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LOCATION

The Stevenson Creek basin encompasses approximately 6,000 acres in central Pinellas County, approximately 4765 acres of which lie within the limits of the City of Clearwater. The remainder of the basin, which consists of the upper reaches of the Spring Branch Subbasin, falls primarily within the limits of the City of Dunedin. See Map

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The development of the Stevenson Creek Watershed Management Plan is directed towards the achievement of the following  objectives:

Characterize the storm water management facilities, both natural and man-made, within the watershed to enable detailed engineering evaluations.

  • Identify flooding areas and characterize the nature, extent and frequency of flooding, 

  • adopt level of service standards for flooding, and provide solutions for flood protection commensurate with the potential for damages.

  • Identify water quality problems in the watershed remedial solutions., ascertain the source and nature of the problems, adopt water quality goals, and seek

  • Identify site-specific locations of channel erosion, assess the nature and cause of the individual problems, and develop remedial solutions.

  • Identify and assess the viability of ecological systems in the watershed and identify potential areas for habitat restoration and protection.

  • Recommend specific capital improvement projects or programs with an emphasis on integrating flood protection, water quality, and ecological protection/restoration objectives.

  • Develop the Watershed Management Plan with active public participation and input.
East bank of Stevenson Creek near Pinebrook and Hibiscus, looking downstream (north).

Project Elements

The Stevenson Creek Watershed Management Plan will be developed and organized into the seven basic elements described below.

1. Background

The background element includes a complete description of the watershed and the major conveyance systems, as well as the sources of data used for project development.

2. Flood protection

The flood protection element includes the development of hydrology and hydraulic models to simulate the response of the watershed to a variety of rainfall conditions. The methodology behind the development, calibration and verification of the models will be presented. The modeling results will be used to identify the current level of service for flood protection within the watershed. Problem areas will be defined as those not meeting the levels of service criteria.

Spring branch at Highland Avenue, looking west.
3. Water Quality and Natural Systems Conditions

This element includes an assessment of the existing water quality in the lakes, streams and groundwater within the watershed. Natural systems are evaluated as either upland or wetland systems and issues or areas of concern will be identified. An assessment of water supply issues will also be incorporated into this element of the plan.

4. Pollutant Loading

A pollutant loading model will be developed and utilized to predict the gross and net pollutant loads which are expected from each identified subbasin area. Gross pollution is the amount of contaminant generated in a subbasin. Net load is the amount of pollutant discharged into the receiving water bodies after treatment. The pollutant loadings model will be used to develop and assess the water quality level of service for current conditions in the watershed
Overbrook Avenue crossing of spring branch, downstream side.

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5. Analysis of Alternatives

Alternatives which address both flooding and water quality problems will be developed and presented, including conceptual site layouts and designs. These alternatives will be presented in a public meeting to assist the County in the selection and identification of preferred alternatives.

6. Meeting the Level of Service

Levels of service for flooding and water quality will be compared to those already defined. 

 alternatives

7. Recommendations

Recommendations for achieving cost effective flood protection and water quality objectives will be developed and presented to the public for stakeholder comment and input. Based on the results of the public meetings, a final list of recommended projects will be developed.

 

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Parsons Engineering Science, Inc. -- This page updated: 08/04/05