terrace and Tampa from river flooding.

The Hillsborough River has reached the activation criteria and the District has closed Structure S-155 as of 6 p.m. tonight. The Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (HFDA) is now considered 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 stores it 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, the District closed navigation on the Hillsborough River at Structure S-155 to meet Federal safety standards. Due to the high velocity of water from Tropical Storm Debby, boat barriers were put in place where I-75 crosses the Hillsborough River, restricting navigation in that area. The S-155 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.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is closing navigation on the Hillsborough River at Structure S-155 to meet Federal safety standards.

Due to the high velocity of water from Tropical Storm Debby, boat barriers will be put in place where I-75 crosses the Hillsborough River, restricting navigation in that area. The S-155 structure is part of the Tampa Bypass Canal System and 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 Hillsborough River is approximately 1.0 foot below the water level that would result in the closing of S-155, which would begin to fill the Hillsborough Flood Detention Area. The District is continuing to monitor water levels resulting from Tropical Storm Debby.

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. Flood waters from the Hillsborough River are impounded into the 16,000-acre HFDA. As the reservoir fills with water from the river and the surrounding 450-square-mile watershed, the flows then enter the 15.7-mile Tampa Bypass Canal, which is made up of 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.

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

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has released as much water out of Lake Tarpon as possible, however storm surge from Hurricane Debby is overtopping the structure and water cannot be released until the storm surge recedes.

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 high tides and protects the lake’s freshwater ecology.

Lake Tarpon rose over 18 inches overnight and is continuing to rise. The storm surge has been higher than the lake since 11 a.m. yesterday and there is no way to release water until the storm surge goes out. The lake also has received over 6.5 inches of rain as well as high flows from Brooker Creek.

District Structure Operations staff have been monitoring water levels and operating all of the agency’s water-control structures around the clock.

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 Saturday, Aug. 3, at 11 a.m., in anticipation of impacts from Potential Tropical Cyclone 4.

Additionally, the District is in the process of canceling all existing camping reservations through Tuesday, Aug. 6.

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 or Twitter.com/SWFWMD.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board voted to decrease property taxes by adopting a proposed rolled-back millage rate of 0.1909 mill for the fiscal year 2025 budget.

The millage rate is 6.6% lower than the current fiscal year adopted millage rate of 0.2043 mill, a savings to taxpayers of approximately $9.5 million.

For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $19.09 a year, or about $1.59 per month.

The total fiscal year 2025 proposed budget for the District is $231.6 million and includes $86.6 million for Cooperative Funding Initiatives and District grants.

Through these cooperative funding partnerships, District funds will be leveraged resulting in a total regional investment of approximately $161 million for sustainable alternative water supply development, water quality improvements and other water resource management projects. The fiscal year runs from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2025.

The District will hold a tentative budget hearing on Sept. 10 at 5:01 p.m. at the Tampa Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301.

The Governing Board will vote on the final budget on Sept. 24 at 5:01 p.m. at the Tampa Office.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, July 23 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. 

To view the Governing Board meeting online, click on the live video stream link. The video stream link becomes active and the live video feed begins approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled meeting time.

Public comment will be taken only at the meeting location. Public input for issues not listed on the published agenda will be heard shortly after the meeting begins.

The meeting agenda and materials are posted one week before the meeting and can be found online at WaterMatters.org by clicking on the “Meeting & Events Calendar.” 

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a virtual public meeting at 4 p.m., Wednesday, July 24, to discuss updates to the Weekiwachee Preserve Land Management Plan.

The District adopts land management plans to ensure its public conservation lands are being managed in ways that are consistent with Florida Statutes and the District’s mission. District lands are acquired to preserve and protect water resources and natural systems while also providing public access for recreation. The purpose of this meeting is to inform the public about updates to this plan, to solicit input from stakeholders, and to incorporate feedback from the public and stakeholders into the development of the new 10-year plan. 

Members of the public may participate in the meeting via Microsoft Teams at https://bit.ly/weekiwacheeLMP. A draft of the management plan update and a virtual comment submission form are available at WaterMatters.org/LMPUpdates. The public comment period will be from July 15-29.

The 11,206-acre Weekiwachee Preserve is part of a regional system of conservation lands that preserves numerous habitats, including coastal hardwood hammocks, hardwood swamps, freshwater and saltwater marshes, and sandhills. In addition, the preserve protects and provides a buffer to several miles of the Weeki Wachee River.

District policy requires management plans for District-owned conservation lands be reviewed and updated every 10 years, unless otherwise directed by the District’s Governing Board. District lands are open to the public and community input is vital in determining how these lands are managed and used. The proposed land management plan for the Weekiwachee Preserve will be presented to the District’s Governing Board in August for consideration.

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns now through September on Annutteliga Hammock and Weekiwachee Preserve.

Annutteliga Hammock is located east of U.S. Highway 19, north of Centralia Road and south of the county line. Approximately 200 acres will be burned in small, manageable units. 

The Weekiwachee Preserve is located west of U.S. Highway 19 between Spring Hill and Hernando Beach. Approximately 200 acres will be burned in small, manageable units. Some trails may be temporarily closed during prescribed burn events.

Some major benefits of prescribed fire include:

• Reducing overgrown plants, which decreases the risk of catastrophic wildfires. 
• Promoting the growth of new, diverse plants.
• Maintaining the character and condition of wildlife habitat.
• Maintaining access for public recreation.

The District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 30,000 acres each year. 

Click here to see aerial footage from a prescribed fire in the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve where District land management staff burned 320 acres.