C. W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir, body of water
The C. W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir is a large water storage facility in central Florida that collects water from two main rivers, the Alafia and Hillsborough. The structure spans about 2 miles long and 1 mile wide with depths varying from 40 to 80 feet, surrounded by green areas and open water views.
Construction of the reservoir took nearly ten years under the leadership of Tampa Bay Water, a regional water authority. The project was completed in June 2005 and officially opened later that same year in October.
The reservoir is named after C.W. Bill Young, a former congressman from Florida, honoring his contributions to the region. The site serves as a quiet backdrop to daily community life, where locals can observe the flat landscape and calm water.
There are no designated parking areas or public facilities like restrooms or WiFi at the site. It works best for quiet nature visits and requires advance planning before you go.
The reservoir was built after Florida's most thorough site investigation ever conducted, ensuring safety and stability for such a massive water storage. This rigorous planning allows the facility to withstand extreme weather including hurricanes and up to 40 inches of rain in a single day.
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