Walking excavator machine helps rehabilitate steep slopes of canal network
Hillsborough County maintains dozens of miles of critical stormwater canals across the county. Many of those canals serve the Town 'N Country community on the western side of the county.
The canals held strong through years of hurricanes, tropical storms, and intense near-daily summer rainstorms. They also withstood Hurricane Milton in October 2024, but it was a severe test. After Milton's historic rainfall and flooding inundated the Tampa Bay area, the canals were in need of everything from routine maintenance to full rehabilitation.
Repairing and rehabilitating Town 'N Country canals
Hillsborough County Public Works spent much of the winter on the critical priority of clearing the streets of debris. Once their tree removal work was complete, the County's West Service Unit began repairing and rehabilitating the almost 20 miles of canals in Town 'N Country and surrounding areas.
Engineers and stormwater maintenance crews inspected each canal thoroughly to evaluate the damage. Many canals remained in good working order, but others had sustained erosion damage that would prevent them from doing their job when the next severe storm hits. A dry winter and spring in 2025 made a good climate for repairing the erosion damage.
Minor fixes for some, major rehab for others
In some cases, canals with bends needed additional fill and stabilization measures to reinforce them, reducing the potential for future erosion. In most cases, the team only needed to remove the eroded sediment from the bottom of the canal, dry the soil, and use it to restore the eroded areas.
The key to this process is re-establishing vegetation on the banks of the canals to help hold the soil for the next storm. In most cases, mother nature did its work, and the canals began to grow healthy foliage before the team even finished regrading and cleaning operations. In other cases, the Public Works teams laid sod or seed along the canal banks to help speed the stabilization.
Many of the canals within Town 'N Country are relatively straight, so they held up well and only needed minor maintenance. Other areas required months of rehabilitation to prepare them for future storms. In some areas, the eroded banks need to be redesigned by an engineer and permitted before restoration can be started.
Walking excavators instrumental in canal rehab
The West Service Unit operates three walking excavators (or spider excavators) that have worked six days a week for most of 2025, carefully rehabilitating the canals so they are ready for storm season. The walking excavator is a highly efficient multitool designed to operate on extreme slopes and conditions, like the canals that protect the Town 'N Country area.
With interchangeable heads, the machine can excavate, mow, and even trim trees. It has proven instrumental in storm recovery and mitigation.
Report illegal dumping
The Public Works crews have put massive effort into rehabilitating the erosion caused by the 2024 hurricanes. The crews routinely find illegal dump sites clogged with debris, old tires, mattresses, lawn waste, and more, as well as illicit discharge pipes from private property extending into the canals. Both can cause increased erosion, contamination, and maintenance restrictions, further complicating the work.
Residents are urged to help keep the canals clean by securing items that can be blown into the canals and reporting those who dump debris and garbage into them. Something as small as a garbage can lid or a grocery cart can significantly restrict these critical waterways and stormwater systems. Additionally, debris within the canals or canal rights-of-way can restrict or delay maintenance activities.
If you see illegal dumping in your neighborhood, report it to Hillsborough County Code Enforcement at (813) 274-6600.