A workshop held Tuesday by the Sarasota County Commission marked the beginning of a series of discussions and meetings planned for 2025. These events aim to review and potentially revamp the county’s $27 million stormwater department and its policies.

Key concerns include the buildup of sediment in Phillippi Creek, which some residents believe should be dredged for the first time in decades. Others advocate for stricter building codes to prevent new developments from exacerbating flooding in older neighborhoods.

The overarching demand, however, is for concrete measures to ensure that the devastating floods of 2024, caused by a trio of hurricanes, are not repeated.

“This has been 170 days of a nightmare,” said Allison Cavallaro, a Laurel Meadows resident whose home, along with more than 80 others, was flooded during Tropical Storm Debby in August 2024. “We feel like we have been overlooked and left behind,” she added, noting she still cannot return to her water-damaged home.

During a four-hour workshop, public works director Spencer Anderson and water engineer Steve Suau outlined potential changes to improve flood response and prevention across the county.

“This is just the beginning of a long journey to mitigate future flooding and enhance water quality,” Anderson said.

Proposed Changes

Among the key ideas discussed were:

• Increasing Storage Capacity at Celery Fields: Anderson suggested retrofitting the 444-acre site to better serve as a floodplain mitigation area.
• Stricter Building Codes: Updating codes to account for rising sea levels and more intense rainfall events could reduce future flood risks. Currently, regulations are based on a “1% annual storm,” equating to 10 inches of rain in 24 hours. New standards could increase this threshold, considering storms like Debby, which dropped up to 18 inches in some areas.
• Improved Forecasting and Communication: Investing in technology to predict floods a day in advance and hiring specialized staff to better coordinate responses.
• Floodplain Restrictions: Anderson highlighted the importance of limiting development in high-risk floodplain areas.

Dredging Phillippi Creek

Residents, including Raeanne Malone, emphasized the urgent need to dredge Phillippi Creek, where sediment buildup has hindered water flow. “Please consider dredging the creek before the next storm season. The amount of sediment there is mind-blowing,” Malone said.

Next Steps

No formal decisions were made during the meeting, but officials anticipate additional workshops and discussions throughout the year to finalize policies and strategies.

“This is a critical opportunity to rethink how we manage stormwater and protect our communities,” Anderson concluded.

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(Image credit: Sarasota County)