Tampa Harbor FL (O&M)

May 2024

FACT SHEET

Tampa Harbor, FL
Operations and Maintenance (O&M)
Congressional Districts: 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

1. DESCRIPTION

The total project consists of a channel from the Gulf of Mexico to Port Tampa and Tampa. Project features include the entrance channel from the Gulf of Mexico to Hillsborough Bay. At Hillsborough Bay, the channel splits into two legs, with one continuing west to Port Tampa and the other east to Gadsden Point. The west channel continues to Port Tampa and ends in a turning basin. The west channel to Gadsden Point continues north through Hillsborough Bay towards the upper channels and includes Alafia River and Big Bend. The project depth varies from 45 feet in the entrance channel at the Egmont Bar Channel to 32 feet in the Alafia River. The length of the project is about 67 miles including 3.6 miles in the Alafia River. Port Tampa Bay has more cargo tonnage than all other Florida ports combined.

2. FUNDING

a. Regular Civil Works Funds:

b. P.L. 115-123: Bi-Partisan Budget Act of 2018, Supplemental:

c. P.L. 117-58: Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law:

d. P.L. 117-43: Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act:

3. SPONSOR

Port Tampa Bay
1101 Channelside Drive
Tampa, Florida 33602-3612

4. STATUS

Maintenance dredging of the entrance channel (Egmont Cuts 1 and 2, Mullet Key Cut) and main stem (Tampa Bay Cuts A through F) was completed in October 2023.  Over 750,000 CY of material was dredged from the Federal channel and placed on Egmont Key for beneficial use.  The next maintenance dredging cycle is scheduled to begin in late 2024 and will focus on Hillsborough Bay.  Dredged material will be beneficially used to expand the Alafia Banks Critical Wildlife Area by creating over 20 acres of shallow water habitat suitable for mangroves, oysters and migratory birds.