Engineers, residents, and commissioners stress urgency for a sustainable plan
By ChrisAnn Allen
Everyone concurs; they must keep Midnight Pass flowing.
As quickly as it was blown open, people are afraid it could be taken away.
But according to Dr. Mike Jenkins, senior principal engineer with Applied Technology & Management, Inc. (ATM), the coastal engineering consultant for the pass, the inlet is healthy, and permits would be preemptive, as the pass is still in the “toddler stage” and is continuing to shift and grow.
On September 9th, Sarasota County Commissioners reached consensus for a community engagement event, held at a time accessible for people with daytime jobs, for Jenkins and staff to share updates on the pass, answer questions and discuss issues for the preservation of the pass and safety of those engaging the area.
“The county and state never should have allowed the pass to be closed, and our community has suffered the consequences ever since,” Jaime DiDomenico, representing Midnight Pass Society II, a nonprofit organization aimed at keeping the pass open, said on Sept. 9, prior to the county’s update on the pass. “What we ask is simple; keep Midnight Pass open with a long-term, sustainable solution.” He pointed out the answer should be preemptive instead of on an emergency basis and independent of policy or leadership changes, as the commission had voted unanimously five times, along with the West Coast Inland Navigation District, to take measures for the pass, which supports water quality and the overall health of Little Sarasota Bay.
In October 2023, commissioners unanimously approved the initiation of a feasibility study for restoring Midnight Pass, which historically ran between Siesta Key and Casey Key to connect the Gulf of Mexico with Little Sarasota Bay but was filled in 1983 by two property owners fighting erosion on their properties. Then, in July 2024, the county received a $500,000 state appropriation in the fiscal year 2025 budget for continued work on the feasibility and design for the project.
However, hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 reopened the pass. So now the focus is on keeping it consistently flowing. “This money is still available and should be used now,” DiDomenico said of the $500,000 appropriation. “We urge you to engage an engineering firm immediately and implement an inland management plan and prepare a plan for approval, so that when this pass inevitably shifts, Sarasota County is ready.”
In his Sept. 9 presentation, Spencer Anderson, county public works director, said the county has collected “a multitude of data” since the pass opened last year, including weekly surveys of the inlet throat, the opening into which the water flows. “And we intend to keep collecting as we move on with the future of Midnight Pass,” he said, adding Jenkins’ presentation would show what has been done and ask for board direction moving forward with the goal of keeping the pass open. Toward the end of the meeting, Anderson added, between $300,000 to $400,000 remains in the initial appropriation, and county staff is working on getting more funding from the next legislative session.
In his Sept. 9 update, Jenkins said they have performed ongoing inlet monitoring, provided regular updates to modeling efforts, engaged with regulatory agencies, including the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), developed an emergency response plan in the event of inlet closure, and coordinated with stakeholders.
Jenkins said impacts occurred mid-October 2024, and by the end of October, a weekly monitoring program was in place. He said the county’s observation of the inlet has been specifically focused on data showing whether the inlet is closing, while regional monitoring included the general environment, seagrass and water quality. “The inlet has only been there a year, and we will see how it influences all those other issues,” he said. Additionally, nearly two dozen nongovernmental and academic sources have been observing the pass, since its reopening, Jenkins said.
He said the depth of the throat has trended deeper, the cross-sectional area has trended larger, and the tidal flow has nearly doubled since January. Additionally, he said the pass has migrated slightly north, by about 100 feet. Historically, when the pass closed, he said, it had rapidly shifted north. “To date, we have not seen that,” Jenkins said. “It has oscillated a little bit north and a little bit back, and it’s been about 100 feet.” He said continued monitoring will determine seasonal patterns and, ultimately, stabilization. “Going back to two weeks ago, we have a larger inlet, and we have more flow, which is a good sign,” Jenkins said, adding the flow had doubled since February. “In general, it’s a positive trend that the inlet is inclined to be stable.”
Jenkins explained, now that the pass opened, it is considered an inlet, which gives the county freedom to create a management plan to keep it open, which could entail supporting structures or dredging. He said since the pass opened naturally, the county is not required to do anything to maintain it. However, if they develop a plan to reinforce the inlet, they will be providing “corrective action” and state restrictions come into play, triggering plans for management, monitoring and permitting. “Once you alter that inlet, you now are managing that inlet and responsible for that inlet,” Jenkins said, adding the state’s biggest concern is whether the inlet causes erosion at surrounding beaches.
Currently, the county has an “emergency response plan” (ERP) to keep the inlet open but has not created a formal “inlet management plan” (IMP). District 4 Commissioner Joe Neunder, whose district includes the area in question, asked Jenkins if the county could dredge as part of the emergency plan, if needed. Jenkins said, if the pass suddenly started to close, the county could issue an emergency declaration to take limited corrective action in consultation with FDEP, but without a permit, which would normally take years.
Commissioner Mark Smith, whose district includes the north end of Siesta Key, asked Jenkins, at what point will they know the pass has stabilized. “Inlets evolve over time,” Jenkins responded. “The toddler stage, where you see lots of changes, is within about five years. But then there is a long-term growth that occurs over decades.”
Commissioner Theresa Mast asked about adding stabilizing structures. Jenkins said an intent must first be identified, and “risks,” must also be identified, as “inlet management is very much a balance issue,” with those discussions just starting as the inlet matures. As an example, he said jetties could cause erosion at surrounding beaches.
Commissioner Cutsinger asked Jenkins if boating and other activities now occurring in the area of the pass should be regulated due to concerns – for both the structure of the pass, as well as safety. Jenkins said, “Yes,” considering strong currents, swimmer safety must be considered. Also, seagrass is starting to grow, and manatees are engaging the area, so signage could be recommended in time.
Moving forward, Jenkins said his group would continue data collection and modeling, and implement a response plan if closure appears imminent, as well as develop additional management plans as needed. “If it looks like it is going to close, we are going to raise our hands and we’re going to come back to you and we’re going to have a discussion about an emergency order,” he said.
“We’ve been trying to get this done for 70 years,” Cutsinger said. “I would say, don’t wait to raise your hand… Raise your hand as soon as you can if it looks that way because, I think, the mindset here is to do what we need to do to keep this pass open.”
