Hillsborough River . . . Saturday
The Hillsborough River arises in the Green Swamp near the juncture of
Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties, and flows 54 miles (87 km) through Pasco
and Hillsborough Counties to an outlet in the city of Tampa on Tampa Bay. There are
many feeder streams, ponds and channels associated with the river system, affording
a number of different habitats. As a result, the river is home to many species and
several large bird rookeries. The Hillsborough River dam (originally built in 1895 and
since rebuilt) at Rowlett Park allows for the supply water for the City of Tampa. There
are several well developed parks along the river, with boat ramps and visitor facilities.
Some of these parks also have extensive networks of walkways and bridges that
allows visitors to extensively explore the river without a boat.
Many species of freshwater native and some exotic fishes can be easily
collected with seine or dip net. These include:
Ch. gulosus, E. evergladei, E. okefenokee, En. gloriosus, Esox sp., Eth. edwini,
Eth. fusiforme, F. chrysotus, F. confluentus, F. seminolis, G. affinis holbrooki
melanistic and normal, H. formosa, L. sicculus, Lep. macrochirus, Lep. marginatus,
Lep. punctatus, Lep. punctatus, Luc. goodei, Mis. angullicaudatus, N. chalybaeus, N.
maculatus, N. petersoni, No. crysoleucas, Not. gyrinus, Po. latipinna. Exotic: Hop.
littorale, Hypostomus sp.
Tampa/St. Pete, Florida . . . 2009 Convention
Hillsborough River Sites
Go to the Collecting Field Trip Gallery . . . Click Here
