What is a Watershed?

A watershed is the land area that drains water into a canal, stream, river, bay, or other body of water. All rain falling in Sarasota County either soaks into the ground or flows over land and becomes part of a larger body of water. How we treat the land affects the quality of our water – and our own quality of life.

Our Watersheds

Sarasota County has 5 major watersheds: Sarasota Bay, Little Sarasota Bay, Dona/Roberts Bay, Myakka River, and Lemon Bay. 

Stormwater Future Projects Dashboard Empty heading

The Capital Improvement Project Portfolio consolidates potential projects identified in various Watershed Management Plans and displays them in one convenient place. This interactive dashboard allows you filter projects by certain characteristics such as estimated cost, location, category, benefit type, benefit-cost ratio, and more! You can view the dashboard by clicking here or the banner on this page.