River News Archive
News and announcements from The Hillsborough River Board & TAC as well as planning news from around the region.
Plan Hillsborough adopts 2021 Nondiscrimination Plan - September 2021 – The update of Plan Hillsborough’s 2021 Nondiscrimination and Equity Plan is complete. The Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission’s (Planning Commission) review and the Transportation Planning Organization’s (TPO) approval mark a major milestone in the agency’s effort to ensure its planning activities are nondiscriminatory and compliant with Federal regulations such as Title VI...
Plan Hillsborough welcomes new USF Fellows - September 2021 – Plan Hillsborough continues to support the University of South Florida’s (USF) Masters in Urban & Regional Planning (MURP) program through two fellowships each year. By familiarizing emerging planners with community priorities, these talented students contribute their knowledge and skills to our work. This year, we look forward to working with Lizzie Ehrreich,...
New Coastal High Hazard Area in effect - September 2021 – The Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA) latest update by the State of Florida became effective August 4, 2021. Representations of these areas will be updated in the comprehensive plans; however, the new state defined line is in effect. The Planning Commission has updated our Planning Information Map Application (PIMA) to reflect the new...
Reclaimed wastewater recommended to be released into Hillsborough River - September 2021 – Jaturna Consultants and Applied Sciences, under contract with the City of Tampa, produced a new study on June 7, 2021 on alternatives to the current discharge of treated wastewater to the Bay. Staff from the City of Tampa presented the study to the River Board’s Technical Advisory Council (TAC) in August. The...
Florida Planning Conference sessions to feature Plan Hillsborough speakers - August 2021 – The Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) will hold its annual planning conference, #FPC21, in Miami from August 31-September 3. Virtual sessions will be available for those who can’t attend. Six Plan Hillsborough speakers will be featured on four different panel sessions exploring planning for equity, public engagement, and comprehensive...
River Board calls for permanent protection of USF Forest Preserve - August 2021 – For years University of South Florida (USF) master planning documents maintained the designation of an approximately 641 acre “Forest Preserve” for a large tract of pristine wildlife fronting on the Hillsborough River and adjacent to the main campus. The USF Forest Preserve is not only important to the University for research and...
Restoration of Lower Green Swamp Preserve benefits the Hillsborough River - July 2021 – At the River Board’s June meeting, Stephen Raymond, Hillsborough County, and Maya Burke, Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP), discussed the Lower Green Swamp Preserve Hydrologic Improvement and Freshwater Wetland Restoration Project. This project provides benefits to the Hillsborough River as this area is part of the headwaters of the river. Ms. Burke...
Equity is on the way as Nondiscrimination Plan moves closer to completion - June 2021 – This year’s Nondiscrimination Plan update is almost complete. As of March 2021, staff finished a public engagement phase with Hillsborough County residents to identify the challenges they face accessing community elements, such as transportation options, quality housing, public engagement meetings, and to other important places in the County. The goal of this...
New study shows Hillsborough River’s vulnerability to climate change and sea level rise - June 2021 – Hillsborough County commissioned USF’s Florida Center for Community Design and Research, with project management provided by the Planning Commission, to conduct a comprehensive Community Vulnerability Study (CVS). The purpose of the study is to address Senate Bill 1094 (2015) “Peril of Flood Act” and identify long-range planning options for the County’s coastal...
Meet Plan Hillsborough’s newest team members! - May 2021 – Over the past year, Plan Hillsborough welcomed five talented new team members who work to support the Planning Commission, Hillsborough MPO, and the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board. Sofia Garantiva Sofia Garantiva, AICP, recently joined the Planning Commission as a Senior Planner. Her responsibilities include special area studies and project management. Sofia...
An update on the Hillsborough County Comprehensive Plan update – Coastal Management - May 2021 – Planning Commission staff is working with Hillsborough County subject matter experts to prepare updates to three sections of the plan – Coastal Management, Solid Waste, and Recreation and Open Space – as part of the April 2021 cycle of plan amendments. Learn about each section update and how to register for the...
Hillsborough County’s economy sees 29% growth since 2010 - May 2021 – “Living and working in Tampa-Hillsborough isn’t quite like being on vacation every day, but it comes pretty close. Yes, there are theme parks and beaches and warm breezes in January. But there is also a vibrant mix of Fortune 500 companies, sassy tech start-ups, world-class health care facilities and serious educational options....
Garden Steps celebrates Earth Day in East Tampa - May 2021 – In celebration of Earth Day 2021, community members enjoyed a special gathering on April 23 at the Healthy 22nd Street Demonstration Garden in East Tampa. The Coalition of Community Gardens hosted the event which featured several local vendors and planning partners. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor also stopped by to welcome guests. During...
River Board hears Tampa’s proposal to re-use wastewater in the river - May 2021 – As reported in last month’s article, PURE, which stands for Purify Usable Resources for the Environment, is a proposed water infrastructure project which Tampa hopes will result in environmental and water resource benefits. If approved, the city will redirect up to 50 million gallons per day of highly treated reclaimed water that...
Plan Hillsborough proves we “Love to Ride” - April 2021 – In March, Plan Hillsborough staff participated in Love to Ride’s Tampa Bay Bike Challenge along with 37 other workplaces. Bike/Walk Tampa Bay organized the event, and Plan Hillsborough placed first in its size category. With overwhelming participation, the agency also managed to outride many larger organizations. Overall, participants in the challenge rode 111,441...
Garden Steps to host Earth Day celebration at Healthy 22nd Street - April 2021 – On Saturday, April 24, the Coalition of Community Gardens will host an Earth Day celebration from 11 am to 2 pm at the Healthy 22nd Street Demonstration Garden. The garden is located at 22nd Street between Chelsea St. and Osborne Ave in Tampa. This free, outdoor community event will feature representatives from...
Tampa’s PURE project to supplement river flow - April 2021 – PURE, Purify Usable Resources for the Environment, is a proposed water infrastructure project intended to result in environmental and water resource benefits. If approved, the city will redirect up to 50 million gallons per day of highly treated reclaimed water that would otherwise be discharged into Hillsborough Bay from the City’s Howard...
Florida’s economy sees expanding growth - March 2021 – “Be fast, have no regrets… If you need to be right before you move, you will never win”, Dr. Michael Ryan, Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme. Undoubtedly, there have been a series of fortunate events. We now have various vaccines and mass vaccinations are underway in many countries. Mercifully, the flu...
Riverwalk improvements coming to West Side of the river - March 2021 – In January, Milton Martinez with the City of Tampa presented their project to add Riverwalk improvements to the West Side of the Hillsborough River to the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board’s Technical Advisory Council. Mr. Martinez explained that in early 2020, the City of Tampa submitted an application to the U.S. Department...
Tell us your story at the Planning for Equity Storytelling Forum - February 2021 – Do you struggle to access affordable housing, a quality job where you’re paid a living wage, or transportation to get from place to place? Are you a member of a federally-protected demographic group; for example, are you a person of color, low-income, LGBTQ, or have a disability? Come to the virtual Planning...
Environmental & Sustainability section update kicks off with public engagement - February 2021 – The Environmental and Sustainability Section, a component of the overall Unincorporated Hillsborough County Comprehensive Plan update, is moving forward as part of the January cycle of plan amendments. The Environmental and Sustainability Section serves to update the Conservation and Aquifer Recharge Element of the Comprehensive Plan. The Section will continue to provide...
New Year brings new River Board members and officers - February 2021 – At the January 25 River Board Meeting, we welcomed new Temple Terrace representative Councilmember Meredith Abel. Ms. Abel was elected to the Temple Terrace City Council November 3, 2020 for a four-year term. She taught high school level science and language arts for 11 years, currently teaches karate and self-defense to local...
The 2020 Annual Report is out! - January 2021 – Learn about our special projects, ongoing work, and behind the scenes successes accomplished in 2020. Throughout this unprecedented time, our agency has continued to work together and collaborate with our local partner governments, citizens, stakeholders, boards, and committees in a virtual environment to ensure our communities continue to thrive. Read the Plan...
Hillsborough River offers plenty of socially distant activities - January 2021 – With social distancing, masks, and other precautions still needed due to the health pandemic, recreation on and around the Hillsborough River has never been better. There are opportunities to rent canoes on the Hillsborough River from private vendors and at some Hillsborough County Parks, like Lettuce Lake Park. During the cooler months,...
