22 sinkholes reported in eastern Hillsborough

A total of 22 sinkholes have been reported in eastern Hillsborough with the number mushrooming the past two days.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District received reports of seven new sinkholes today around the Plant City and Dover area already pocked with depressions after groundwater levels plunged as berry farmers pumped millions of gallons to protect their crops.

That is on top of a dozen reported on Tuesday.

Before Tuesday only three sinkholes were reported, though berry growers had been pumping almost daily for more than a week, said Dave Moore, water management district executive director.

In 1977, the last time it snowed in the Tampa Bay area, 22 sinkholes formed in the Dover and Plant City area, according to a report by the U.S. Geological Survey.

As a wave of frigid Arctic air swamped the state after New Year's Day, farmers tapped the aquifer to coat their fields in a protective layer of ice nearly every night since Jan. 2.

The intensive pumping caused aquifer levels in some places around the strawberry growing region to plummet 60 feet, said Robyn Felix, water management district spokeswoman.

Last year when farmers sprayed their crops during freezes, water levels fell about 30 feet, she said.
Falling groundwater levels can trigger sinkholes.

Sinkholes form when water dissolves soft limestone and creates an underground cavity. Pressure from groundwater in the cavity supports the layer of earth between the cavity and surface, said Tony Gilboy, a geologist with the water management district.

When the water is removed, the top of the cavity collapses, creating a sinkhole. "The cavities that exist in the limestone are already there. They are part of Florida," he said. "The catalyst is lowering of the water level that holds things up."

The number of sinkholes and more than 400 reports of wells gone dry will prompt the district to look at how it allocates water in the 110 square miles of the strawberry growing region, Moore said.

The district bases the amount of water it permits farmers on historic pumping records going back decades, he said. But most freezes last only a couple nights.

This run of freezing nights tossed the historic data out the window.

"Frost and freezes have been going on for decades. We need to recognize this is an unprecedented event," Moore said.

District officials will work with the agriculture community and residents to balance the need for farmers to save their crops and to protect residents from sinkholes and dry wells, Moore said.

"We'll have a comprehensive review on what needs to be different," he said.

The district can alter its regulations on water permits as well as start cooperative projects with farmers to reduce water use.

"We will have to take a look at our strategies and see what needs to be refined," Moore said.

The district issues permits to farmers setting a daily amount averaged over the year as well as a limit in a peak month and a quantity that can be pumped for freeze protection.

The growers are aware of what happens when they pump.

"None of us farmers would want to intentionally do what has occurred. We're doing what we do to protect our crop, and unfortunately what happens underneath the earth is occurring," said grower Carl Grooms.

Finding the balance Moore wants between residents and growers may not be easy.

"To me they don't want me to be in business," Grooms said. "They want to get their strawberries from Mexico or some other country where they can do whatever they want whenever they want."

Tony Carlisle whose property across from a strawberry farm has a sinkhole said things need to change.

"I know the farmers got a lot of money invested in their plants and all that, but there's going to have to be a different way of taking care of the plants than just watering, 'cause we have as much right to the water as they do," he said.

In addition to sinkholes in Hillsborough, three opened in the citrus region of Polk County where water levels dropped more than 50 feet. The sinkholes closed part of U.S. 27. Grove owners also use water to protect their crops from freezing.

Some of the sinkholes reported to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol are:

•Chitty and Sam Allen Road

•Dover and Sydney roads

•2815 Wallace Branch Road

•2003 Sam Allen Road

•Forbes and Pearl Mary

•2100 W. Trapnell Road

•4605 Beauchamp Road, near Hawk Griffin Road

•11821 50th N. 50th St.

•50th Street and Fowler Avenue

•McIntosh Road and Tall Redwood Lane

•3310 Joe Sanchez Road

•both sides of the westbound Interstate 4 entrance ramp at Alexander Road

•about 20 feet from the westbound shoulder of I-4 at Thonotosassa Road.