Tropical Storm Debby devastated turtle nests, degraded Sarasota Bay water quality

Tropical Storm Debby significantly degraded water quality in Sarasota Bay and likely wiped out nearly half of the known sea turtle nests on area beaches, scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium said in a report released Thursday.

Questions also remain as to whether the immediate impacts over days to weeks will have longer-term ramifications for these ecosystems in the months and years to come.

“Storm events like Debby can have profound effects on our coastal environments,” said Dr. Emily Hall, Manager of Mote's Ocean Acidification and Chemical and Physical Ecology Research Programs.

Mote’s initial analyses after the storm found several immediate issues, including an increase in turbidity and water color, indicating an increase in substances such as dissolved organic matter and particulate matter in the water.

Both of which were likely caused by massive amounts of stormwater resulting from the intense rainfall in the Sarasota Bay watershed.

Manatee County: Water released from Lake Manatee dam not to blame for flooding along Braden River

MANATEE COUNTY — More than a month after Tropical Storm Debby came through the area, Manatee County officials are trying to educate the community on how the Lake Manatee Dam works – and why they say it was not to blame for severe flooding that ruined so many homes.

Tropical Storm Debby dropped as much as 17 inches of rain in parts of the county, requiring the rescue of more than a couple hundred residents from their homes or vehicles.

Many in the community have blamed county officials for how water was released from the dam during Debby, forcing county commissioners to order an independent investigation.

“When you’re searching for answers if you’ve gone through this calamity in y our own home, you want to find answers that just make sense to you,” Director of Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker said on Wednesday morning. “But I can tell with 100 percent certainty, the Manatee River basin and the discharge from the dam did not move through the Braden River basin and creating the flooding there.”

County officials have remained steadfast that the dam worked as designed during Debby. On Wednesday, local members of the media were invited to tour the dam and question leaders about operations.

Coastal flooding is getting more common, even on sunny days

Coastal flooding from high tides is getting more common in most parts of the United States, as climate change causes sea levels to rise.

Millions of people are affected by so-called sunny day flooding each year, according to a new report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). On average, the U.S. now experiences five extra days of high-tide flooding each year compared to the year 2000.

“Over the past year we’ve seen record coastal flooding,” says Nicole LeBoeuf, the director of the NOAA National Ocean Service.

In the last year, St. Petersburg, Fla., Atlantic City, N.J., Charleston, S.C. and more than 30 other places tied or broke their records for the number of high-tide flood days. Galveston, Texas, which consistently sees some of the most severe and frequent high-tide flooding of any city in the U.S., experienced 23 days of high-tide flooding last year.

The costs of high-tide flooding are enormous. Even a few inches of water can make neighborhoods inaccessible to some residents, including those who use wheelchairs or rely on strollers to transport young children. And standing water can also snarl commutes, block emergency vehicles and cause secondary flooding if sewers back up into buildings or overflow into natural bodies of water.

Manatee County bypassed enough water to fill three Lake Manatee's during Debby

Manatee County released 18 billion gallons of water

Manatee County officials said Tuesday that enough water to fill three Lake Manatees was released during Tropical Storm Debby.

Residents continued to voice frustration over flooding in the surrounding area caused by the release to Manatee County commissioners and staff during Tuesday's public county commission meeting.

The county is now negotiating with a firm to conduct an independent investigation into flooding issues during the tropical storm and also tapped the Tampa Bay Regional Council to serve as a neutral auditor.

"The third-party analysis, the independent investigation, we are pursuing that," Deputy Administrator Evan Pilachowski said. "We agree that is a valuable step for us to take to really understand of what the impacts of the dam have been as well as what the underlying cause of any flooding that people have experienced throughout the last month."

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program announces projects at G.T. Bray Park in Bradenton

BRADENTON – GT Bray Park in Bradenton, FL hosts two new, large-scale environmental restoration projects costing a total of $900,000. Both projects retrofit substantial stormwater treatment areas to optimize their benefits to the public, water, and wildlife.

At the western portion of the park, 130,000 cubic yards of dirt were excavated and invasive plant species were removed from a stream conveyance to make way for created wetlands. Native wetland and upland plants are currently being installed to stabilize the banks and provide wetland habitats for aquatic birds and wildlife. The project is slated to be fully completed within the next month. “GT Bray Park is a fantastic place to view wildlife. Last year, I saw a family of otters playing in the stream adjacent to the project site,” said Megan Barry, Public Outreach Manager for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP).