Bridge the learning gap - December 2020 – In the December 2020 issue of the American Planning Association’s Planning Magazine, an article titled Bridge the Learner Gap featured two Plan Hillsborough planners. Melissa Dickens, AICP and Yeneka Mills were both quoted in the article sharing how a mentor can help build new skills, broaden your perspective, and take your career... Tampa updates Hillsborough River speed zones - December 2020 – Speed restrictions for boaters are important to prevent erosion, to prevent damage to docks and moored boats, for the protection of wildlife, and public safety. Over the years, various areas of the lower Hillsborough River were speed restricted. Some areas are “slow speed,” while others are “idle speed.” For those traveling this... Plan Hillsborough recommits to Equity with 2021 Nondiscrimination Plan - November 2020 – Throughout the course of history, racial discrimination has been evident in transportation and land use planning. In Hillsborough County, neighborhood clearing was manifested in the construction of I-275 and I-4 which were used to divide African American communities and eliminate the Central Avenue Business District. After a wave of protests for racial...
Great American Teach-In 2020 - November 2020 – On Thursday, November 19 several Plan Hillsborough staff participated in the Great American Teach-In, held virtually due to the pandemic. Our staff presented to 16 classes of high schoolers at Tampa Bay Tech on how Smart Cities technology can change transportation and encouraged them to share their feedback through the survey. Many...
Staff Spotlight: Joshua Barber - Joshua Barber | Community Planner II | Tenure: 9 months Joshua Barber is a Community Planner II with the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and has been with the agency for nine months. Prior to working at the MPO, he worked for a medium-sized consulting firm in Tampa doing multimodal and transit planning for two years...
Staff Spotlight: Priya Nagaraj - Priya Nagaraj | Database Systems Technician | 3 Months Priya Nagaraj is the Database Systems Technician for our Planning Support Services Division. She will be involved in the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Improvement Program database administration and support. She will also support the access database, web development and IT for the Plan Hillsborough staff. Priya...
Take the Community Resiliency Information System survey - November 2020 – Plan Hillsborough continues to work on enhancing resiliency in Hillsborough County through planning and collaboration with its local partners. Tropical Storm Eta has passed, but the 2020 hurricane season does not end until November 30. It’s not too soon to consider a plan for the next hurricane season! You can share your... Stakeholders assess minimum flow of the Hillsborough River - November 2020 – Gone are the days when the lower river was a stagnant backwater without any water flowing down from the middle river. The Lower Hillsborough River running through Tampa is once again healthy for wildlife and recreation. This is in no small part due to the establishment of a regulatory minimum flow of...
Our meetings will continue to be accessible online - October 2020 – The Governor has not extended his executive order for virtual meetings past October. Plan Hillsborough is working out the details to allow for a quorum of our boards and committees to meet in person, socially distanced with masks. We will continue to televise and live-stream meetings online as we have since March....
USF studies plastic pollution in the Hillsborough River - October 2020 – Plastics are everywhere in the environment and pose a serious threat to natural systems and wildlife. In rivers, plastic breaks down into smaller parts but doesn’t decompose, making it a conduit, collector and source of pollution. To help solve this problem, PhD candidate Charlotte Haberstroh with the USF Department of Civil &...
Urban Rivers proposes ecological enhancements - September 2020 – Urban Rivers, a 501(3)c non-profit organization, is proposing living shoreline enhancements along the Hillsborough River. In recent years several areas of the lower Hillsborough River were enhanced with living shorelines or other restored habitats which not only beautified the river but provided wildlife habitat and water cleansing benefits. These include USF Park,...
Staff Spotlight: Felicia Pulliam - Felicia Pulliam | Financial Manager | Tenure: 23 years Felicia started working at the Planning Commission in April 1997 as an Accountant I and is now the Financial Manager for the Hillsborough County Planning Commission and MPO. She creates and maintains both agency’s budgets and submits them to the county annually. She is also responsible for...
Tampa appoints new River Board member - August 2020 – Tampa City Council Chair Guido Maniscalco represented the City of Tampa on the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board for four years. Councilmember Maniscalco diligently served the residents of Tampa on the River Board, always noting the importance of the river to the City and its residents. While the River Board is sad...
Temple Terrace changes River Board member - July 2020 – For four years Councilmember Andy Ross has been the face of Temple Terrace for the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board. Councilmember Ross diligently served the residents of Temple Terrace on the River Board and always sought out the best outcomes for the health of the River and its recreational use by residents....
We bid a fond farewell to Michele Ogilvie as she retires from Plan Hillsborough - June 2020 – Michele Ogilvie’s first day of work at the Planning Commission was December 17, 1986. The Tampa section was very busy completing the Zoning Conformance public hearings of South Tampa, East Tampa, and notices for the North Tampa hearings, to be distributed the first week of the New Year. The agency was also...
Call for entries for our 38th Annual Planning & Design Awards - June 2020 – The Planning Commission is proud to announce our 38th annual celebration of excellence in planning in Hillsborough County. If you have been a part of a project contributing to a better quality of life in our community, we encourage you to apply. Early bird entries are open! Visit the web page to...
Sewage spills an ongoing problem for river water quality - June 2020 – We have made great strides over the years in improving the health and water quality of the Hillsborough River. There is more consistent flow of water down the lower river and water overall is cleaner and healthier for wildlife and recreational users. However, sewage spills continue to pose a threat to the...
Focusing on agency internal collaboration - May 2020 – As one of Plan Hillsborough’s Strategic Plan Strategic Priorities, Internal Agency Enhancements are primarily focused on improving internal communication across teams and between staff with different roles and responsibilities. The need for maintaining strong internal connections became even more important once the agency transitioned to a virtual work environment in March where...
Studying post COVID-19 economic impacts - Economic Outlook May 2020 So, we are moving towards reopening the country and the state. What has happened to our economy and how do we know when it’s back on track? We are glad you asked! Here, we hope to provide some guideposts to help you navigate the ocean of economic data. There are three...
Staff Spotlight: Cheryl Wilkening - Cheryl Wilkening | Administrative Assistant II | Tenure: 1 Year Cheryl Wilkening was hired as the Administrative Assistant II for the MPO on June 10, 2019. In the short time she has worked for the MPO she has helped organize two public hearings, and many workshops and committee meetings. She assisted with the GPC selection process, Long...
Staff Spotlight: Yeneka Mills - Yeneka Mills | Principal Planner | Tenure: 14 years Yeneka started at the Planning Commission as an intern in 2005 and was hired soon after as a Community Planner. In January 2016 she was promoted to Senior Planner and earlier this year she was promoted to her current position, Principal Planner. One of the highlights... Call for Entries for our 38th Annual Planning & Design Awards now open! - May 2020 – The Planning Commission is proud to announce our 38th annual celebration of excellence in planning in Hillsborough County. If you have been a part of a project contributing to a better quality of life in our community, we encourage you to apply. Early bird entries are now open! Learn more
Educational webinar opportunities May/June 2020 - May 2020 – If you are looking for educational opportunities during these unprecedented times, you may be interested in some of these transportation-oriented webinars! Topics range from partnering to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, safety analytics, increased demand for safe public space, and many others. These engaging sessions are valuable ways to provide participants with...
Hillsborough River conditions change with the seasons - River Conditions Change with the Seasons May 2020 – While the winter saw a relatively high amount of rainfall, spring brought the Tampa Bay Area’s typical dry season. March was one of just three months ever in the Tampa Bay Area to have less than .01 inches of rain. Typically, we have an average of...
Plan Hillsborough continues to work remotely - April 2020 – In response to Hillsborough County’s guidance over COVID-19 public health concerns, Plan Hillsborough pivoted to a completely remote work schedule on March 17 to protect the health and safety of citizens and staff. The agency was able to adapt so quickly thanks to an already established remote work policy, further modified for...
Hillsborough River issues sparked citizen action - April 2020 – It was a normal day in the early 1980s for Tampa resident Sylvia Espinola as she enjoyed her view of the Lower Hillsborough River. Small pieces of trash flowing down the river had become so commonplace that residents hardly took notice, but today was different. As Mrs. Espinola watched the water flow...
2020 Commuter Challenge Week recap - March 2020 – Approximately half of Plan Hillsborough staff participated in our 4th Annual Commuter Challenge week using a variety of transportation modes. For those with longer commutes, transit and carpooling were the most common options. For those living a bit closer to work, walking, biking, and the new scooter-share program were used and gave...
Plan Hillsborough reports on Strategic Plan implementation - March 2020 – In August 2018, Plan Hillsborough adopted the 2018-2023 Plan Hillsborough Strategic Plan developed in collaboration with the agency’s three boards and staff. The five-year plan outlines near-term objectives across the agency, prioritization of resources, and strategies to enhance the multidisciplinary work of the agency. At the February Planning Commission meeting, staff shared...
Shape your community: the 2020 Census - March 2020 – As 2020 Census activities ramp up across the country, the Census Bureau, its partners, and Complete Count Committee’s (CCC) across the nation have been educating the public on the importance of civic participation in the census and how it will help shape their communities. The once-a-decade population count is required by the...
Assessing the recovery of the Lower Hillsborough River - March 2020 – Over the last 20 years, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and the City of Tampa have been working closely on recovery of the Lower Hillsborough River. The recovery strategy, adopted in 2000 and revised in 2007, increased the minimum flow level (MFL) and required that for each five-year period through...
