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Residents, environmental volunteers press Pasco commission on stormwater maintenance in West Pasco basin
Summary
Multiple speakers described new and worsening repetitive flooding across a West Pasco basin that drains to Bear Creek and the Coteague River, urging maintenance of wetlands, ditches and stormwater conveyances and flagging a recently sold 500‑acre preserve.
Residents and volunteers told the Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 16 that portions of West Pasco are experiencing increasing repetitive flooding and declining water quality tied to sedimentation, loss of natural drainage and development.
Ellen Rose and other speakers outlined a basin bounded roughly by State Road 52 (north), Ridge Road (south), Little Road (west) and Moon Lake Road (east) and listed communities affected, including Golden Acres, Bass Lake, Griffin Park, Timber Oaks, Beacon Woods, Moon Lake, River Ridge and Hidden Lake. Rose said Bear Creek and the Coteague River basins are over‑impaired and that new development — including a recent sale of about 500 acres of wetlands to a developer — has altered historic drainage paths and pushed water into Rocky Sink, which Rose said has begun to backflow during storms.
Mike Durant, a volunteer with the EMC, said impaired waterways have lost seagrass, warm water and high bacteria counts have closed recreation areas such as scallop season, and that improved watershed renovation would aid storm infrastructure, habitat and eco‑tourism. He also listed protected species dependent on the watershed.
County staff said stormwater personnel were present at the meeting and would receive the concerns for further review. Commissioners and staff noted that the county maintains some conveyances and works with state and federal partners on larger watershed restoration projects; speakers urged more active maintenance of ditches, sinks and spillways and caution about rezoning wetlands.
Why it matters: Repetitive flooding affects property, public safety, infrastructure and environmental health, and speakers warned that recent development and inadequate maintenance have worsened drainage and water‑quality outcomes.
What’s next: County stormwater staff to review the basin complaints and meet with residents; commissioners flagged upcoming budget and project items related to Bear Creek and other basin work.
