Graduation Year

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.S.E.V.

Degree Name

MS in Environmental Engr. (M.S.E.V.)

Degree Granting Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Major Professor

Maya Trotz, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Michelle Henderson, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Rebecca Zarger, Ph.D.

Keywords

Flooding, Stormwater Management, Land-Use Change, Regulations

Abstract

The overall goal of this research was to explore and understand the history of stormwater ponds in the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), a 4,800-acre urban community comprising many different historic African American neighborhoods in Florida's City of Tampa. Seen as one of the most affordable stormwater management solutions in southeastern parts of the United States, stormwater ponds dot the East Tampa landscape. As the manager of CRA funds, the City of Tampa stands out as a main decision maker around the stormwater ponds within the East Tampa CRA. Over the years the stormwater ponds have generated much interest from those who question their use of land, especially residents. Many stormwater ponds are eyesores which motivates community members to push for better uses of these spaces. People wonder if the ponds could be filled to meet housing needs or be beautified to better serve the community. Gaps in the history of the ponds exist, from their initial implementation by various parties like the City of Tampa, the Florida Department of Transportation, and individual property owners (churches, schools, housing complexes, government institutions, or community led beautification efforts). Filling those gaps could potentially provide more transparency around the ponds and facilitate better opportunities for dialogue and decision-making around their future. This is particularly critical given that stormwater infrastructure in the U.S. has been graded poorly by the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a recognized need by the City of Tampa for investments at the community level to build a more climate resilient city.

Three research objectives were used to explore and understand the history of stormwater ponds in the East Tampa CRA. The first research objective contextualized the number of stormwater ponds. Of the 254 stormwater ponds included in the City of Tampa's GeoHub, 36 (14%) are within the East Tampa CRA. Within the CRA, stormwater ponds managed by the City of Tampa have an average surface area and density of 1.9 acres and 7.5 ponds per 1,000 acres respectively. The average surface area of stormwater ponds in East Tampa is 23% larger than the average of those in the entire city and more than 3 times denser. In addition to stormwater ponds monitored by the City of Tampa, there were at least 85 stormwater ponds permitted by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) that could be considered private and 6 stormwater ponds belonging to the Florida Department of Transportation (one is monitored by the City of Tampa). Prior to the 1970's, pipes were the main infrastructure implemented to manage stormwater within the East Tampa CRA. Instead of increasing the capacity of pipes, the City of Tampa added stormwater ponds, many interconnected to the existing pipe network, to manage stormwater runoff. With federal incentives for acquiring residential properties that were not up to code at the time, the option to convert housing lands into stormwater ponds was considered more affordable by the consultants hired by the City of Tampa.

The second research objective uncovered the factors that have influenced the size of stormwater ponds within the East Tampa CRA that are monitored by the City of Tampa. The lack of land available for required stormwater ponds primarily contributed to the ponds with larger surface areas. A review of records for one of the oldest stormwater ponds in East Tampa, the recently named Clarence Fort Freedom Trail, revealed that increased flooding on commercial properties along a state road resulted in increased capacity of the pond to accommodate that runoff. Additional areas were converted to stormwater ponds at the site, and then the slopes of the ponds were increased by the City of Tampa.

The third research objective was to determine the cause of excess stormwater runoff within the East Tampa CRA. An analysis of contour maps indicated at least 24 areas within the East Tampa CRA that would potentially accumulate runoff. When compared with all 126 ponds in East Tampa that were mapped for this research, only 16 ponds overlapped with areas identified by the contour map analysis. Reviewing maps, historical and land use and land cover, revealed conversion of pervious surfaces to impervious surfaces was a likely contributor to excess stormwater runoff. They also showed how changes in roadways, interstate highways and state roads coincided with the emergence of new stormwater ponds in areas not identified by the contour map analysis.

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