2020 Commuter Challenge Week February 10-14 - February 2020 – Our Fourth Annual Commuter Challenge Week will take place February 10-14. We had so much fun last year, we thought you would love another opportunity to fall in love with your commute in preparation for Valentine’s Day! Select a new mode of transportation, other than driving alone, and invite a co-worker to...
Community Vulnerability Study begins Phase 2: Mitigation Measures - February 2020 – The Community Vulnerability Study aids Hillsborough County with meeting local, state and federal planning requirements for the continuous threat of flooding and longitudinal sea level rise. The Planning Commission is assisting the County with managing this study and working with the University of South Florida’s (USF) Florida Center for Community Design and...
Garden Steps project: making stone soup - February 2020 – On January 28, County Commission Chair Lesley J. “Les” Miller Jr. was joined by Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and Tampa Councilman Orlando Gudes in celebrating the kick-off of the Garden Steps project, funded by a grant from the Aetna Foundation and American Public Health Association. Led by the MPO and Coalition of...
The Hillsborough River is vital to the Tampa Bay estuary - February 2020 – Estuaries are where freshwater rivers and streams mix with saltwater. They are important and productive habitats where many commercially and recreationally important species spend part of their lives. One of many efforts to maintain the health and vitality of the Tampa Bay Estuary is the Tampa Bay Estuary Programs’ (TBEP’s) Habitat Master...
Jan 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade volunteers needed - January 2020 – Join Plan Hillsborough staff and the Vision Zero Coalition as we walk in the 31st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade on Monday, January 20. The parade is a great opportunity to share the Vision Zero message with East Tampa and other attendees. The parade begins at noon and we will meet... A Resilient River – A brief environmental history of the Hillsborough River - January 2020 – Since the first residents put down roots in Tampa, the Hillsborough has been a multifaceted and multi-purposed river, used for transportation, commerce, recreation, and as a dumping ground for the sewage and waste byproducts in the city’s early years. Gone unchecked for decades, the environmental degradation of the Hillsborough River was exacerbated...
Temporary Office relocation - November 2019 – PLEASE NOTE: The Plan Hillsborough Office will be temporarily moving to the 6th Floor of 700 East Twiggs due to required building maintenance in our County Center home. Just two blocks away, the Twiggs office will be our temporary home from November 18, 2019 through January 2020. Our phone numbers and mailing...
Lower Hillsborough River recovery strategy report - November 2019 – On Tuesday, Oct. 15, Joel Brown, Senior Government & Community Affairs Manager – Tampa Bay Region for the Southwest Florida Water Management District, presented at the meeting of the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board’s Technical Advisory Council (TAC) on the progress of a Lower Hillsborough River Recovery Strategy report. The report is...
Fond farewells October 2019 - October 2019 – This month, we’re saying goodbye to two employees at Plan Hillsborough who have been with us for a combined 65 years. Bud Whitehead, Senior Planner, and Pedro Parra, Principal Planner, have been leaders in our agency and in our community. Both will be deeply missed in their retirements. Pedro Parra | “I...
Monitoring water quality of the river - October 2019 – Since the passage of the Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, commonly known as the Clean Water Act, water quality in Hillsborough County has greatly improved and has supported the recovery of seagrasses within the bay. The success is due to various efforts supported by water quality monitoring stations located throughout the...
Operation Partnership: Civilian Career Day 2019 - September 2019 – We had the privilege of hosting Major Michael Chavarria, USAF, on August 16 for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s Operation Partnership: Civilian Career Day. The program gives military members transitioning out of service the opportunity to spend a day with a Chamber member. Major Chavarria experienced a typical work day at...
Collaborative water resources planning with Hillsborough County - September 2019 – Water is a significant and interconnected resource; rainwater, stormwater, surface water, groundwater, and wastewater all provide value to our community. Recognizing the interrelated nature of water, Hillsborough County is developing new programs, such as green infrastructure initiatives, to integrate the built environment’s water cycle with the natural water cycle. Additionally, Planning Commission... Protecting wildlife corridors - September 2019 – When we hear the word ecosystem, images of rivers, lakes, forests, animals, and plants readily come to mind. We often fail to consider that humans are just as much a part of these ecosystems, and often have the greatest impact. Greenways and wildlife corridors provide pathways for the travel of wildlife. This...
What do planners do? - August 2019 – The American Planning Association Florida Chapter (APA FL) recently released three short videos describing what planners do and the benefits of APA membership. You’ll see many familiar faces featured throughout in candid interviews about how their planning careers have been enhanced by APA membership. Grab some popcorn and…check out APA FL’s three...
June’s Info BBQ took a deep dive into Implicit Bias with Jeffery Lorick - August 2019 – There are assumptions, stereotypes, and unintentional actions (positive or negative) we make towards others based on identity labels like race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, or ability. Because our implicit associations are stored in our subconscious, we may act on our biases without even realizing it. This special training with Jeffery Lorick,...
River Board continues to coordinate on resiliency - August 2019 – Climate change is expected to have a dramatic impact on coastal areas in the coming decades. Rivers, particularly near the coastal zone, will not be spared. The lower Hillsborough River, from the city of Tampa Dam down to Tampa Bay, will experience the effects of climate change. This area of the River...
Last call! Take the survey by 7/28 to weigh in and be eligible for drawings! - July 2019 – Check out MPO Executive Director, Beth Alden on Tampa Bay’s Morning Blend on ABC with Roxanne Wilder talking about why it’s important to take the It’s TIME Hillsborough survey now. Listen to Beth Alden and Pedal Power Tampa’s Christine Acosta on Q105 on The Current with Roxanne Wilder (click at bottom of...
Staff Spotlight: Melissa Lienhard - Melissa Lienhard, AICP | Principal Planner | Tenure: 4 years Melissa leads a team that works on consistency findings for unincorporated Hillsborough County Comprehensive Plan Amendments and rezonings. We have monthly deadlines and a relatively heavy workload, both of which help keep things interesting and fast-paced. We attend weekly rezoning pre-submittal meetings and counsel members...
Staff Spotlight: Allison Yeh - Allison Yeh, AICP, LEED AP | Executive Planner & Sustainability Coordinator | Tenure: 14 years Allison manages the MPO’s Unified Planning Work Program and is the GIS and Resiliency Planning Lead. She serves as the MPO USF liaison and internship coordinator for the past eight years. She was project manager for the Resilient Tampa Bay...
Long range water planning critical to residents and health of the River - July 2019 – Water is critical to the daily life of people. We need clean water from the environment to drink, bathe, and for various other household, commercial, and industrial uses. The natural environment also needs clean water to sustain wildlife, forests, and ecosystems. Planning for future water needs is therefore essential to ensure people and...
Warm welcomes - June 2019 – Over the past several months, we’ve had the opportunity to welcome great new talent to Plan Hillsborough. Left to right: Meghan D. Betourney, SPHR | Project Manager – Accountability & Employee Engagement | Meghan has Human Resources experience in both the private and public sector with her most recent experience as an HR Project Manager with the Hillsborough...
Fond farewells June 2019 - June 2019 – This month, we’re saying goodbye to two employees who’ve worked with the Planning Commission/Plan Hillsborough for a combined total of 60 years of dedicated service. Steve Griffin, Strategic Planning Initiatives Team Leader, and Beverly Daniels, Senior Planning & Zoning Tech, have been leaders in our agency and in our community. Both will...
River Board & TAC welcome back consistent, dedicated members - June 2019 – Much of the River Board’s success is due to its tireless and dedicated volunteers. Since 1986, a string of devoted people have freely given their time to maintain, and improve, the Hillsborough River for all to enjoy. The Board is composed of three elected officials, one from the Tampa City Council, one...
It’s TIME to take a survey! (June 3 – July 28) - Let’s do better, together, as we update Hillsborough’s Long Range Transportation Plan! Hillsborough County will grow to more than two million people by 2045. No single transportation solution will solve our traffic woes as we continue to grow. We need more transportation choices and safe mobility for everyone. This is where you come in… In...
Our staff (and families) cleaned up pretty well on April 27! - May 2019 – On April 27th Plan Hillsborough staff, and family members, participated in the Great American Cleanup sponsored by Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful. The team of volunteers spent their Saturday morning picking up trash along the trails, shoreline, and boat ramp at Riverhills Park in Temple Terrace. The cleanup is a call to action to create more...
Tampa dam flow regulated by new sluice gate - May 2019 – Maintaining a minimum flow of fresh water down the lower Hillsborough River has been critical to the recovery and maintenance of this important natural resource. How do you maintain flow when water in the reservoir isn’t high enough to flow over the dam? Until recently, the solution was to use electric powered...
