| Did you know? | |
The Florida Legislature created the River Board and its Technical Advisory Council. The Special Act of the Florida Legislature established the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board (River Board) as a three member body consisting of one elected official from each of the governments that the Hillsborough River runs through in Hillsborough County: Unincorporated Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, and the City of Temple Terrace.
The Special Act also established the Technical Advisory Council (TAC) consisting of eleven members, including: a representative of the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission, the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County, the Hillsborough River Basin Board of the Water Management District, an employee of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Tampa Port Authority, the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and a citizen member from each of the three jurisdictions.
 The TAC also has a staff member from each jurisdiction as ex-officio members. Staffing for the River Board and TAC is provided by the Planning Commission, as specified in the Special Act. The TAC meets monthly and the River Board meets quarterly. All meetings are open to the public.
|
|
|
For more information on the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board & Technical Advisory Council, please contact staff at 813.272.5940 or visit us on the web:
www.hillsboroughriver.org |
|
|
| Manatees Enjoy River Refuge |
The West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) is the largest surviving member of the aquatic mammalorder Sirenia. The average West Indian Manatee is approximately 10 feet long, and weighs between 800 to 1200 pounds, with females generally larger than males. The largest individuals can weigh up to 3,300 lbs and measure up to 15 ft. Manatees feed on about 60 plant species which includes sea grasses as their major food source. It is limited to the tropics and subtropics due to an extremely low metabolic rate and lack of a thick layer of insulating body fat.
The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, is the largest of all living sirenians. Florida manatees inhabit the most northern limit of sirenian habitat. They are found in fresh water rivers, in estuaries, and in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexicoand the Atlantic Ocean. Florida manatees may live to be greater than 60 years old in the wild. The biggest single threat to Florida manatees is death from collisions with recreational watercraft. The West Indian Manatee has a high casualty rate due to thermal shock from cold temperatures. During cold weather many die due to their digestive tract shutting down at water temperatures below 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
 Due to their low reproductive rates, a decline in manatee population may be hard to overcome. They enjoy protection from the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. The West Indian Manatee is also protected by the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978, the Manatee Recovery Plan, and the Save the Manatee Club. The Florida manatee was listed in October 2007 as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on the basis of a population size of less than 2,500 mature individuals and a population that is estimated to be in decline by at least 20% over the next two generations (estimated at ~40 years) due to anticipated future changes in warm-water habitat and threats from increasing watercraft traffic over the next several decades. A computer model produced for the federal study showed a 50 percent chance that the current statewide manatee population could dwindle over the next 50 years to just 500 on either coast.
In winter manatees congregate at natural springs and warm water outflows from power plants, which provide stable water temperatures. Perhaps the only natural warm water refuge in the Tampa Bay Area is Sulphur Springs along the Hillsborough River. The Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board continues to monitor activities associated with the spring, such as withdrawals of water by the City of Tampa, to ensure manatees continue to have a warm water refuge at Sulphur Springs. Recently the River Board issued a letter reminding permitting agencies to keep congregating manatees in mind when permitting construction projects proximate to Sulphur Springs during the winter season.
|
| Officers for 2011 |
 | |
Robert Carnahan |
 | |
Dr. Rich Brown |
 | | Alison Fernandez |
 | |
Al Higganbotham |
At its January regular meeting, the River Board's Technical Advisory Council re-elected Robert Carnahan as Chair for 2011. The TAC also elected Dr. Richard Brown as Vice-Chair. At its February regular meeting, the River Board voted to retain last year's officers for 2011. Councilwomen Alison Fernandez, representing Temple Terrace, will continue as Chair. Commissioner Al Higginbotham, representing Unincorporated Hillsborough County, will continue to serve as Vice-Chair. The River Board also took action to establish a policy of two year terms. Congratulations to all our officers!
|
| River Board & TAC Continue Going Green Efforts |
 | |
Bob Hunter, FAICP |
Continuing efforts to "go green," reduce costs and improve efficiency, both the River Board and the TAC have eliminated printed agenda materials. Members will now receive their agendas in an on-line digital format, limiting printing to only those materials they choose to see in hard copy. This transition also saves on postage costs and staff time. "Going green is a major emphasis of the Planning Commission and the River Board. It not only provides efficiencies and protects our environment, it saves money for the taxpayers," said Bob Hunter, FAICP, Executive Director of the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission provides staffing for the River Board. Newsletters for the Planning Commission and the River Board are also now produced as eNews (this River News publication).
|
| Untreated Sewage from Spill Flows Down River | |
Approximately 4 million gallons of untreated sewage from broken pipes flowed down river and into Tampa's reservoir on the Hillsborough River in late March. The untreated sewage that flowed from two sewer line breaks entered Trout Creek and worked its way through the tributary to the Hillsborough River. Environmental officials consider it a major spill but did not expect the pollution to cause long-term damage to the river or a large fish kill, said Paula Noblitt, manager for the county Environmental Protection Commission.
Raw sewage can lower oxygen levels in the river as it passes and later when algae feed on the nutrients and blooms, she said. However, fish can swim out of areas with low oxygen. Effects on the river are not expected to be long-term. The reservoir has 1.2 billion gallons of water that will dilute the bacteria. The city's treatment includes dosing river water with ozone to kill bacteria, filtering and disinfectant.
The spill took seven days to travel between three-quarters and 1 mile down Trout Creek to where it flows into the river. The first break in an 18-inch line carrying sewage from New Tampa to the city's treatment plant on Hookers Point happened on March 15 near the intersection of Interstate 75 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. The second came a day later near Trout Creek just north of the entrance to Flatwoods Park. The city put up signs at Trout Creek Park warning people not to swim, wade or fish in the river because the park was where people were likely to have contact with tainted water, said Ralph Metcalf, director of the city's sewer department. Tests near the spill site on March 16 showed bacteria counts of 1.9 million colonies for every 100 milliliters of water. Six days later, the level was 171.
The state considers a count of 800 or lower safe for wading, fishing or boating. On March 22, the bacteria count where Trout Creek flows into the Hillsborough River was 135, while an eighth mile upstream, the count was 1.9 million. The city will continue testing the river water until bacteria counts drop to the safe level, Metcalf said. Warning signs at parks will remain up until bacteria counts drop.
|
|
In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other nondiscrimination laws, public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. |
|
|
|
