Multi-agency team advances scientific study of Midnight Pass

Multi-agency team advances scientific study of Midnight Pass

On March 1-2, county staff assisted Dr. Nina Stark, director of the Center for Coastal Solutions at the University of Florida, with access to Palmer Point Park for data collection. Research vessels also launched from Blackburn Point Park.

Researchers from several Florida universities worked alongside the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to sample sediment, measure flow, analyze shoreline and bathymetry and conduct drone surveys.

The work is supported in part by a three-year National Science Foundation grant, and all collected data will be publicly available. Additional testing is planned in the coming months ahead of hurricane season. This ongoing work continues to expand the scientific understanding of Midnight Pass. To learn more, visit scgov.net/midnightpass.

The Sarasota County Commission presented three proclamations during its Tuesday, March 3, meeting, recognizing Better Together Day, Flood Awareness Week and International Grant Professionals Day.

These proclamations and certificates are ceremonial documents issued by the commission to honor achievements, celebrate events and raise awareness about important causes in the community. Click on the headline to learn more.

Better Together proclamation

Flood Awareness Week proclamation

International Grant Professionals Day proclamation

Community Conversations: Hurricane Preparedness will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Riverview High School, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota. The National Hurricane Center, Florida Division of Emergency Management and Sarasota County Emergency Management officials will provide information on storm preparation, evacuation procedures, shelter options, community resources and updates on national forecasting models for 2026.

The event is free, but registration is required. Click here to register. Check back often for updates on speakers and panel discussion topics at scgov.net/CommunityConversations.

Take the survey: Help shape housing priorities in Sarasota County

The Sarasota County Housing Enhancement and Redevelopment Office (HERO) invites residents and community organizations to complete an online housing and community development survey by Friday, March 20. Click here to take the survey!

Feedback will help shape the county’s five-year consolidated plan, guiding how federal funds are invested in affordable housing, homelessness prevention and services for low- to moderate-income residents. Funding for the plan is provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. For more information about HERO, visit herosrq.net.

On Aug. 31, 2022, Sarasota County successfully purchased a perpetual conservation easement on the 191-acre Crowley Museum and Nature Center property. The conservation easement was purchased using funds from the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program. The land remains owned by Crowley; however, the conservation easement removed the development rights to allow for perpetual protection of habitat, greenspace and water resources.

Crowley Museum and Nature Center is a 191-acre, nonprofit, educational site in Sarasota County dedicated to preserving “Old Florida” pioneer history and natural habitats. It features historic buildings, like the 1892 Tatum House, a 2,000-foot boardwalk and trails through five native ecosystems. Open weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., it offers educational programs and encounters with farm animals.

Visit SarasotaCountyParks.com/LandAcquisitions.