Updating the Surface Water Resource Protection Area (SWRPA) 

In 2004, Hillsborough County established the Surface Water Resource Protection Area (SWRPA) to help safeguard the County’s drinking water sources from the Hillsborough and Alafia Rivers. The SWRPA restricts certain land uses and discharges that could affect water quality upstream from public water intake structures and ensures that the land surrounding key surface waters is properly protected. The protection zones were originally defined using floodplain and hydrologic data. Along the main reaches of the Hillsborough and Alafia Rivers, the SWRPA includes the 100-year floodplain plus a 200-foot buffer. Tributaries to these rivers are protected based on their 100-year floodplain. At the same time, the Tampa Bypass Canal (from Fowler Avenue south to State Road 60) and the Harney Canal (from the Hillsborough River to the Tampa Bypass Canal) include 1,000 feet of protection on both sides. 

The County is proposing an update to the SWRPA Map to reflect the latest FEMA floodplain information, which shows where flood zones have changed or flow patterns have shifted over time. The revised map continues to include named tributaries directly connected to the Hillsborough and Alafia Rivers, focusing on those with predominantly perennial flow. This update helps ensure the County’s surface water protections remain accurate, up to date, and effective in preserving the quality of drinking water for residents and future generations.  A presentation to the Interlocal Riverboard by Hillsborough County’s Environmental Services Division can be viewed here: Hillsborough River Board & Technical Advisory Council.