Plan Hillsborough’s Earth Day activities 2019 - April 2019 – To promote and encourage sustainable and resilient practices within the agency and in the community, Plan Hillsborough has been participating in green initiatives like our Commuter Challenge and the Hillsborough County recycling program. In honor of Earth Day, the agency will have its first paperless Planning Commission meeting on April 8, with...
Try FLiP 2019! - April 2019 – Know a high school student who may want to explore planning as a potential career? Through a series of speakers, interactive planning activities, and tours on foot, bus, streetcar, and boat, our Future Leaders in Planning, FLiP 2019, summer student leadership development program June 4 – 7 will provide: The chance to network with and...
Have you seen a Water Goat? - April 2019 – No, we are not describing a mythical aquatic animal. A Water Goat is a system placed around stormwater outfalls to collect litter before it enters our waterways. One was installed in McKay Bay in 2017 to capture trash from Ybor City. There’s currently another Water Goat is in the Temple Crest area of Tampa. And, there...
Garden Steps is runner up in the #HealthiestCitiesChallenge - March 2019 – On February 12, the Hillsborough MPO’s Garden Steps initiative was named as one of just eight runners up in the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge. The Challenge is a collaboration between the Aetna Foundation, the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) empowering 50 small to midsize...2018 Facts & Figures are here - March 2019 – Did you know that 42% of workers in Hillsborough County live outside of our county? The Facts & Figures report is a compilation of demographic and vital statistics for Hillsborough County and the cities of Plant City, Tampa, and Temple Terrace. The 2018 report highlights: Families & Housing | Health | Facts...
#CommuterChallenge19 sparks commuting love connections - March 2019 – During the week of February 11-15, commuters were encouraged to try an old favorite or a new mode of transportation, other than driving alone, to get to work. More than half of Plan Hillsborough staff and many local commuters participated for a trip, a day, or the entire week. Since most commuters... Try FLiP 2019! - March 2019 – Know a high school student who may want to explore planning as a potential career? Through a series of speakers, interactive planning activities, and tours on foot, bus, streetcar, and boat, our Future Leaders in Planning, FLiP 2019, summer student leadership development program June 4 – 7 will provide: The chance to...
Sea Level Rise and the Hillsborough River - March 2019 – The latest National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association’s (NOAA) Sea Level Rise projections suggest that if just the intermediate projections are correct, we could see three feet of sea level rise by 2100 (Global and Regional Sea Level Rise Scenarios for the United States, NOAA Technical Report NOS CO-OPS 083, January 2017). This...
Plan Hillsborough | 2018 Annual Report - February 2019 – Our 2018 Annual Report highlights many projects and accomplishments our staff has achieved. We continue to strive to exemplify our agency values – Integrity and Trust | Innovation | Transparency | Stewardship | Servant Leadership – as we serve the Planning Commission, Hillsborough MPO, Hillsborough River Board, and the jurisdictions and citizens of Tampa, Temple... Try FLiP 2019! - February 2019 – Know a high school student who may want to explore planning as a potential career? Through a series of speakers, interactive planning activities, and tours on foot, bus, streetcar, and boat, our Future Leaders in Planning, FLiP 2019, summer student leadership development program June 4 – 7 will provide: The chance to network with and learn from planning...
Microplastics… Should we be concerned? - February 2019 – The River Board’s Technical Advisory Council recently received a presentation by University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Service regarding plastics in the environment. Particularly after a heavy rain, trash finds its way into the Hillsborough River. Beginning around the 1950s, more and more of the trash being...
Tampa Riverwalk: the West Side Story - January 2019 – With six mayors in the making, the Tampa Riverwalk was completed under Mayor Buckhorn’s leadership with the last section from the Straz Center to WaterWorks Park (a Planning Commission 34th Annual Planning & Design Award of Outstanding Contribution to the Community winner). The Tampa Riverwalk is a 15-foot wide (or more) walkway...
Looking forward to continue working with you in 2019! - December 2018 – In accordance with upcoming Hillsborough County holidays, our office will be closed: Monday | 12.24.18 | Christmas Eve Tuesday | 12.25.18 | Christmas Day Tuesday | 01.01.19 | New Year’s Day Monday | 01.21.19 | Martin Luther King Jr Day 
Dr. Scott Paine on The HADOC Method for more productive discussion on polarizing issues - December 2018 – Florida League of Cities’ Director of Leadership, Development & Education, Dr. Scott Paine, took a deep dive into the difficult subject of finding common ground in a polarized world at our November 29 Info BBQ. His presentation highlighted these important guidelines: Hear | Accept | Depersonalize | Own | Care Watch the...
River Board welcomes new member from Hillsborough County - December 2018 – In November, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) appointed Commissioner Stacy White to the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board. From 2010-2014, Stacy served on the Hillsborough County School Board for the eighth largest school district in the nation with an annual budget of nearly $3 billion and a student population...
Please join us for these special meetings & events! - Over the next month, there are many opportunities to engage in planning for our future and working to make our streets safe for all users. We hope you’ll join us! Thursday, November 15 | 5:30p – 7p | Final Public Meeting | SouthShore Transit Study Reevaluation | Southshore Regional Service Center, 410 30th Street SE, Ruskin Citizens are...
Happy trails, Commissioner Higginbotham! - November, 2018 – Al Higginbotham likes the old backpacker saying: “If you see something that’s not right, fix it. If you explore nature, leave without a trace.” It’s a credo reflected in his legacy over the past 12 years as a Hillsborough County Commissioner and member of the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board. Higginbotham –...
Meet our new team members! - October 2018 – Plan Hillsborough is excited to welcome four new team members who will be working to support the Planning Commission, Hillsborough MPO, and the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board. Allow us to introduce you to: Mary Kelley Hoppe | Planning Outreach Manager Vishaka Shiva Raman | Community Planner Kierra Zuokemefa | Community Planner...
How does growth affect the health of the Hillsborough River? - October 2018 – By 2045, Hillsborough County’s population is expected to increase by about 40%, or 600,000 new residents, according to the Bureau of Economic and Business Research. Understanding and mitigating environmental impacts associated with such rapid growth is a key focus of the Planning Commission, the Hillsborough MPO, and Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board. Stormwater runoff from developed...
Plan Hillsborough Strategic Plan sets agency priorities - September 2018 – During their July and August meetings, the Planning Commission, Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Hillsborough River Board unanimously approved the 2018-2023 Strategic Plan. Plan Hillsborough developed the Strategic Plan with joint direction from the three boards, identifying seven consolidated areas of focus and directing resources and staff priorities over the next five years....
Meet our 2018/19 USF Fellows - September 2018 – Plan Hillsborough continues to support the University of South Florida’s Masters in Urban & Regional Planning (MURP) program through two fellowships each year. These talented students contribute their fresh perspectives and talents to many projects while gaining hands-on planning experience. Prior to accepting this fellowship, Aaron Young excelled in his studies in Sociology...
Planning for and regulating our water supply - September 2018 – How water from the environment gets to your tap can be a complicated process. Local governments often develop their own sources of water to supply to their residents. These are often public supply wells drawing on ground water from the Floridan Aquifer or surface water from a river. Access to these natural... Living shorelines, enhanced seawalls improve the Hillsborough River - August 2018 – Early in the City of Tampa’s History the lower Hillsborough River was largely a commercial shipping area supporting the many businesses of the area. To facilitate the docking of merchant ships, seawalls were constructed. In other parts of the river, seawalls were installed to protect against erosion. Unfortunately, the loss of natural...
Executive Director highlights accomplishments and needs - July 2018 – Like many urban areas, Tampa’s downtown is undergoing a renaissance. With much of downtown Tampa on the waterfront of the Bay and Hillsborough River, these areas are being transformed. Mr. Shawn College, AICP, Executive Director of the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board, recently joined a panel brought together by the Tampa Downtown...
Reclaimed water on “TAP” for the City of Tampa - June 2018 – With adequate water flow important for the health of the Hillsborough River, the City of Tampa continues to look at innovative ways to enhance their potable water supply and leave them less dependent on water from the Hillsborough River. TAP, an acronym for Tampa Augmentation Project, is Tampa’s latest attempt to deliver...
Minimum flow gets reevaluated - May 2018 – As the City of Tampa grew, and more and more water was withdrawn from the middle river above the City of Tampa Dam, the lower river’s fresh water flow was reduced. This choked the lower river, robbing it of its necessary freshwater estuarine nature to the detriment of fish and wildlife. River...
April is water conservation month - April 2018 – April is historically one of the driest months in Florida. With little rainfall, surface water supplies are not as readily replenished and demand is high as people are watering their lawns more. The Hillsborough River is a source of water supply. Tampa withdraws and treats water from the river and then distributes...