The second site, bordering 59th Street West, is complete and features a large stormwater pond previously inundated with invasive aquatic and terrestrial vegetation. The clearing of undesirable species, and planting of over $100,000 worth of native plants, has made the pond more aesthetically pleasing, publicly accessible, and environmentally sound. Both projects were led by SBEP in partnership with Manatee County, the City of Bradenton, and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Together, the sites mark the third large-scale restoration project completed by SBEP via funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Seven more projects are slated to be completed by 2026. “The SBEP is using all of the funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to undertake a variety of large-scale restoration projects to benefit Sarasota Bay habitats and water quality,” said outgoing Staff Biologist Dr. Jay Leverone.

A ribbon-cutting event will be hosted at GT Bray Park on Thursday, September 19 to celebrate the new projects. The event will include remarks from local elected officials and partner agencies including Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, City of Bradenton Councilwoman Jayne Kocher, and EPA Chief of the Ocean, Wetlands & Streams Protection Branch, Thomas McGill. The event is open to the public and will begin at 9:30 AM under the park pavilions adjacent to 51st Street West. “The EPA is pleased to support continuing efforts of the SBEP to preserve and protect critical water resources in Manatee and Sarasota Counties," said Becky Allenbach, Senior Advisor for Everglades and South Florida Issues and SBEP Policy Board Co-chair at U.S. EPA.

Continued flooding concerns residents near Lake Manatee

Jason Thurber spent $11,000 to repair his driveway after Hurricane Debby tore open the creek that runs underneath it.

Two weeks later on Aug. 20, a 45-minute rain storm washed away most of that work. The situation for Thurber and his neighbors on Waterline Road only worsened as the rain continued.

At the land use meeting on Aug. 22, Deputy County Administrator Evan Pilachowski reported widespread rainfall around Lake Manatee of 3 to 4 inches and 6 to 8 inches in isolated areas, all within 36 hours.

He noted the soils were already saturated. The stormwater ponds were full, and the culverts were running at capacity.

“When we have that significant rainfall on top of a very saturated stormwater system, that water really doesn’t have anywhere to go,” Pilachowski said. “There’s been some flooding along Waterline Road and Dam Road, that’s part of the system just being saturated and overloaded.”

With recent concerns raised about the integrity of the Lake Manatee Dam, Pilachowski stressed that residents should not fear a dam breach. However, he said it would be “prudent” to lower Lake Manatee’s water level.

Manatee County emergency declaration extended due to heavy rain

Town of Longboat Key warns about excessive rainfall, potential flooding

Questions linger over Lake Manatee Dam release

East County residents question why more water wasn't released from Lake Manatee ahead of Tropical Storm Debby.

After streets and homes in East County flooded along the Manatee River and along the Braden River in Lakewood Ranch, residents have been questioning the events that led up to 15 billion gallons of water being released from the Lake Manatee Dam during Hurricane Debby, the bulk of which was released on Aug. 5.

Part of those questions stem from an article written by Michael Barfield and published by the "Florida Trident" on Aug. 15.

The article alleges the county knew the dam threatened public safety; and if water hadn’t been released, the reservoir could have suffered a “catastrophic collapse." The article said the dam is "aging and problem-plagued."

Manatee County added a page to its website, “Hurricane Debby Rainfall and River Information,” that was also published on Aug. 15. It states that the release was necessary to “protect the structural integrity of the dam and our drinking water supply.”

Manatee County Commissioners get update on more flooding near Lake Manatee

Pilachowski stressed that the dam is not a flood control structure but that the county does try to provide some relief and buffering from the Manatee River flows with the dam where it can.

BRADENTON — At Tuesday’s land use meeting, Manatee County Commissioners received an update on the status of Lake Manatee following reports of widespread flooding in the area on Wednesday evening.

Deputy County Administrator Evan Pilachowski, who oversees Utilities, Public Works, and Financial Management, addressed commissioners and led with the following statement.

“I do want to state unequivocally that the dam and Lake Manatee continue to function as designed. They are structurally sound. There’s no risk of any sort of breach of the damn. I just want to make that clear.”

Pilachowski explained that the area experienced the second day of significant rainfall in and around the dam watershed. He said widespread areas received three to four additional inches of rain and isolated areas received six to eight inches, all in about 36 hours.

Pilachowski said that soils are saturated, stormwater ponds are full, and culverts are at capacity. With significant rain falling on an already saturated rainwater system, the water simply doesn’t have anywhere to go but to continue to run over land, and the flooding on Waterline Road and Dam Road is owed to the system being saturated and overloaded.

SWFWMD to hold virtual public workshop on ranking water bodies

Water quality concerns persist post-TS Debby

Tropical Storm Debby, which impacted the Manatee County area beginning Aug. 3, caused flooding and infrastructure damage throughout the region, including major disruptions to the area’s sanitary sewer systems.

The reports of sewage overflows into watersheds elevated ongoing concerns about polluted water.

