Hillsborough County Kicks Off 20-Mile Canal Repair Project After Hurricane Damage

Work has started on a major water system fix in Town 'n' Country. Public Works crews are tackling 20 miles of storm canals hit hard by last year's storms. The fixes aim to stop floods in spots where water backs up.

"We're focusing right now on these major stormwater interstate systems in a way before we get to the neighborhood ditches because they all eventually lead into the canals," Fred Hartless, the Maintenance Superintendent for Hillsborough County Public Works, said per Bay News 9.

Workers pack dirt into weak spots and fix broken sections where water cuts through. They're also clearing paths where plants can take root. These plants will help keep water moving smoothly through the system.

Hurricane Milton sparked this project when it struck last year. Water rushed into homes near the canals. Many spots still face issues months after the storm passed.

Local resident Mackenzie Ott voiced her worries about poor drainage. "I don't think that the drainage issues have been addressed properly. I just worry about standing water with mosquitoes, but also just build up and people drive by and it creates a wake of water that goes into your yard and potentially into your home."

Ott, who grew up in Town 'n' Country, saw the storms wreck her community. "People's entire livelihoods gone in a day (and) on the side of the road," she said.

Once the main fixes wrap up, crews will turn to smaller ditches in neighborhoods. Officials think the work will stretch into next year.

The county points to a key problem: people toss trash in the canals. This blocks water flow and sets up perfect conditions for floods when storms hit.