Have a voice in your future drinking water choice - April 2018 – The Hillsborough River is one of the many sources for water supply in our region. Robust and diversified water supply sources help to reduce dependence on any one source, including the river. Tampa Bay’s population growth by 2030 is expected to increase demand for drinking water beyond the current supply. Tampa Bay...
Middle River history - March 2018 – One of the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board’s roles is to educate the public on the context and history of the river as a major environmental and community asset. The “middle river” through Temple Terrace and into the City of Tampa didn’t always include a dam, and that dam wasn’t always used...
SWFWMD briefs River Board TAC on Hurricane Irma - February 2018 – Hurricane Irma provided the River Board Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) with a number of lessons to learn from and opportunities for continued collaboration amongst the various agencies represented at the TAC’s January 16 meeting. Joel Brown, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) staff representative to the River Board TAC, briefed the...
Baker Creek nutrient source tracking - January 2018 – On November 27, John McGee of Hillsborough County Public Works presented information on the Baker Creek Nutrient Source Tracking project to the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board. This project, cooperatively funded with the Southwest Florida Water Management District, identified sources of nutrients affecting the Baker Creek Watershed, which includes tributaries of the...
APA Florida Sun Coast Section takes Hillsborough River tour - December 2017 – On December 1st, Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board Executive Director Shawn College joined City of Tampa Planning Commissioner Karen Kress and City of Tampa staff as a speaker on the APA Florida Sun Coast Section’s Hillsborough River Tour. Mr. College presented information on the River Board and Hillsborough River to a diverse...
Freshwater flows are essential to the lower Hillsborough River - November 2017 – Per Chapter 86‐335, Laws of Florida, the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board and Technical Advisory Council monitors development and other activities associated with the river to maintain the health and integrity of the river for the benefit and enjoyment of the residents of Hillsborough County. Rivers are dynamic systems that carry water...
Sewage Spill into Hillsborough River Prompts River Board Review - October 2017 – On Monday, August 28th heavy rains overwhelmed the Tampa Sewage system causing 320,000 gallons of raw sewage to spill into the Hillsborough River. This spill occurred at two different locations. The larger spill which occurred north of the Columbus Drive Bridge on North Perry Avenue caused 290,000 gallons of sewage to be...
Tampa to install slide gate on Hillsborough River dam - September 2017 – Maintaining environmental quality and estuarine habitat for plant and wildlife in the Hillsborough River is a goal of both the River Board and the City of Tampa. One way the City works to attain this goal is by meeting a minimum amount of fresh water flow to the lower Hillsborough River. The...
River Board elects new officers - August 2017 – The Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board is the designated forum in Hillsborough County responsible for promoting orderly planning, regulation, and development along the river corridor to ensure the environmental health of the Hillsborough River as it runs through three jurisdictions. Three elected officials representing each of the local governments the river runs...
River Board TAC hears request for new slow speed zone - August 2017 – Boat slow speed zones can be adopted by ordinance of the Tampa City Council. The Tampa Cruis-A-Cade Club (TCCC) has met with representatives of the City and is seeking support for the new slow speed zone. The Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board’s Technical Advisory Council (TAC) heard a presentation from Cruis-A-Cade on...
Sea Level Rise estimates on the Hillsborough River - August 2017 – The Peril of Flood Act of 2015 created new requirements for local governments to address flooding, including flooding from sea level rise. The Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board and its Technical Advisory Council received a presentation on the report’s assessment of the Hillsborough River’s vulnerability to sea level rise at their May...
Tired of cluttered inboxes? 5 publications become 1 starting August 1st - We get it. For years you’ve been reading our newsletters, as many as three per month, including Beyond Today, River News, Rubber meets the Road, Walk Bike News and Hillsborough Rides. We’re excited to announce that starting August 1, you’ll be receiving one monthly newsletter from Plan Hillsborough. Streamlined and consolidated like our agency, Connections...
Welcome to our new board members! - The City of Tampa appointed Guido Maniscalco to be their representative on the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board. Maniscalco was born and raised in Tampa and is the son of Cuban and Italian immigrants. His family has operated a business in West Tampa for over forty years. A graduate of Tampa Catholic High School and... Technical Advisory Committee re-elect Brown and Doughty - At their January regular meeting, the Technical Advisory Council re-elected incumbent Dr. Richard Brown, representing the citizens of Hillsborough County, to another term as Chair. Incumbent Derek Doughty, representing the Planning Commission on the TAC, was re-elected Vice Chair. Congratulations to our continuing TAC officers! View all articles in our Plan Hillsborough publications archive. 
Boat Tour celebrates 30-Year Anniversary - What better way to celebrate the River Board’s 30-Year Anniversary than with a boat tour of the river? On October 14, current and past River Board and TAC members, elected and appointed officials, staff and leadership from various local agencies, and interested citizens gathered at the Lowry Park Boat Ramp to embark on the boat...
Watch out for migrating manatees! - Always watch out for manatees swimming in Florida’s rivers, bays, or coastal waters. Keep in mind this time of year manatees are searching for warmer waters to help them survive winter’s cold. With the onset of the manatee migration, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds people in boats and personal watercraft to... Montelione recognized for service to River Board - After six successful years on the Tampa City Council and River Board, Lisa Montelione is moving on. Fellow River Board and TAC members recognized Councilwoman Montelione for her service at their regular meeting on August 22, 2016. Councilwoman Montelione is the current Chair of the River Board. Her passion for the Hillsborough River and active...
What’s easier, turning off water indoors or outside? - Apparently, it’s more convenient for Florida residents to save water while brushing their teeth than to cut back on lawn irrigation, according to a new report from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension report. 932 people deemed to be high-water users in Orlando, Tampa/Sarasota, and Miami/Fort Lauderdale were surveyed. Respondents...
New method detects low-dose impacts of man-made chemicals in water - In a new study published in the Science Advances journal, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, researchers say they have found a better way to assess the potential impacts of low doses of man-made chemicals – like pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) – on water bodies and their ecosystems. PPCPS...
FDEP approves proposal to change criteria on water pollutants - The Florida Environmental Regulation Commission voted to approve a proposal that would impose new criteria on 39 chemicals not currently regulated and change the regulations on 43 other toxics that include carcinogens. The proposal calls for toxic levels to be increased for known carcinogens and decreased for 13 currently regulated chemicals. The proposal was based...
New at-risk vessel law helps manage waterways - A new Florida law, approved during the 2016 Session, will enable county and local authorities along with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to more effectively manage the state’s waterways. The new law, F.S. 327.4107, allows law enforcement officers to issue non-criminal citations to owners who allow their boats to become “at risk”...
UF/IFAS 4Rs program helps growers use best management practices for fertilizer use - University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers have introduced the Four RIGHT (4Rs) program to help Florida growers maximize the use of nutrients and fertilizers while minimizing the impact on the environment. The program helps growers use the right fertilizer in the right place, at the right time, using the right method.... Hillsborough River Board celebrates 30 years! - Congratulations to our Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board and Technical Advisory Council on 30 years of planning for the environmental health of the Hillsborough River! Created by the Florida Legislature in 1986 to monitor activities and actions in and around the Hillsborough River, the River Board adopted and maintains the River Master Plan and makes...
FEMA provides interactive map to identify Flood Hazard Zones - Hurricane season is coming up soon. Now is a good time to get an update on your flood zone status. Search for your home, work, and school addresses to see if where you live, work, or go to school is in a Flood Hazard Zone on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Hazard map.
Controlling the cost of controlling invasive plants - Of all the invasive plants in Florida’s waterways, hydrilla costs the most to contain – $66 million over a seven-year period, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher says. But UF/IFAS researchers are finding new ways to use less chemical treatment, and thus less money, to manage hydrilla. From 2008...
Armstrong appointed SWFWMD Executive Director - The Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District appointed Brian Armstrong to replace Robert Beltran, who is returning to the private sector after serving as Executive Director since September 2013. Mr. Armstrong has served as the District’s assistant executive director since May 2014. In that role he has been responsible for the leadership... SWFWMD and County exchange land for restoration and protection - The Southwest Florida Water Management District‘s Governing Board recently voted to exchange properties with Hillsborough County in an effort to work together to protect conservation land. The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve this same effort at their April 20 meeting. The District agreed to exchange approximately 205 acres of land with... How much $ can you save on irrigation costs after just 1 inch of rain? - A one-inch rainfall event delivers approximately 7,000 gallons of rainwater to a 10,000 square-foot lot. That free rainfall is equal to $20 – $70 in potable water irrigation costs, depending on your total monthly water use. A rain sensor will do the work and the saving for you. A rain sensor is a device or... SWFWMD agrees to safeguards for Morris Bridge Sink water withdrawals - With the Water Management District seeking to withdrawal water from the Morris Bridge Sink to supplement the flow of the Hillsborough River, a growing chorus of voices raised concerns that the water is not needed and that pumping the sink could result in environmental impacts. Rising opposition from various groups, including the River Board, led...
