The contributions of wetlands; i.e. lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, bays, springs, swamps and marshes and other similar areas, to a high quality environment are substantial and irreplaceable. Wetlands improve water quality by trapping sediments, filtration and adsorption of pollutants, and natural flood protection through water storage and conveying flows.

This agency reviews projects: County and private proposed developments, that may potentially affect the wetlands of Hillsborough County. Filling of ditches, invert elevations of culverts, alteration of wetlands’ hydroperiods (established based on biological indicators or determined by a monitoring program with significant period of record), hydration of wetland areas are evaluated for any impact it may pose the wetlands.

Developers are required not to exceed a pre-development design storm (i.e. 2-year/24-hour, 10-year/24-hour) peak runoff of the project site. It is also prohibited to discharge polluted stormwater runoff directly to wetland areas. In order to fulfill these requirements, developers create stormwater ponds to allow settlement of pollutants (treatment) and to control the release of stormwater runoff (attenuation) from the site. It is also recommended, as possible, to route the pond outfall to hydrate wetland areas, which provide further treatment and attenuation of flow.