As Hurricane Milton brought unprecedented rainfall to Hillsborough County, our smart pond at SR-676 effectively demonstrated its advanced capabilities. The system initiated the lowering of water levels 24 hours before the storm’s peak, facilitating proactive flood management. The animation below illustrates the varying water levels in the pond at different times throughout the day.
With a staggering 13.2 inches of rain falling in less than a day—an event classified as a 200-year storm—our pond effectively handled the runoff, despite the adjacent Delaney Creek overtopping its banks. Importantly, this meant the pond did not contribute to any local flooding, helping to protect the surrounding community.
We take pride in the role this technology played in minimizing stormwater impacts during such an extreme weather event. Our thoughts are with those affected by Hurricane Milton, and we are committed to advancing our flood mitigation efforts to safeguard our communities in the future.