TEMPLE TERRACE - The longtime lack of communication among the groups across the county aimed at preserving the environmental health of the Hillsborough River has, in the past few years, transformed into a unified spirit of collaboration.Nowhere was that more evident than on Oct. 15 during the State of the River Tour in Temple Terrace, where representatives of the Temple Terrace River Watch Task Force, the River Roundtable and Friends of the River joined forces at Rotary Riverfront Park for an afternoon boat excursion through the portion of the river that meanders through the city.
Its purpose was to shed light on ways to preserve the river, which is categorized by its upper, middle and lower segments. The portion through Temple Terrace is the middle river.
"In years past, they were treated as three separate entities, but I'm happy to say we have all come together to preserve and improve the quality as one water body," said Temple Terrace Councilwoman Alison Fernandez, who also serves as chairwoman of the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board.
Rich Brown, a member of the River Round Table and the Friends of the River, said coming together with the task force has shed a more positive light on protecting the river.
"Some areas of the river have been neglected for years because the focus was always on Tampa and the Port of Tampa," Brown said.
Read more at http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/oct/25/MENEWSO3/