Tampa’s TAP study may use reclaimed water to supplement tap water - The City of Tampa is investigating a new water supply project, the Tampa Augmentation Project (TAP), to beneficially reuse highly treated reclaimed water from the City’s Howard F. Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. The ultimate objective of TAP is to create additional water supply for potable use within the Tampa Bay region. The reclaimed water...
Pitch in at the Great American Cleanup - Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful is recruiting volunteers and site captains for the 2016 Great American Cleanup at various sites throughout Hillsborough County. Projects may involve habitat restoration, trash removal, landscape plantings, playground/park restoration, and tree plantings. This year’s theme, Green Starts Here, is a call to action to create sustainable communities by focusing on activities...
Temple Terrace celebrates River Board’s 30 Years - On April 5, Temple Terrace Mayor Frank Chillura and the Temple Terrace City Council issued a proclamation recognizing the work and achievements of the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board and Technical Advisory Council and celebrating its 30-year anniversary. April is Water Conservation Month - Outdoor water use typically accounts for up to 50 percent of water consumed by households. You can reduce your outdoor water consumption by taking a few simple steps. Download the Southwest Florida Water Management Districts‘ free six-page “Saving Water Outdoors” brochure, and learn more about water conservation.
Celebrate Earth Day Tampa Bay on April 23 - Celebrates Earth Day Tampa Bay Saturday, April 23 10a – 3p Celebrate Earth Day Tampa Bay at the 7th Annual EcoFest at the Lowry Park bandshell area, featuring live music, workshops, green living products and organic produce for sale, local artists, and educational booths. This free community event is organized by Learning Gate Community School,... River Board celebrates 30 Years! - Your River Board is proud to be celebrating our 30 year anniversary as an extremely effective organization. Created by Special Act 86-335, Laws of Florida in 1986, the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board is the designated forum in Hillsborough County responsible for promoting orderly planning, regulation, and development along the river corridor to ensure the... SWFWMD approves regional water supply plan for Central Florida - The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board approved an important water supply plan for Central Florida in November. The strategy charts a long-term course of more aggressive water conservation, expanded and more efficient water reuse projects and alternative water-supply project options to ensure adequate water supplies for the region through 2035. The plan was...
Strategies to keep pollutants out of your neighborhood storm water pond - Many people live in subdivisions with storm water ponds, which collect water from the neighborhood and help keep pollutants such as fertilizers, pesticides and pet waste from getting into the broader environment. Now, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF | IFAS) researchers and Extension faculty have devised strategies to help...
Sid Flannery receives inaugural Hillsborough River Stewardship Award - The Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board and Technical Advisory Council awarded its first annual Hillsborough River Stewardship Award recognizing leadership and dedication in the protection of the health and well-being of the Hillsborough River. Tampa City Councilwoman and Hillsborough River Board Chair, Lisa Montelione presented a specially engraved oar to Sid Flannery at the Planning... Public private partners clean up river - The City of Tampa, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, FDOT and Zephyrhills Water are collaborating on a watershed stewardship project to reduce the non-point source pollution and improve the water quality of the Hillsborough River. Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful is hosting a series of land and water-based cleanups, storm drain markings and watershed education activities throughout 2016 to... TAC welcomes back Commissioner Doughty - The River Board is honored to announce that Planning Commissoner Derek Doughty has rejoined the TAC as the Planning Commission appointee. A member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Mr. Doughty has focused on the development of hydrologic and hydraulic modeling of stormwater conveyance systems and management facilities. He brings extensive experience in Land...
TAC Vice Chair Peter Owens retires - After 38 years of public service to the citizens of Hillsborough County, Pete Owens retires. For 18 years, Mr. Owens has served as the Environmental Protection Commission’s representative to the River Board’s Technical Advisory Council, and much of that time he has served as Vice Chair. “I am very proud to have been a team...
River Board issues Letter of Opposition to water withdrawals from the Morris Bridge sink - The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) has submitted a water use permit application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to use up to 3.9 mgd* of water from Morris Bridge Sink for diversion through the Tampa Bypass Canal to the base of the dam on the Hillsborough River. The DEP has issued... New year, new look for the River Board - Your River Board has a new look. The logo of the River Board has been updated. We hope you like this fresh now look! The River Board is part of a consolidated agency that includes the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission. All three have updated logos. This update...
July is Keep Florida Fishing Month! - Keep Florida Fishing advocates for clean waters, abundant fisheries, and access to both. Recreational fishing is important to Florida’s economy, supporting more than 123,000 jobs and generating $9.3 billion in economic activity. At more than 3 million strong, Florida anglers also are the financial force behind the state’s fisheries conservation efforts, providing $46.5 million annually...
New Year. New Look! - Plan Hillsborough represents us, an agency of dedicated and innovative planning staff serving: Our new look was created in-house, inspired by the excitement of a thriving future for our region. It is modern, bold, and clean, better representing the brighter future we are planning together… with you! Check out the presentation below for...
Morris Bridge Sink Project - The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) has submitted a water use permit application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to use up to 3.9 mgd of water from Morris Bridge Sink for diversion through the Tampa Bypass Canal to the base of the dam on the Hillsborough River. The DEP has issued its...
Tampa City Council approves increase in stormwater fees - BY CHRISTOPHER O’DONNELL Tribune staff Published: September 3, 2015 | Updated: September 4, 2015 at 05:52 AM Yearly assessments for stormwater services will go up from $36 to $82 for the owner of an average size home in Tampa, the first hike in a decade. Tampa City Council on Thursday unanimously approved the increase, the...
Congratulations to Hillsborough’s Environmental Protection Commission! - On October, Sustainable Florida awarded its Community Engagement Best Practice Award to the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) of Hillsborough County for its Clean Air Fair. The Clean Air Fair is organized by the EPC Air Division as a community celebration of May as Clean Air Month (as designated by EPA) with the goal of...
Enter the 2015 ELAPP Calendar Photo Contest - The Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program’s (ELAPP) Calendar Photo Contest invites all photographers (amateurs and professionals of all ages) to unlock the many natural treasures hidden within more than 60 Hillsborough County’s nature preserves. All photos must be taken at a Hillsborough County ELAPP Site. View the list of all sites...
Welcome new Technical Advisory Council Member Stephanie A. Agliano - The Planning Commission recently appointed Ms. Stephanie Agliano as their representative to the River Board’s Technical Advisory Council (TAC). A fourth generation Tampa native, Ms. Agliano brings more than 26 years of utility and energy industry knowledge and experience to the TAC. Her years of working in the utility industry also included extensive experience in... SJRWMD and UF scientists discuss progress made on springs science investigation - More than 50 scientists and engineers with the St. Johns River Water Management District and University of Florida (UF) met on September 1 to report on progress made in the first year of a three-year partnership to enhance the scientific foundation needed to develop solutions to restore and protect Florida’s springs. Among accomplishments: Installed wells...
River Board to recognize outstanding stewardship of the river - At their August 24th regular quarterly meeting, the River Board approved the inaugural Hillsborough River Stewardship Award. This award, sponsored by the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board and Technical Advisory Council, will recognize persons who have made a significant contribution to the health, well-being and stewardship of the Hillsborough River. This prestigious award will be... Hillsborough restoring money to land-buying program - By Mike Salinero, Tampa Tribune Staff Source: Tampa Tribune, Published: September 10, 2015 Updated: September 10, 2015 at 09:10 PM TAMPA – Hillsborough County’s conservation lands program, which was practically bankrupt, is getting an infusion of money thanks to better-than-expected property tax revenues. County Administrator Mike Merrill amended his fiscal 2016 budget to include $15... Hillsborough River & Coastal Cleanup - Save the Date – September 19, 2015 Join Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful as we host local sites along Tampa Bay, the Hillsborough River, Alafia River, Little Manatee River, Lake Thonotosassa and other waterways throughout Hillsborough County. Last year, well over 60,500 pounds of litter and debris was removed from more than 75 locations throughout Hillsborough...Discover amazing stuff about your water - The Tampa Bay Times Newspaper in Education (NIE) program is a cooperative effort between schools and the Times to promote the use of newspapers in print and electronic form as educational resources. Since the mid-1970s, NIE has provided schools with class sets of informational text in the form of the daily newspaper and our award...
River Board Legislation Update signed by Governor - Updating the River Board’s authorizing legislation, untouched since its inception in the 1980’s, was one of the priorities of the River Board this year. Chapter 86-335, Laws of Florida, establishes the River Board (Board), its Technical Advisory Council (TAC), and its mission. The legislation details the composition of the Board and TAC, how they are appointed,... Stormwater controls reported to River Board - With concern regarding the relatively rainy winter and the upcoming summer rainy season, the River Board requested presentations by the respective government stormwater departments having responsibility adjacent to the Hillsborough River. Specifically the River Board wanted to understand the effort of the stormwater departments in mitigating the risk of flood events during the summer rainy... SWFWMD releases Hydrobiological Assessment - Mr. Douglas A. Leeper, Chief Advisory Environmental Scientist with the Water Resources Bureau of the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), gave a presentation to the River Board’s Technical Advisory Council on June 16 on SWFWMD’s Hydrobiological Assessment of the Minimum Flows for the Lower Hillsborough River. The recovery strategy that was adopted with the minimum flow...
