A Manatee County beach known for frequent fecal bacteria advisories has fallen between the cracks of various jurisdictions for years, but an upcoming study aims to solve the mystery of the cause of Palma Sola South’s sometimes icky waters.
Manatee County boasts some of the most iconic sandy beaches in Florida. But often colored by tannins from mangroves, and located just a stone’s throw from traffic on the Manatee Avenue bridge on the way to those beaches, Palma Sola South is often overlooked.
In 2024, the beach saw the second most “potentially unsafe” days for swimming out of tested beaches in Florida because of high bacteria levels that can sicken people who get in the water, according to a report published July 8 by the Environment Florida Research & Policy Center…