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Hillsborough waterways still need clearing after storms

By
Published  December 10, 2024 6:20pm EST
Hillsborough County
FOX 13 News

Derelict boats still being pulled from water

After two devastating hurricanes, wrecked boats are still being pulled from the water.

RIVERVIEW, Fla. - Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused debris to build up on the streets of Hillsborough County, but now the county must turn its attention to waterways.

In some spots, a lot of water needs to be cleared.

Hurricane-related debris being hauled out of Ruskin waterway.

Hurricane-related debris being hauled out of Ruskin waterway.

"The last storm, Milton, caused the boat to overturn," says A.J. Matthews of Hillsborough County's Marine Safety Unit. 

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He's supervising a crew pulling an abandoned 23-foot cabin cruiser from the Alafia River in Riverview. 

It was blocking part of the boat ramp at Riverview Civic Center, and the abandoned boat was trouble waiting to happen.

"Number 1, it's bad for the environment," says Matthews. "Number 2,  this boat was obstructing our kayak launch."

"We need to get these boats out of the water because the longer they sit in the water, the harder they are to get, and the more damage can be done to the environment."

Matthews and Steve Decatur make up Hillsborough County's Marine Safety Unit. 

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The backlog of derelict boats is multiplied many times all over our region, and crews are bringing in loads of debris from our waterways. A boatload of logs and limbs was offloaded to a waiting trailer.

"They are contractors. paid by FEMA to rid our waterways of the debris, damaged docks, damaged boat lifts, just about everything," says Matthews. 

He encourages anyone who wants to get rid of an old or damaged boat to take advantage of a state program that allows you to surrender your boat at no cost. 

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For information, contact the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission.

To report debris in waterways, visit Florida’s debris cleanup website here.

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