Battle over invasive aquatic weeds continues in the Hillsborough River - The River Board’s Technical Advisory Council has spent the last few months investigating the incidence of invasive aquatic weed growth in the Hillsborough River. With presentations from Hillsborough County Public works, who contracts with the state to perform aquatic weed control, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which takes the lead in... River Board elects new officers - At the February quarterly meeting, the River Board elected new officers. Tampa City Councilwoman Lisa Montelione was elected Chair. Temple Terrace City Council member and Vice Mayor Grant Rimbey was elected Vice Chair. River Board officers serve two year terms. Congratulations to our new officers!
Riverwalk celebrates new Kennedy Plaza - The current, and several previous Mayors of Tampa, attended the grand opening of the Kennedy Boulevard Plaza segment of the Tampa Riverwalk on March 27 at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. “The Riverwalk” has been in the making for 40 years, and it has taken the efforts of six mayors to be completed. Its construction represents the...
Imagine 2040 receives Innovation Award - The 14th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference held in Baltimore, Maryland last week featured practical tools and innovative strategies for creating great communities. At this event, the Open Planning Tools Group (OPTG) announced the winners of the 2nd Annual Innovation Awards. Imagine 2040 received the Exemplary Implementation Award, recognizing a planning process or project that utilized... A heartfelt farewell to River Board Chair Alison Fernandez - Termed out of office, the River Board must sadly say goodbye to long term member, and Chair of the River Board, Temple Terrace City Council Member Alison Fernandez. Council Member Fernandez became a resident of Temple Terrace in 1972, where she attended local schools, starting with Temple Terrace Elementary and graduating from King High School....
2014 Hillsborough River inlet marking and Coastal Clean Up - The City of Tampa, FDOT, Zephyrhills Water Company (Nestle Corp), Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Hillsborough County and Tampa Bay Watch are collaborating on a watershed stewardship project to reduce the non-point source pollution and improve the water quality of the Hillsborough River. There are a series of scheduled land and water based cleanups, storm drain...
Tampa unveils plans for Julian B Lane Park renovation - By Keith Morelli, Tribune Staff Published: September 9, 2014 TAMPA – Susan Lane stopped by to hear and see first hand the renovations planned for Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, tucked onto the west bank of the Hillsborough River between Tampa Preparatory School and the Laurel Street Bridge.She had not been invited by city officials....
Water Flowing Into Reservoir - Tampa Bay Water is once again storing water in the region’s water savings account, the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir. Since July 25, 2014, an average of 129 million gallons of water has flowed into the reservoir daily. Water flows into the C.W. Bill Young Reservoir The reservoir has been undergoing a renovation since 2012... Congrats to Planning & Design award winners! - On October 30, the Planning Commission held it’s 32nd Annual Planning & Design Awards presented by Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas at the A La Carte Pavilion. Hosted by ABC Action News Anchor, Brendan McLaughlin, this awards program is a well-respected tradition honoring the very best in planning and design in Hillsborough County. A panel of judges...
Imagine 2040 : Part 2…You told us more! - More than 2,400 citizens spoke up in July and August for the future of transportation. Over an 8-week period, culminating with an interactive display at Florida’s Largest Home Show over Labor Day weekend. Opinions were sought on transportation needs from a wide spectrum of groups at 65 events as well as from the comfort of... Imagine 2040 launch a success! - In case you missed our Imagine 2040 : Part 2 Media Day Launch event on Thursday, July 20 at Tampa Bay Grand Prix, check out this HTV News Brief: Imagine 2040 : Part 2 launch event HTV news brief Chuck Henson breaks down the Imagine 2040 survey into five easy steps in a conversation with... River Board contributes to Julian B Lane Park redevelopment - Julian B Lane Park is 23 acres located across the Hillsborough River from Downtown Tampa and is generally considered an underutilized property. Tampa has hired Civitas, a consulting company, to engage the community and create a plan for the redevelopment of the park. There are opportunities to capitalize on this asset, making the park more...
River Board tours CW Bill Young Reservoir - In June, several members of the River Board & TAC toured the CW Bill Young Reservoir, a key component of the regional water supply system. Abnormal cracking in the reservoir’s soil-cement erosion-control layer has limited its functionality. That’s why Tampa Bay Water is renovating the reservoir, replacing the erosion-control layer, so the facility can perform...
Federal Channel width reduced in Downtown area of Hillsborough River - Over the past several years, the City of Tampa has worked to narrow the Hillsborough River Federal Channel on the south side of Kennedy Boulevard Bridge to the mouth of the Hillsborough River. The River Board examined and endorsed this effort. Most of the channel in the river is 100 feet wide; however, South of... River Board supports Ulele Springs restoration - Most people walk or boat by it every day and don’t even know it exists. Years ago, Ulele Spring was reduced to a stormwater pipe emptying into the Hillsborough River near downtown. Tom Ries, of the nonprofit Ecosphere Restoration Institute, has been working diligently to recreate a natural landscape for the spring to enter the... Technical Advisory Council Chair Brown reappointed - Congratulations to Dr. Richard Brown. On June 18, the Board of County Commissioners reappointed Dr. Brown to another four year term on the Technical Advisory Council, representing the citizens of Hillsborough County. Dr. Brown currently serves as Chair of the Technical Advisory Council. Happy 25th Anniversary ELAPP! - The Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department of Hillsborough County celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program, also known as ELAPP, on April 11th. A host of dignitaries attended the celebration, including former Governor Bob Martinez and former Hillsborough County Jan K. Platt, after whom the County’s ELAPP program has now...
Florida Water Star - Certifying excellence in water conservation, saving resources and protecting the environment The Florida Water Star program is a statewide, voluntary water conservation certification program for new and existing residential homes and commercial buildings. The program encourages water efficiency in appliances, plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems and landscapes, as well as water quality benefits from landscape best... River Board’s Technical Advisory Council Annual Election of Officers - At its regular meeting of January 21, 2014, the River Board’s Technical Advisory Council held its annual election of officers. Dr. Richard Brown was unanimously elected to continue to serve an additional year as Chair. Mr. Peter Owens was also unanimously elected to continue to serve an additional year as Vice Chair. River Board approves Florida State Capital update of its Legislation - First established via Chapter 86-335, Laws of Florida, on June 6, 1986, the River Board is a special Board and Council established by the Florida Legislature to monitor activities and actions in the Hillsborough River Corridor. The river begins in west central Florida, and enters Tampa Bay in the center of the City of Tampa....
River Board supports decommissioning of Federal Channel designation over part of River - The Federal Channel on the Hillsborough River was established in the late 1800s and is primarily 100 feet wide, centered on the river.South of Kennedy Boulevard Bridge, the channel widens to 200 feet for about .4 of a mile until it terminates in the turning basin just south of the Platt Street Bridge.This wider area... River Board requests delay in Blue Sink pumping permit - In an ongoing effort to provide minimum flows for the lower Hillsborough River, while allowing continued optimal use of the City of Tampa Reservoir in the middle river, the City of Tampa applied for a Water Use Permit from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) to pump water from a sinkhole in the Forrest... Members round up - On November 14, 2013 the BOCC reappointed Commissioner Al Higginbotham to the River Board. A native Floridian from Plant City, Commissioner Higginbotham received a degree in political science with an emphasis on South American Government from the University of Florida. His political interests led him to serve as a Congressional aide in Washington, Hillsborough River...
River Board applauds CF Industries habitat restoration - CF Industries, a phosphate company with operations in Northeast Hillsborough County proximate to the Hillsborough River, recently executed a land swap with Hillsborough County.This swap provided an opportunity for expansion of their facility and provided the county with valuable natural areas. CF Industries also is providing habitat restoration. At their December 10, 2013 regular meeting,... River Board urges DEP not to surplus Great Green Swamp land - The Great Green Swamp is critical to the surface and groundwater hydrology of Central Florida, as well as providing vital water to the Hillsborough River. It was therefore a surprise to many when the Florida Department of Environmental Protection listed a portion of this land, the Hilochee Wildlife Management Area, for sale. In the wake... Thank you for your participation! - Imagine 2040’s big numbers & big ideas! It’s Thanksgiving time, and we are so thankful for each and every one of you who participated in Imagine 2040, making this the most successful public involvement response we’ve ever had! Man using kiosk to weigh in on Imagine2040 In coming weeks, we’ll be posting more... Imagine 2040 : Part 2 - Imagine 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan The Long Range Transportation Plan directs federal and state dollars towards projects we value. It looks out at least 20 years and must be updated every five years. The MPO adopted the Imagine 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan on November 12, 2014. But the 2040 Plan is a dynamic... River Board Coordinates with Tampa Bay Water - With the C.W.Bill Young Regional Reservoir down for repairs, other sources of water must be relied upon. At their June regular meeting, the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board’s Technical Advisory Council received an update of these repairs by Mr. Jon Kennedy of Tampa Bay Water. Mr. Kennedy reported that no Water Use Permits had been...
