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The Port of Tampa wants to expand its existing facilities to accommodate additional demand for deep-water cargo service in the Port Tampa Bay area, but Tampa Bay Waterkeeper is urging residents to express their disapproval.

According to a notice from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the project is proposing to dredge and fill 63 acres associated with East Bay in between McKay Bay and Tampa Bay. The notice says that East Bay was a natural estuarine bay prior to the 1960s, but notes that subsequent development in the Port area has created a more man-made appearance.

Tampa Bay Waterkeeper — a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and improving the Tampa Bay watershed while ensuring swimmable, drinkable, and fishable water for all — is quick to point out that the proposed project would negatively impact a part of the Tampa Bay watershed that has been undergoing years of restoration.

“While we certainly recognize the Port's contribution to the regional economy, and wish Port Tampa Bay the best in that regard, it cannot come at the expense of our public waterways, our fish habitat, and the things that make Tampa Bay special,” Tampa Bay Waterkeeper wrote in a statement.

The nonprofit added that the project will undoubtedly cause harm to essential fish habitat in Tampa Bay and potentially affect the health of both McKay Bay and East Bay by choking off the natural tidal flow between the two bays.

“With all due respect, the economic contribution to our region from the Port pales in comparison to the economic benefit provided by a healthy bay and healthy fisheries,” Tampa Bay Waterkeeper added.

In its notice, the Corps preliminarily determined that the proposal may affect the West Indian manatee, turtles (loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, and green sea turtles) plus the smalltooth sawfish. The notice also says that the 63 acres of affected area are used by shrimp, redfish, crab, lobster, snapper, grouper and other species.

Tampa Bay Waterkeeper wrote that it is currently working with conservation partners to draft technical comments to the Corps, which are due March 2.

The group will also be requesting a public hearing, but in the meantime it is asking concerned citizens to submit comments and ask for a hearing by writing a letter to District Engineer through the Tampa Permits Section before March 1 (10117 Princess Palm Avenue, Suite 120, Tampa, Florida 33610). See more of the proposed project via oclc.org.