Florida officials want a federal reexamination of the flood-control structure at Lake Tarpon as higher tides and stronger storms put new stress on a system that has protected nearby neighborhoods for decades.
With a unanimous vote, Pinellas County commissioners endorsed a federal feasibility study of the aging Lake Tarpon outfall, a step that could eventually point to either major upgrades or a full replacement, according to Tampa Bay Beacons.
Here’s what to know
Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1969 as part of the Four River Basins, Florida Project, the structure is where Lake Tarpon drains into Old Tampa Bay. It depends on gravity to move water out of the lake while helping prevent saltwater from coming in.
The system was designed for a different set of conditions. Rising tides and more frequent coastal storms have narrowed the elevation drop that pulls water from the lake toward the bay, making it harder for the structure to drain water effectively…