Sarasota County, FL
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Overview
Phillippi Creek is a 7.2-mile tidal creek and part of the Sarasota Bay Watershed. It plays an important role for adjacent communities, collecting and transporting stormwater to Roberts Bay. Over the past several years, areas of the creek have seen significant sediment buildup. Sarasota County's Stormwater Department is working with the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) to improve stormwater drainage and reduce flooding potential by dredging between the mouth of the creek and South Beneva Road.
Phase 1:
High-Spot Dredging (South Tuttle Avenue to South Beneva Road)
Summary:
- Managed by Sarasota County to address critical areas of sedimentation between South Tuttle Avenue and South Beneva Road.
- The Phase 1 dredging will provide a 50 feet wide by 4 feet deep Mean Low Water (MLW), along the creek centerline.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Permit (Permit No.:SAJ-2025-01036) issued on Oct. 8, 2025. The contract was approved by the Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 21, 2025.
Funding:
Stormwater Environmental Utility funds.
Next Steps:
Construction began on Dec. 10, 2025. The contract period is 180 days. Phase 1 dredging completion is expected by the summer of 2026.
Lower (Tidal) Creek Dredging:
Summary:
- Managed by the West Coast Navigation District (WCIND) on behalf of Sarasota County to address sedimentation from the mouth of Phillippi Creek to approximately a quarter-mile east of U.S. 41.
- Project engineering and design is by Cummins-Cederberg Coastal and Marine Engineering under contract to the WCIND. Construction (dredging) is by Sully’s Marine under contract to the WCIND.
- The Lower Creek dredge will provide a 30-foot wide by 4-foot deep MLW cut along the centerline of the navigation channel, with an estimated 8,000 cubic yards of sediment to be removed.
- Dredging commenced in May 2026, and is expected to occur Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., throughout the summer.
Funding:
WCIND secured funding through County Navigation Improvement Funds (CNIF).
Next Steps:
ACOE Permit (Permit No.: SAJ-2024-03986-JLA) was issued on Oct. 8, 2025. WCIND received approval to modify their permit and remove additional material near the confluence of the main creek channel and the channel near the Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar. The additional dredging will add approximately 4,300 cubic yards to the volume of material removed. This will be updated as more information becomes available.
Phase 2:
Maximum Allowable Dredge
Summary:
- Managed by Sarasota County to address sedimentation between U.S. 41 and South Beneva Road.
- The intended dredge will maintain a minimum 10 foot offset from shorelines and structures with a depth of 4’ Mean Low Water and include the Mineola Drive and River Ridge Drive oxbows.
- A separate permit, or permit modification, will be pursued for other areas of the creek, including the area immediately north of the old dam structure at South Gate and where significant sediment buildup has resulted in vegetation and tree growth.
Funding:
Resilient SRQ Program funds.
Next Steps:
- County staff continue coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to secure required permits, with a goal of obtaining approval by the end of 2026.
Dredging Operations
- A minimum 10-foot buffer will be maintained from docks and other structures. As such, in some areas where the Creek narrows, the intended width of the dredge may not be achievable.
Project Area Benefits
- Estimated $42 million investment (Phase 1 and 2) in Sarasota County's stormwater system.
- Commercial area: 2,108 properties within the Phillippi Creek basin
- All residential and commercial properties located within Phillippi Creek basin will benefit from improved stormwater drainage.