{"id":182329,"date":"2026-03-07T18:46:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-07T18:46:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/182329\/"},"modified":"2026-03-07T18:46:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-07T18:46:08","slug":"tampa-will-once-again-dye-the-hillsborough-river-green-despite-concerns-from-environmentalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/182329\/","title":{"rendered":"Tampa will once again dye the Hillsborough River green, despite concerns from environmentalists"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"heThe Hillsborough River in Tampa, Florida on March 15, 2025. Credit: cityoftampa \/ X<\/a><\/p>\n

Each spring, the Hillsborough River glows an unnatural shade of green as part of Tampa\u2019s River O\u2019Green Fest. For many, it\u2019s a beloved St. Patrick\u2019s Day tradition. For others, it\u2019s a poor use of resources to alter one of the city\u2019s most important waterways.<\/p>\n

Despite assurances from city officials that the kelly-green colored dye is safe to use for the one-day event, local fisherman and environmentalists say it\u2019s harmful to the river\u2019s wildlife and promotes the wrong idea about respecting the environment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The tradition began in 2012 under mayor Bob Buckhorn and has continued every year since, except during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.\u00a0The 2026 River O\u2019Green Festival happens Saturday, March 14.<\/a><\/p>\n

Each year, about 250 pounds of dye produced by Ohio-based Kingscote Chemicals is mixed with roughly 280 gallons of water and sprayed into the river. The dye, appropriately named Bright Dyes \u00ae FLT Yellow-Green Powder, transforms the water into a bright neon green.<\/p>\n

According to the company\u2019s safety sheet for the product<\/a>, the dye is biodegradable, nontoxic, and \u201cdoes not meet hazardous criteria set forth by the 2012 OSHA Hazard Communication Standard.\u201d However, its recommended use is for\u00a0 \u201cwater tracing & leak detection dye,\u201d and makes no mention of being used to turn entire rivers green.<\/p>\n

In 2023, Captain Dustin Pack launched the \u201cStop Dyeing the Hillsborough River Green<\/a>\u201d petition to raise awareness about opposition to the city\u2019s river-dyeing tradition. The petition has earned more than 7,000 signatures, with numbers on the rise as the event approaches.<\/p>\n

Pack, a local fisherman, said when the river suddenly turns neon green, it alters how fish and other animals hunt, feed, and navigate in their environment. Essentially, the dye disrupts their normal behaviors and processes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re in your living room, and all of a sudden, your living room turns neon green, it wouldn\u2019t be normal for you,\u201d Pack said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Because the dye is described as a tracer dye meant to be used in tiny amounts (parts per billion) to locate leaks in pipes, it should not be used to color an entire river, Pack said. The product\u2019s safety sheet also lists an environmental precaution stating: \u201cPrevent from entering into soil, ditches, sewers, waterways and\/or groundwater.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chris Pratt, a senior environmental manager for the water division from the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC), said the environmental precaution on the safety sheet is the one statement that hangs people up .<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you had a bulk of this stuff, and, and you just tried to use it indiscriminately, and didn\u2019t use it as per their manufacturers\u2019 directions, there could perhaps be some problems there,\u201d Pratt said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pratt said he appreciates Pack\u2019s and other environmentalists\u2019 concerns for the river, but that the EPC has no objections to dyeing the river.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve looked into the Material Safety Data Sheets and all the literature behind it, the history behind it, and the EPA has not found it to be in violation of the Clean Water Act,\u201d Pratt said.\u00a0 \u201cSo EPC\u2019s stance is that we\u2019re, we\u2019re neutral. We don\u2019t advocate for the event, but we also don\u2019t have any objections to doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The EPC has 16 monitoring stations across the lower Hillsborough river, where they conduct monthly water samples.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIn all the years that this has been going on, we have not seen any detrimental effects to the river or to wildlife or reports following the event,\u201d Pratt said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pack, on the other hand, holds that whether or not the dye is \u201cdetrimental\u201d to the river\u2019s health, it is still doing a disservice to it and sending the wrong message to younger generations about how we should be treating the environment. He even shared photos of sludge in the river after the 2025 River O\u2019 Green.<\/p>\n

\"Close-upSludge in the Hillsborough River following the 2025 River O\u2019Green event in Tampa, Florida. Credit: c\/o Dustin Pack<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gets filled with trash. It gets filled with storm water. It gets filled with nutrients. It gets filled with green stuff, and then we\u2019re treating it like a retention pond in a subdivision, not like a 27,000 year old body of water that we get our drinking water from,\u201d\u00a0 Pack said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Downtown Partnership, which helps run the River O\u2019Green Fest each year, referred CL to past statements about the practice saying \u201cThe dye is safe for the environment, non-toxic, biodegradable, meets all EPA standards, and is certified to comply with National Sanitation Foundation Standard 60. This is the same dye often used in eye surgeries, food, and water systems to trace the flow of drinking water.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a statement shared with FOX 13<\/a>, Kenyetta Hairston Bridges, President & CEO of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, said \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled once again to partner with the City of Tampa and Grow Financial to bring one of the region\u2019s largest St. Patrick\u2019s Day celebrations to life. This family-friendly event draws thousands of residents and visitors into Downtown, boosting support for our local small businesses and showcasing the vibrancy and energy that define our urban core.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aside from the dyeing of the river, the River O\u2019 Green Fest includes a variety of other activities for guests to enjoy, including food trucks, live music and dance performances, and a parade.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just feel like it\u2019s not necessary to dye the river,\u201d said Pack. \u201cWhy do you have to do that to have a party?\u201d<\/p>\n

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This article appears in Mar. 05 \u2013 11, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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