Tampa Bypass Canal facts for kids
The Tampa Bypass Canal and Palm River are like a super-long water highway, about 14 miles (22.5 km) long. It was built to help control floods and is managed by a group called the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Even though it was made to stop floods, it's now also a really important source of drinking water for the city of Tampa! During its construction, workers accidentally hit an underground water source called the Floridan aquifer.
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What is the Tampa Bypass Canal?
This canal was built in the 1960s and 1970s. Its main job is to move extra water away from the Hillsborough River when there's a lot of rain. This helps stop homes and businesses from getting flooded. The canal has special concrete structures that help control the water flow.
How Does it Help?
When heavy rains cause the Hillsborough River to rise, the Tampa Bypass Canal steps in. It redirects the rising water into the canal and down to McKay Bay. This keeps areas like Temple Terrace and Tampa safe from flooding.
The canal works together with another area called the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area. This is a large piece of land owned by the water management group. It acts like a giant storage tank for overflow water from the Hillsborough River and the canal. Because this land is used to hold extra water, no houses or businesses are built there. This helps protect people and buildings from floods.
More Than Just Flood Control
The Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area is not just for water storage. It's also a natural wonderland! This land has many different types of habitats, like river swamps with tall cypress trees, oak forests, and areas with pine trees and palmetto plants.
A Home for Wildlife
Since it's one of the biggest undeveloped areas in Hillsborough County, it's a very important place for wildlife. Many animals call this area home.
Fun Things to Do
Even though its main purpose is to manage water and prevent floods, this area has also become a popular spot for outdoor activities. People enjoy visiting it for recreation. It's even used as a place for rowing competitions by USRowing.
