Watershed Management: Watershed Planning

Starkey Basin Watershed

 

The Starkey Basin watershed is located in central Pinellas County and encompasses approximately 7,412 acres. The area is comprised of various land uses, including several large golf courses, a landfill, high-density residential development, including many large mobile home communities, and heavy commercial and industrial land uses that discharge directly into the Lake Seminole Bypass Canal (LSBC). In general stormwater runoff flows in a southerly direction into the LSBC and ultimately into Long Bayou and Boca Ciega Bay. Due to a history of poor water quality and flooding concerns in the Starkey Basin a Watershed Management Plan was initiated in February 2008. The LSBC is a man-made conveyance canal built in the 1970s and runs approximately eight miles. The canal typically has slow water flow that may be a contributing factor to the poor water quality in the canal.

Project Update:

• The Watershed Management Plan was completed in 2013. Parters included the City of Largo and Southwest Florida Water Management District . The plan recommended eleven projects to reduce flooding and improve water quality. These projects will be prioritized for inclusion in the Capital Improvement Program.

 

 

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