Hillsborough County Dam
Hillsborough County Dam is an earth dam located in Hillsborough, Florida, built in 1945. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Hillsborough County Dam
The primary purpose of Hillsborough County Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Tampa (local government). It impounds the Hillsborough River near Tampa.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 1,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 297 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 11,000 acre-feet. Completed in 1945, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/21/2014. That was 11 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Florida dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Florida |
| County | Hillsborough |
| Nearest City | Tampa |
| River/Stream | Hillsborough River |
| Coordinates | 28.02439, -82.42831 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1945 (81 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 11,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 11,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,140 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 297 acres |
| Max Discharge | 21,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF TAMPA |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/21/2014 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | FL00169 |
| Federal ID | FL00169 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |