Project Summary
The Mitigation of Coastal High-Water Hazard Events through the Acquisition and Restoration of Natural Lands along the Eastern Tampa Bay Shoreline project will acquire more than 1,700-acres of undeveloped coastal lands west of U.S. Route 41 to prevent high-risk development, preserve natural floodplains, and reduce storm surge and flooding impacts in the Gibsonton and Ruskin communities. The surrounding area experienced flooding during the 2024 storm season, resulting in significant damage to the existing natural lands. Per the Unmet Needs Analysis within the County's Action Plan, flooding was identified as a hazard that impacted infrastructure that continues to persist. This project will be carried out under the Infrastructure Program to address (1) known infrastructure deficiencies, (2) provide mitigation and resilience measures to better protect infrastructure from increased frequency and severity of storm events, and (3) align with the County’s long-term recovery and resiliency strategy.
Community Benefit
The storm surge and flooding caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton underscored the severe risks associated with developing low-lying coastal lands prone to high-water hazard events. Acquisition of these properties will mitigate those risks by: (1) Preventing future development in flood-prone areas most vulnerable to storm surge and sea-level rise; (2) Preserving natural floodplains and coastal habitats that serve as a resilient green infrastructure system, attenuating floodwaters and reducing the impacts of tropical storms and hurricanes; and (3) Providing lands for the County and its partners to create wetlands that reduce impacts from coastal flooding and increase water movement through creeks and tributaries, reducing flooding within the riparian systems. The primary benefit of this project is the mitigation of future coastal flooding impacts along the eastern shoreline of Tampa Bay. By preserving and protecting low-lying coastal lands, the project will prevent incompatible development and maintain natural floodplain functions that provide critical storm-surge and flood attenuation. By preventing future development of these flood-prone coastal lands and securing their long-term ecological function, this project delivers measurable hazard mitigation benefits that reduce flood risk, protect vulnerable populations, and enhance community resilience.
Total Amount BOCC Approved:
$10,000,000.00
Project Status:
Approved
HUD National Objective:
LMI/LMA
Project Location(s)
| Address | Anticipated Construction Start Date | Anticipated Construction End Date |
|---|---|---|
| 10012 Lula St, Gibsonton, FL 33534 | 09/30/2026 | |
| 4331 Cockroach Bay Rd, Ruskin, FL | 09/30/2026 | |
| 5041 S US Highway 41, Ruskin, FL | 09/30/2026 | |
| 6118 Kracker Avenue, Gibsonton, FL 33534 | 09/30/2026 | |
| 6415 S US Highway 41, Ruskin, FL 33570 | 09/30/2026 |