The Sarasota County Commission recently agreed to accept a $500,000 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to study Little Sarasota Bay and Midnight Pass. Additional discussion on Midnight Pass is scheduled for the December 9 Board of County Commissioners meeting.
Any management plan for Midnight Pass should require an update to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Maps, study if an opened Pass increases the risk of storm surge, include offshore monitoring of the Gulf waters, update the county wide Manatee Protection Plan, increase Marine Patrol enforcement, implement habitat restoration, and ensure Little Sarasota Bay stormwater discharges comply with water quality standards.
Monitor for Pollution of Gulf Waters…