Apply to Adopt-A-Pond

This program can help your community improve water quality, wildlife habitat and the appearance of stormwater retention ponds

The program assists you through the initial steps to help you learn how to properly care for your pond for the long-term. There are no fees or costs required to participate in this program.

With our expert guidance your group can get a more attractive, landscaped pond and receive free native pond plants.

Requirements and restrictions

Requirements

The County must own the pond or it must be privately owned with one or more drainage easements dedicated to Hillsborough County.

Your pond group must submit the Adopt-a-Pond application and do the following:

Demonstrate a commitment to fully participate in the program
Maintain the pond
Include 50 percent of the homeowners around a pond, or four people from two households, whichever is greater

Restrictions

No wetland or protected conservation areas are allowed in the program
Your pond group can't use Adopt-A-Pond to satisfy permit conditions for the Southwest Florida Water Management District or any other agency

Process for adopting a pond

Identify pond group members
Choose a Pond Group Representative to help coordinate pond activities and represent the pond group
Choose a pond group name
Identify the nearest adjacent address to the pond if it is not the group’s representative’s address
Fill out the Adopt-a-Pond application on the Hillsborough County Water Atlas site
Complete and submit the and a Pollution Prevention Plan at the initial stage of the project
Complete all actions proposed in the approved Pollution Prevention Plan
Attend the Pond Group Kick-off Meeting

Resources

Contact

For more information email Troy Green with Environmental Services - Sustainable Water or call (813) 744-5671.