Sarasota Bay Estuary Program

This Monitoring Plan for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program outlines efforts by SBEP and its partners to assess the health of the bay, identify issues, and guide actions to achieve the 2022 CCMP Update's Water Quality & Quantity, Watershed, Wildlife, and Community Engagement Action Plans. The plan prioritizes maintaining existing successful monitoring for water quality, seagrass, and drift macroalgae, which are used in the Ecosystem Health Report Card. It also details intentions to expand the Report Card over the next five years to incorporate additional indicators such as fisheries, mangroves, oysters, dolphins, and manatees, to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of the estuary and its watershed.

The Sarasota County Commission meeting included a Public Works presentation on Little Sarasota Bay. Key discussion points included the Strategic action item Health the bay, potential options for the Midnight Pass area, the role of the Sarasota Bay Estuary program, the history and migration of Midnight Pass, and the effects of the Intracoastal Waterway on water circulation. Additional topics encompassed water quality trends, seagrass meadows, and fish populations.

This Communication Plan Summary for Sarasota Bay, covering 2025-2030, outlines strategies to enhance stakeholder engagement and promote conservation efforts. It is built upon communication cornerstones of strategic positioning and targeted reach, supported by core programs including field trips, volunteer opportunities, community grants, and events. The plan emphasizes science-based solutions, measurable results, and innovative partnerships, while also focusing on strengthening stakeholder relations through educational initiatives, teacher training, and public relations to address critical environmental concerns such as habitat loss and stormwater runoff.

This document outlines the planned actions and future activities for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program over the next 5 to 10 years. It details the current state of bay health, including pollutant loading and restoration targets, and proposes various strategies such as groundwater denitrification, stream restoration, enhanced stormwater management, and habitat restoration. Key future activities include developing a Reasonable Assurance Plan, setting bay resource targets, reviewing projects for load reduction potential, and monitoring progress to address the impacts of population growth and sea level rise, ultimately aiming to improve water quality and natural resources.

The 2025-2030 Habitat Restoration Plan for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program aims to strategically allocate resources for impactful restoration and conservation initiatives within the Sarasota Bay watershed. Its key focus areas include essential habitat restoration and creation, water retention and quality improvements, and adaptation to future conditions. The plan guides the implementation of Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act (IIJA) funded projects and leverages base funding to enhance ecosystem integrity, improve water quality, restore critical habitats like seagrass, and protect coastal wetlands, fish, and wildlife, thereby supporting the region's environmental health and economic vitality.