SWFWMD Governing Board Selects Beltran as New Executive Director - The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board appointed Robert Beltran to serve as the District’s executive director. Beltran replaces Blake Guillory who was recently hired as the executive director for the South Florida Water Management District. “The Board is confident in Robert’s abilities to lead this organization as we continue to focus on our... Reservoir Provides Water During Construction - Published on Friday, August 23, 2013 Source: Tampa Bay Water The renovation of the 15-billion gallon regional reservoir is being done in a way that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient. One aspect of that environmental commitment is to use all water that is collected on site during construction. No water is discharged from the site....
Developers envision The Heights as historic riverfront neighborhood - Reprinted from the Tampa Tribune By Richard Mullins | Tribune Staff Published: July 26, 2013 Several years ago, developers envisioned a dozen massive new buildings at a site called River Heights, just north of downtown along the river. Then the downturn came, and those dreams evaporated. The site sat dormant. Now, a new pair of Tampa-based... DEP Completes Statewide Rulemaking to Protect Surface Waters, Wetlands - One statewide rule for the Environmental Resource Permit program will improve consistency without lowering or changing environmental standards A more than yearlong rulemaking process to provide more consistency for environmental resource permitting, which affects surface waters and wetlands, have gone into effect October 1. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection The Florida Department of Environmental...
River Board Endorses InVision Tampa - Using federal grant dollars, Tampa created a master plan for its City Center spanning from downtown to Ybor City on the east, Armenia Avenue on the west, and north along historic Nebraska Avenue to Hillsborough Avenue. They focused on downtown and the western bank of the Hillsborough River, as well as the Nebraska Corridor. In... River Board Elects Chair and Vice-Chair - The River Board held elections at its meeting on May 21, 2013. Congratulations to Temple Terrace City Councilwoman Alison Fernandez who was re-elected for another two year term as Chair of the River Board. Congratulations also goes out to Tampa City Councilwoman Lisa Montelione on her election to a two year term as Vice-Chair.
Summer Fertilizer Restrictions in Effect for Tampa - The partners of the Be Floridian fertilizer education campaign remind residents of Manatee and Pinellas counties and the city of Tampa that they can’t apply nitrogen or phosphorous to lawn and landscape plants from June 1-September 30. But that doesn’t mean your grass will turn brown, shrivel up and die! Garden centers throughout these communities...
Tampa, SWFWMD Change Rogers’ Golf Course Runoff - by Kevin Wiatrowski, Tribune staff, Published: May 20, 2013 TAMPA – City and state officials have taken the first steps toward a renovation of Rogers Park Golf Club that would reduce pollution washing into the Hillsborough River. The Tampa City Council agreed to put $100,000 toward changing the course’s drainage layout. The Southwest Florida Water...
Tampa Takes First Step Toward Redeveloping Riverfront Park - by Richard Danielson, Tampa Bay Times TAMPA – City Hall is taking the first step on what is expected to be a three-year, $10.5 million makeover of Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park. “We’re going to make some changes,” Mayor Bob Buckhorn said of the 23-acre park, just south of Interstate 275, across the Hillsborough River... Riverwalk Planned and Built by Six Tampa Mayors - From left to right, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco, former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman, former Florida Gov. and former Tampa Mayor Bob Martinez and former Tampa Mayor Bill Poe listen to Federal Highways Administrator Victor Mendez. Mayors Buckhorn, Poe, Freedman, Martinez, Greco, and Iorio, as well...
Hillsborough River TAC Elects New Officers - The Hillsborough River Technical Advisory Council (TAC) is pleased to announce the re-election of Dr. Richard Brown as Chair and Mr. Peter Owens as Vice Chair. Also, we are sad to announce Mr. Ben Koplin, ex- officio City of Tampa Staff member, is departing the TAC. Mr. Koplin has been a valuable contributor to the...
Florida’s aquifer models full of holes, allowing more water permits and pollution - By Craig Pittman, Times Staff Writer–Published Sunday, January 27, 2013 During a dry day in April 2010, scientists trying to trace the source of pollution in Silver Springs dropped 30 pounds of fluorescent dye into several wells and sinkholes a few miles away. What happened next did more than show the pollution woes facing the... Legislature expected to revisit fertilizer rules - In preparation for another battle over fertilizer ordinances, the Florida Association of Counties has voted to make protecting fertilizer restrictions one of its top three issues going into the 2013 legislative session. “We’ve been told it’s imminent,” Sarasota County commissioner Nora Patterson, said of the potential legislation to limit local control of fertilizer use, according... Lawn watering reduced to one day weekly in Tampa area - By Carl Lisciandrello Published: February 26, 2013 Residents in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties will face tighter watering restrictions starting March 13. The Southwest Florida Water Management District‘s governing board voted Tuesday to enact the tighter controls as below-normal rainfall has resulted in reduced river levels and increased water-supply concerns. The restrictions, which run through...
$2 Million sought for Laurel Street Bridge repair - TBO.com – By Kevin Wiatrowski – January 22, 2013 Mayor Bob Buckhorn is asking the City Council to approve nearly $2 million for emergency repairs to the aging Laurel Street Bridge after state officials discovered the drawbridge can no longer function properly. Council members will consider the request on Thursday. Inspectors with the Department of...
Planned highway becomes haven for wildlife - If all had gone as planned, Honore Avenue would be a bustling six-lane highway running south from Manatee County to Englewood. Instead, the 2.5 mile section just south of busy Fruitville Road is a two-lane road bordered by bioswales and punctuated with roundabouts that accommodate nearly as much traffic as a four-lane highway. Not only...
Stay current on your rivers with USGS WaterNow - For the first time, anyone can find out the current conditions on thousands of rivers and streams across the country, right from their phone, using USGS‘ latest system WaterNow. WaterNow makes the water conditions monitored by more than 16,000 streamgages and other sites across the country available via text or email. Like its predecessor and...
International All-Star Recognition - Thanks to you, we have been chosen as a Constant Contact All Star!– So, what is Constant Contact? It’s the way we send out our ePublications, as well as most of our meeting and event notices. Each year, Constant Contact bestows the All Star Award to a select group of businesses and nonprofits who successfully leverage...
Imagine 2040 Working Group says: Our community needs clear Vision! - Several rounds of questions were posed to the Imagine 2040 Working Group at its first visioning workshop held on February 12. Eager participants used hand-held electronic voting devices to express themselves. The group spoke loudly when asked: “Does this community have a clear vision for the future?” 56% voted “No” with only 16% voting “Yes.”...
EPA approves Florida’s rules to protect waterways from nutrient pollution - The EPA has approved the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) rules to protect Florida’s waterways from excess nitrogen and phosphorus. These pollutants, called nutrients, cause algal blooms, contaminate drinking water supplies and are among the largest contributors to water quality problems in Florida. These rules establish numeric limits on the amount of nutrient pollution...
Talk of Riverfront Park changes alarms some West Tampa residents - That’s the plea from several West Tampa residents who worried Thursday that Mayor Bob Buckhorn’s musings about the future of Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park are leaving them out of the loop. In particular, residents of the West Riverfront neighborhood are worried that one of the mayor’s ideas, putting a waterfront restaurant in the park,...
Felled trees pose a hazard on the River - SEMINOLE HEIGHTS — It was worrisome from the beginning: two men in a small boat and a storm-tossed tree snagged on bridge pilings in murky water. Now Thomas Jones worries that boaters and kayakers should keep a sharp lookout for three runaway logs on the Hillsborough River. They could be adrift somewhere west of the...
Maximum levels for Hillsborough River revised - Minimum levels for the portion of the river that runs through Temple Terrace have still not been set. By Ashley Reams September 27, 2012 Ron Smith knows about the changes that Temple Terrace residents see in the levels of the Hillsborough River. As chairman of the Temple Terrace River Watch Task Force, Smith monitors the...
Tampa Tribune owner looks to split properties on Hillsborough River - TAMPA – As the parent company of the Tampa Tribune looks to sell the newspaper, it has asked the city of Tampa about splitting two properties it owns overlooking the Hillsborough River. Media General of Richmond, Virginia, has filed a three-page application asking whether splitting its properties at 200 and 202 S Parker St would...Top