YES !!!
AND THEN THERE WAS WATER !!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007, will go down as a historic day in Tampa. It was the day the River was saved! After a 7 year fight against authorities, we, the Friends of the River, have won! The Lower Hillsborough River will get water! The RIVER has won! And EVERYONE in Tampa who is a friend of our river, has won!
But we're not there yet:
As the above picture shows, stormwater run-off is still a major problem for the river. We can have all the fresh water that is promised, but with run-off spills like this one the freshly spawned fish will suffocate.
The Lower Hillsborough River Minimum Flow Recovery Strategy
Mayor Iorio announces the Agreement !
So, what does it mean for the River?
• Under state law, a minimum flow or level
(MFL) is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant
harm to the water resources and related environment.
• As of August 28, 2007, the current flow of 10 cubic feet per second
(cfs) (which is about 6 million gallons per day, or mgd) will flow into
the lower Hillsborough River. Every Day, Rain or Shine!.
• Over the last 6 years, and following the settlement agreement
between Friends of the River, the City of Tampa and the Southwest Florida
Water Management District (District) an independant study group has developed
proposed MFLs for the lower Hillsborough River that have been peer reviewed
by an independent scientific panel.
• The proposed MFLs would be the fresh-water equivalent of 24 cfs
(18 mgd)during April-June and 20 cfs (15 mgd) the remainder of the year.
And no, that will not turn our Hillsborough River in a tumultuous raging
white water river. But it is enough for wildlife to return and florish
in the River! The multiple flows were recommended by the peer review panel
to meet the seasonal needs of the river. The reason the flow is higher
during April - June is that this is spawning season, where fish need more
fresh water than other times of the year. The higher flow will aid fish
and wildlife to prosper in the River! We expect that over the next few
years we will see an increase in number and variety of wildlife in and
along the River!
• The City is responsable for providing the water. The current agreemtne
will double the amount of water going to the lower Hillsborough River.
Every Day!
• The City of Tampa and the District
worked together on a plan to develop fresh water flows for a Recovery
Strategy.
The Recovery Strategy:
• The District is required by state law
to develop a Recovery Strategy whenever water bodies are not meeting their
MFL.
• The District and the City of Tampa reached an agreement to ensure
that the MFL is met.
• The Recovery Strategy identifies five potential projects:
• Move water from Sulphur Springs to the base of the dam on the
river. This is expected to provide on average 15 cfs.
• Move water from Blue Sink to the river. We expect that this will
provide at least 3 cfs.
• Install transmission pipeline for Tampa Bay Water's existing transfers
of water from the Tampa Bypass Canal to the river for the City of Tampa.
This could save up to 3 cfs.
• Pump water from the Morris Bridge Sink to the canal, then to the
river. This may provide up to 6 cfs.
• Move water from the Tampa Bypass Canal to the river. This project
could provide up to 11 cfs.
• .
Funding Agreement, or: Who will pay for it?
• The District and the City have negotiated
a $44.5 million funding agreement for projects to help meet the MFL.
• The District and the City will each pay 50% of the Sulphur Springs,
Blue Sink and transmission pipeline projects.
• The District will pay 100% of the Tampa Bypass Canal Diversion
Project and the Morris Bridge Sink Project.
• Agreement allows for other projects to be identified.
When will it happen:
• The proposed MFL must be met by the City by 2017. However, the District through its own initiative expects to have the MFL met within three years!