Sarasota County, Florida, will move forward with a $45.3 million creek dredging project after county commissioners signed off on the investment. While the construction date has not yet been released, county staff are currently developing the needed documents for bid solicitation.
The funding covers the second portion of the two-phase Phillippi Creek Dredge initiative. The first phase of the project is nearing completion and is estimated to be fully built out this summer. With the first section finished, the Sarasota County Commission will be able to commence with the Phillippi Creek Maximum Allowable Dredging (MAD) project.
With the county’s approval, the MAD initiative has been included in its Fiscal Year 2026 through 2030 Capital Improvement Program. Phillippi Creek covers a total of 7.2 miles. The MAD project will address excessive sedimentation between U.S. 41 and South Beneva Road.
Plans include dredging enough material from the creek to maintain a minimum 10-foot offset from shorelines and structures. This buffer may be unachievable in sections of the creek where it narrows. The county will require a four-foot Mean Low Water depth and include the Mineola Drive and River Ridge Drive oxbows.
The project was proposed in response to several areas of the creek developing into emergent shoals. Over the past several years, excessive sedimentation has created these landforms, rising above the waterline. As a result, the Sarasota Bay Watershed is at greater risk of flooding due to excessive sedimentation creating these landforms.
Photo by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay
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