Hydro-carving: Crews restore Hillsborough stream the natural way
Engineers call it hydro-carving. It's using water to carve a path in the earth, and they're using the method to restore a stream that was destroyed by phosphate mining decades ago in southern Hillsborough County.
"It accelerates the process that would take decades to complete by recirculating at a high flow rate," explained Janie Hagberg, an environmental engineer with the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
The process uses water from old mining pits which is recirculated over and over again. It naturally finds its way to where a stream once flowed before the area was mined.
Bulldozers sit idle as the circulating water does the work.
"Finding the natural path, the chances of erosion and future problems are decreased because it's naturally creating within the footprint," continued Hagberg.