Hurricane Milton carved away creek banks, destabilized drainage channels and left sediment-choked waterways across parts of Pinellas County, creating conditions federal officials say could lead to additional flooding and property damage if left unaddressed.
Now the federal government is prepared to spend nearly $29.4 million to fix them.
The Pinellas County Commission is scheduled to vote June 16 on an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service that would fund six streambank stabilization projects in unincorporated Pinellas County. The work would target damaged sections of waterways including Joe’s Creek, Curlew Creek, Smith Bayou and South Creek.
The award includes $26.8 million for construction and another $2.7 million for engineering, administrative and technical services. Through the USDA’s Emergency Watershed Protection program, federal officials would cover up to 100% of eligible construction costs.
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County and federal inspections found erosion, bank failures and sediment buildup at multiple sites following Milton. Damage surveys concluded that continued deterioration could increase flood risks and expose nearby homes, businesses and public infrastructure to additional losses.
The planned work includes stabilizing streambanks, restoring channel capacity and repairing erosion-prone sections of waterways damaged during the storm.
The largest project is estimated to cost about $7.2 million. The remaining projects range from roughly $2.2 million to $5.3 million.
Federal reviewers estimated the repairs could prevent tens of millions of dollars in future losses. One analysis involving Smith Bayou and South Creek estimated nearly $38 million in potential damage reduction if the work is completed. Several Joe’s Creek segments were associated with estimated damage reductions exceeding $46 million each.
The funding would represent one of the largest federal Hurricane Milton recovery awards considered by Pinellas County this year as local governments across the Tampa Bay region shift from emergency response to long-term infrastructure reconstruction.
If approved, the agreement would remain in effect through June 1, 2028. The county must secure permits, property rights and final engineering approvals before construction can begin.
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