By Tamas Mondovics
A pair of public open-house format meetings held in Brandon and in Riverview last month allowed area residents to learn about a variety drainage and flood control projects as well as the County’s master plan updates for the Delaney/Archie Creek Watershed located in central Hillsborough County.
Armed with maps and background information, County Public Works representatives, were on hand for both meetings to assist attendees with their concerns and questions and input.
The Delaney/Archie Creek Watershed drains approximately 36 square miles and is generally bounded on the north by Palm River Road and the CSX railway, to the west by Hillsborough Bay, to the east by Valrico Road, and to the south by the Alafia River.
While the majority of the proposed projects for 2017 are planned west of I-75, the event presented valuable information about the entire watershed master plan, the process of which began in late 2013.
According to Project Manager, Junshan Su, a final report with recommended flood relief projects was completed in late 2016.
“Drainage and flood control projects planned for east of I-75, including areas of Riverview, Brandon and Valrico will be proposed this time next year,” Su said, adding that the Valrico and east Brandon communities are actually located within the Alafia Watershed.
Su also mentioned that Hillsborough County has 17 watersheds dividing up the projects and their timelines.
The Delaney/Archie Creek Watershed project budget is $700,000 and is funded through the Stormwater Fee Capital Improvement Program.
Both recent meetings gave attendees a chance to review as well as to comment on the proposed plans that are a part of the Countywide Watershed Master Plan Updates.
The master plan update provides the County with valuable information on flooding within the watershed, including an updated hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) model that is used by the County, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and local developers as best available information for project analysis and permitting.
For more information and watershed maps, please visit the County’s Stormwater Projects page at www.hillsboroughcounty.org.
