River Board welcomes new leadership and advances restoration projects

Recently appointed Hillsborough County BOCC Commissioner Christine Miller joined her first River Board meeting this past July. Commissioner Miller is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce. Previously, she served as the executive director of the United Food Bank and Services of Plant City, Inc. Miller earned her bachelor’s degree in natural resource economics from the University of Massachusetts and her master’s degree in public administration from Florida State University. Commissioner Miller replaces outgoing River Board Chair Commissioner Owen. 

First on the July agenda was the election of a new Chair. Alison Fernandez was elected Chair. With Councilmember Fernandez leaving the Vice Chair role, Commissioner Miller was then elected Vice Chair.  Councilmember Fernandez’s experience and Commissioner Miller’s fresh perspectives will serve the River Board well as they examine and consider issues affecting the Hillsborough River.   

Also at the July meeting, the River Board received a presentation from Ping Wang, a professor from the School of Geosciences at the University of South Florida, about their collaboration with the Applied Sciences Company on Community-Based Design Using Nature-Based Solutions to Meet Climate Change Challenges Along Urban Hillsborough River. The first phase of the effort is to identify areas of the lower Hillsborough River with opportunities for nature-based system restoration. The most promising potential sites for restoration thus far identified are the University of Tampa and Plant Park, the NBC Building shoreline, the Lowry Park Zoo, Rowlett Park, Sulphur Springs Park, and Riverside Garden Park. The next steps will include working with the City of Tampa to apply for grants to initiate a restoration project. The River Board will meet again in October.