According to reports from the city of Bradenton dated Aug. 4 and Aug. 5 and confirmed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, about 25 million gallons of untreated sewage overflowed into local water systems because of the storm.

Another estimated 17 million gallons of spilled sewage was reported by the city of Sarasota, making for combined estimates of about 42 million gallons or just under 100 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of contaminated water entering Sarasota Bay.

There also were reports of overflows from other counties in the region.

The overflows entered waterways, resulting in millions of gallons of contamination spilling into bodies of water that flow into Sarasota Bay, leading to unease regarding the safety of recreating at beach and bay destinations.

Clearwater hikes stormwater rates 8% to address flooding, infrastructure

The increase will pay for $232 million of upgrades over the next decade.

Residents are set to pay more for stormwater utility fees over the next five years as Clearwater invests in drainage to address flooding and respond to sea-level rise.

The City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to increase rates by 8% every year through 2029, which will average to $1.30 more annually for single-family households.

The hike is needed to pay for a backlog of citywide stormwater upgrades that had been deferred over the past decade and a major flood-control project on north Clearwater Beach, according to public works director Marcus Williamson.

But Clearwater is not alone. On average, 14 municipalities in Tampa Bay are increasing stormwater rates by 13% in 2025, with some hitting 20%, according to Leticia Doohaluk, senior manager for the engineering firm Stantec.

Registration open for Manatee County Florida Waters Stewardship Program, Sept. 18-Oct. 23

Experts warn Sarasota Bay water quality suffers after Debby

Increased fish kill and algal blooms may be the result of sewage spills and other pollutants that entered the bay as a result of the storm.

Experts with Suncoast Waterkeeper and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program agree: It’s not safe to swim in the bay right now.

A week after Hurricane Debby dumped large amounts of rain on the Sarasota Bay area, local experts are cautioning the public about potential negative side effects to the safety of the bay. This includes the reported millions of gallons of sewage discharged from municipalities that entered local waterways.

These impacts, and more, came from then-Tropical Storm Debby’s copious rainfall, which overwhelmed wastewater systems and brought pollutants into the bay. The full scope of the impacts is still to be determined.

“You can’t have this much rainfall without water quality being adversely impacted,” said Dave Tomasko, executive director for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program.

TBEP invites you to take the Tampa Bay Community Survey

Coastal water quality issues reported in Manatee County

The nonprofit Suncoast Waterkeeper the week ending Aug. 11 but the nonprofit issued a swim caution following the passage of Tropical Storm Debby.

The caution was based on a report from Bradenton’s water reclamation facility of an overflow bypass that resulted in 3.5 million gallons of untreated sewage discharging into the Manatee River during the storm.

The concern was for pollution, including Enterococci bacteria, which lives in the intestinal tracts of warm-blood animals and causes illness.

For more information, go to suncoastwaterkeeper.org.

Meanwhile, the Florida Healthy Beaches Program reported poor water quality at several locations in Manatee County, including Bayfront Park in Anna Maria and the Palma Sola Causeway South beach in Bradenton.

For more, go to floridahealth.gov.

Agency on Bay Management expands

Myakka wetlands reduce downstream flooding

Myakka wetlands reduce downstream flooding

Park closed

Myakka River State Park is experiencing historic flood levels, with high water levels expected in the park for a while. The park is closed to the public until further notice. For updates, visit FloridaStateParks.org.

A watershed is an area of land that channels rainfall into a common body of water. Myakka River State Park lies within the Myakka River Watershed, which encompasses approximately 600 square miles. Within this watershed, the Myakka River collects water from numerous creeks and sloughs. It provides drainage by channeling water into Charlotte Bay to the south, where it flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

Four major depressions act as natural water detention areas in the Myakka River Watershed. These include Flatford Swamp near Myakka City, Tatum Sawgrass Marsh just north of the park, and Upper and Lower Myakka Lake within the park. Tutum Sawgrass Marsh, the largest of these detention areas, has the capacity to store an equivalent of 1.8 inches of rainfall, which is four times that of Upper and Lower Myakka Lakes combined. And in numerous smaller wetlands, water covers the soil periodically.

During rain storms, the amount of water running over land in a watershed increases, and in severe storms, flooding may result. The low-lying areas of land where water periodically spreads when a river or creek overflows its banks are known as floodplains. Flooding in floodplains is an expected and important natural process. Indeed, as a rain-fed river, during our rainy season the Myakka River routinely overflows into the park's floodplain marshes, other wetlands and hydric hammocks. As Myakka's ecosystems have adapted to this natural ebb and flow of water, it's critical for their health. Therefore, restoring impacted wetlands and maintaining their health is a priority for Myakka's team.

Tropical Storm Debby brought some Florida lakes and rivers to record levels

Applications for SWFWMD Splash! school grants are due Sept. 6th