Alligator Creek is an important tidal creek located in southern Sarasota County that flows to Lemon Bay, Sarasota County’s only aquatic preserve. While the county has made strides in updating and implementing new stormwater and wastewater improvements, Alligator Creek remains impaired for nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, bacteria and chlorophyll. The water that exits Alligator Creek ultimately affects the water quality of Lemon Bay.

This project entails stream restoration and bank stabilization through a natural channel design, which will reconfigure the existing canal to a more meandering natural stream. Improvements to water quality and coastal resiliency through stream restoration is a relatively new technique in Florida and Sarasota County is excited to be one of the pioneers in this innovative best management practice technique.

The conceptual plan for the project includes the restoration of approximately 2.3 miles of the Alligator Creek corridor and a recreational trail. The Alligator Creek Stream Restoration project is currently in the design phase with construction anticipated to begin in 2025. 

Sarasota County was granted $14.5 million to fund the construction of the project through NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation's Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience funding competition.  

Sarasota County Public Works has partnered with Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, WSP Environmental Consulting Company and Mote Marine Laboratories on this project. 

Alligator Creek Project rendering graphic depicting pedestrian trail near stream with bicyclists.
Alligator Creek Project rendering graphic depicting birds eye view of stream.
Project rendering graphic of stream
Project rendering graphic of pedestrian trail
Project rendering graphic with railing near stream

 3D images showing what Alligator Creek will look like once the project is complete.

Alligator Creek Stream Restoration Project Map April 2025

 Map of the Alligator Creek Stream Restoration Project.

 
What are the objectives of this project?
Objectives of this project include improved water quality, reduced erosion through the stabilization and naturalization of banks, enhanced recreation and improved resiliency, increased wildlife utilization and hydrological restoration of historic flood plain areas.

What measures are being taken to protect wildlife?

This is the first comprehensive natural stream restoration project in the area that incorporates fish-friendly design elements from Mote Marine Laboratory scientists. Improved fisheries habitat is a focus of the project, specifically for important recreational fisheries species, such as red drum, snook and tarpon.

photo of Red Drum fishPhoto of Snook fishPhoto of Tarpon fish

To learn more about the native species described, click above or visit myfwc.com for information provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 

What is the current project status?
For more information about the project's status, visit the Capital Projects Selected County Projects webpage at scgov.net/government/capital-projects/selected-county-projects.

Site history
To learn about the history of Alligator Creek, visit the Sarasota County Water Atlas at sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu/stream-restoration/#alligator-creek.