Environmentalist cautions about risks and cost of keeping the inlet open.
Original Air Date: September 10, 2025
Host: The words “Mother Nature” came up at least a dozen times at a Sarasota County Commission meeting this week about Midnight Pass. Everybody is in awe of Mom right now — the assumption is that the breach blown open by last year’s hurricanes is good, because it makes the water flow, and that’s good for water quality in Little Sarasota Bay. Commissioners, island activists, boaters, and a consultant are now focused on making sure the new inlet will stay open. But an environmentalist is raining on the parade. His word of caution: While we’re bowing in awe to Mother Nature, we keep messing with Mom. The county may end up having to dredge to keep the water flowing. And that is expensive and risky.
The only thing we really know at this point is that, if Sarasota County does move to intervene, it will be a very expensive process to do it with no guarantee of success—that maybe the paths will close right back up if the county intervenes, and also it is something that could open the county up to litigation a little bit down the road. Siesta Key and Casey Key are barrier islands, and barrier islands are subject to change. We certainly found that out last year with hurricane season and the storm surge that was produced. Midnight Pass doesn’t have a whole lot of room to move.
Johannes Werner: That’s Glenn Compton, chair of ManaSota-88, probably the area’s longest-standing environmental grassroots group.
The item on the county commission’s agenda Tuesday was called “Keep it Open!”. With an exclamation point. And the commissioners reflected that sense of urgency. The county already pays hundreds of thousands of dollars to a consultant to keep close track of the water flow at Midnight Pass. The news he brought them Tuesday was good. After 10 months since the storm surge created it, nature is increasing the flow…