ALLEN’S CREEK WATERSHED

The Allen’s Creek Watershed is a typical urban stream in the central portion of Pinellas County. Pinellas County, the City of Largo, and the City of Clearwater agreed to fund and develop a watershed management plan to address the problems of poor creek water quality and degraded habitat. The Board of County Commissioners adopted the watershed plan in October 1996. Since plan adoption work has continued on numerous projects aimed to evaluate and improve the creek:

• water quality monitoring
• restoration of the “Lancaster” tract
• post-construction monitoring at Maple Swamp
• shoreline stabilization projects
• removal of septic tanks
• sewer hook-up

The Department of Environmental Management’s Water Resources Management Section continued to monitor creek water quality. The Ambient Surface Water Quality Monitoring Report 1991-2002 concluded that over the 12-year monitoring period, the creek exhibited poor water quality. The 2003-2004 report is not finalized, but early results indicate water quality has not improved.

The County acquired the 14-acre “Lancaster” tract along a lower stretch of the main creek channel in 1999. County staff continued monitoring wildlife (birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians) using the site until 2001. During 2000 a restoration plan design for the parcel was initiated. Nearly complete, the site restoration plan includes:

• shoreline plantings to help stabilize the shoreline and improve habitat
• removal of exotic vegetation
• stormwater treatment ponds
• future plans include a public education/learning center