The Challenge
Port Tampa Bay needed to ensure 100% of its land was available to meet an unprecedented expansion of containerized cargo calling on the port. Port Tampa Bay also imports 40% of Florida’s fuel supply and supports 80,000 jobs. Rather than using its own scarce land for stormwater infrastructure, Port Tampa Bay sought an alternative way to meet water quality goals while providing flood protection and ample space for continuous economic activity.
The Results
By leveraging real-time weather forecasts, predictive analytics, and automated controls, Opti and NST actively manage water level to maximize water quality treatment and flood protection performance. Opti's CMAC benefits include:
- $1.2M in CAPEX and land savings for Port Tampa Bay, improving cargo capacity
- Nutrient reduction and peak flow management to protect Tampa Bay
- Excess water quality credits to meet Port Tampa Bay permit requirements
The Solution
Opti worked with National Stormwater Trust (NST) to retrofit an off-site retention pond with continuous monitoring and adaptive control (CMAC). The selected pond was leased from Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) by NST through a public-private partnership agreement. By upgrading FDOT’s existing pond to CMAC, excess water quality credits were generated for Port Tampa Bay to meet permit requirements. The improved FDOT pond also controls flooding and improves water quality in Tampa Bay.
CMAC Performance (2022-2023)
