TAMPA, Fla. — The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) is working on major repairs and upgrades to water control facilities in the Tampa Area. 

South of Tampa, the Tampa Bypass Canal was damaged during Hurricane Milton, one of several that helps store and eventually divert flood water around the cities of Tampa and Temple Terrace.

SWFWMD is currently working to repair concrete and install electrical systems that will help divert the corrosive elements in saltwater away from concrete, thus protecting the rebar inside from breaking down.

It is also working to replace six new floodgates with stainless steel gates that will be more resistant to flood water.

SWFWMD’s Operations Bureau Chief Jerry Mallams says the work is ongoing, and will continue through the upcoming hurricane season.

“There are some projects that are critical to get completed before the hurricane season,” said Mallams. “This protection project can continue in to hurricane season.  It will not impact the operability of this structure.  We know ahead of time when we need to operate this structure, so we’d just need to notify  these contractors to secure their facility, their site, then we would be able to open these gates and use this structure.”

Donna was a Category 3 hurricane when it made landfall in Naples, but swamped much of the Tampa area as it cut across the peninsula. The original structures are now more than 50 years old, but work to repair and restore them will extend the life of the system by 50 to 100 years.

SWFWMD said its projects help divert water around the Hillsborough River, protecting neighborhoods from flooding and keeping water inside the banks of the river.  

The flood water is diverted around the cities of Tampa and Temple Terrace through Tampa’s Bypass Canal and in to McKay Bay.

For more information on SWFWMD’s ongoing projects visit here https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/projects.